Attemsostreptus cataractae Enghoff, 2024

Enghoff, Henrik, Ngute, Alain S. K., Kwezaura, Revocatus L., Laizzer, Richard L., Lyatuu, Herman M., Mhagawale, Waziri, Mnendendo, Hamidu R. & Marshall, Andrew R., 2024, A mountain of millipedes XI. The trachystreptoform spirostreptids of the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 918 (1), pp. 1-50 : 13-15

Attemsostreptus cataractae Enghoff sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7D1B998B-D832-4821-88FF-B2F7904B3083

Figs 2 , 8

Diagnosis

Differs from congeners, except A. costatus , by the very long (> half length of gonopod coxa), only moderately curved and almost straightly laterad lateroapical metaplical process (lap). Differs from A. costatus by a somewhat shorter lap and by the lack of a distinct, rounded mesapical metaplical process (map) – compare Fig. 8D with fig. 1 in Akkari & Enghoff (2019).

Etymology

A Latin noun in the genitive, meaning ‘of the waterfall’ and referring to the type locality. The name was suggested, but never published, by Richard L. Hoffman (1927–2012), great American myriapodologist.

Material examined (total 1 ♂, 1 ♀)

Holotype

TANZANIA • ♂; Morogoro Region, Kilombero District, base of Sanje Falls, Mwanihana Forest Reserve ; Apr. 1984; K.M. Howell leg.; VMNH 112021 .

Paratype

TANZANIA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; VMNH 112022 .

Description (male)

SIZE. Length unknown (specimen in several pieces, collum and rings 2–6 missing). Diameter 4.2 mm. 54 podous rings (including 1–6), no apodous rings in front of telson.

COLOUR. After 39 years in alcohol antennae, legs and head below antennae yellowish; head between antennae brown, marbled in upper part. Collum marbled brown, with brown anterior band expanded in middle. Body rings faded to whitish tallow except for amber-coloured posterior ¼ of metazonites.

HEAD. Eyes each with ca 30 ommatidia in ca 12 vertical and 5 horizontal rows, extending just mesad of antennal sockets. Antennae (presumably) reaching back to ring 4 when stretched.

COLLUM. With three strong complete carinae, otherwise unornamented, resembles Fig. 9A ; lateral lobes slightly expanded.

BODY RINGS ( Fig. 8A–C ). Anterior part of prozonites with dense transverse microsculpture which posteriorly gives way to an at first irregular, then regular cell structure; in dorsal part of ring, surface of last cell row coarsely pitted. Metazonites slightly vaulted, carinate throughout; in dorsal part of ring surface between ridges coarsely pitted. Suture between pro- and metazonites simple, straight. Ozopores (oz) between two ridges, in middle of metazonite. No sigilla.

TELSON. Similar to that of A. reflexus ( Fig. 4B–D ).

LEGS (leg-pairs 1–7 missing). Length ca 0.9×body diameter. Postfemora and tibiae with ventral pads; pads decreasing in size towards posterior and absent from last pairs of legs.

GONOPOD COXA ( Fig. 8D–E ). Slender, parallel-sided. Proplica (pp) apically punctate and slightly expanded, apical margin oblique, fitting under metaplical roof (mr), mesally ending in acute-angled process. Metaplica (mp) without distomesal spine; apically bent over and forming a ‘roof’ (mr) over the gonocoel; mesally slightly produced into poorly defined mesapical process (map); laterally forming a very long (>half length of entire coxa) slender process (lap); process directed laterad, almost straight except for ‘downwards’-bent tip.

GONOPOD TELOPODITE ( Fig. 8D–G ). With a very long, slender, pointed antetorsal process (atp) in the shape of a large hook. Post-torsal part of telopodite very slender, directed basad, describing a loose 360° spiral, extending past base of coxa where it makes a 180° turn such that the last part is directed apicad; tip divided into lamellar, slightly serrate process (sl) and pointed solenomere (slm).

Descriptive notes (female)

Length 75 mm. Diameter 5.5 mm, 54 podous rings, no apodous ring in front of telson. Lateral lobes of collum not expanded. Other non-sexual characters as in male.

Distribution and habitat

Known only from the type locality; “base of Sanje Falls” could be anywhere between 300 and 500 m a.s.l.

Figures

Fig. 2. Map of the Udzungwa Mts showing collection areas for trachystreptoform Spirostreptidae Brandt, 1833. Yellow symbols: Attemsostreptus spp.; dots: A. reflexus, diamond: A. cataractae Enghoff sp. nov., cross: A. leptoptilos Enghoff sp. nov., triangles; A. julostriatus Enghoff sp. nov. Red symbols: Lophostreptus spp.; dots:L. tersus, crosses:L. magombera Enghoff sp. nov. Blue dots:Udzungwastreptus marianae Enghoff gen. et sp. nov. Based on Marshall et al. (2010: fig. 1).

Fig. 8. Attemsostreptus cataractae Enghoff sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (VMNH 112021). A–C. Midbody rings. A. Four rings with legs. B. Close-up of metazonite and posterior part of prozonite. C. Closeup of prozonite and anterior part of metazonite. D–G. Right gonopod. D. Anterior view. E. Anteriormesal view. F. Distal part of telopodite. G. Tip of telopodite. Abbreviations: atp = antetorsal process (highlighted in yellow in D);lap = lateroapical metaplical process; map = mesapical metaplical process; mp = metaplica; mr = metaplical “roof”; oz = ozopore (hard to see); pp = proplica; px = paracoxite; sl = serrate lamella; slm = solenomere. Scale bars: A = 1 mm; B–F = 0.2 mm; G = 0.05 mm.

Fig. 9. Attemsostreptus julostriatus Enghoff sp. nov., paratype, ♂ (NHMD 621879). A. Collum and part of ring 2, lateral view. B. Two midbody rings, lateral view. C–D. Midbody ring, details of sculpture. C. Posterior part of prozonite, lateral view. D. Dorsal view. E–G. Telson and last two rings. E. Lateral view. F. Dorsal view. G. Posterior view. Scale bars: A–B, E–G = 0.5 mm; D = 0.2 mm; C = 0.05 mm.

Fig. 4. Attemsostreptus reflexus Akkari & Enghoff, 2019, male from Udzungwa Mts (Mwanihana, Njokamoni, NHMD 621851). A. Head, collum and rings 2–6, lateral view. B–D. Telson and ultimate ring. B. Lateral view. C. Posterior view, incl. legs of ultimate ring. D. Dorsal view. Abbreviations: av = anal valve; pr = preanal ring. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.