Harpagophora dittoktenus Attems, 1914

Redman, Guy T., Hamer, Michelle L. & Barraclough, David A., 2003, Revision of the Harpagophoridae (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida) of southern Africa, including descriptions of five new species, African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 203-277 : 223-225

Harpagophora dittoktenus Attems, 1914

Figs 1 , 45–49

Harpagophora dittoktenus Attems, 1914: 165 ; Attems 1928; Lawrence 1965; Schubart 1966. Harpagophora (Harpagophorella) dittoktenus ; Demange 1983; Hamer 1998.

Type material (not examined): SOUTH AFRICA: 1ơ. The type locality was given only as ‘Cape’ and the type specimens are housed in MNHN. The type locality is here set as Western Cape, Ashton [3320CC] .

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: 2ơ3^, Ashton [3320CC], Robertson district , Karoo , in earth under bushes, viii.1900, W. F. Purcell ( SAMC 1672 ) .

Diagnosis: Apex of larger femoral spine with two acute projections of unequal length, longer of these directed outwards ( Fig. 47 ). Spine branch shorter than pectinophore, narrow and finger-like with spines along its margins ( Fig. 49 ). Distal medial margin of telocoxite with distally directed blunt lobes ( Figs 47, 48 ).

Description:

Dimensions: Males, n = 2; females, n = 3. Body width 7.0–7.1, female 6.7–8.2; collum width 6.5–6.5, female 5.8–7.0; body length 65.0–75.0; female 65.0–80.0; leg length 3.7–3.7; female 3.2–3.8; antenna length 4.5–4.5; female 4.0–5.0.

Number of segments: 47–49; female 45–51.

Colour: Head, clypeus and collum brown. Prozonites light brown with greyish tinge, mesozonites light brown, metazonites dark brown. Anal valve light brown with greyish tinge. Caudal spine, legs and antennae light brown.

First ozopore: Segment 6.

Collum: Angle of anterior and lateral margins approximately 100˚. One submarginal groove ( Fig. 46 ).

Gonopods: Larger femoral spine straight and partially concealed under fold on aboral surface of telocoxite.Apex of larger femoral spine with two acute projections of unequal length, longer of these directed outward. Smaller femoral spine directed outwards ( Figs 47, 48 ). Pectinophore with series of long spiniform projections emerging from hyaline plate and not forming part of margin. Spine branch shorter than pectinophore, narrow and finger-like with spines along its margins ( Fig. 49 ). Distal medial margin of telocoxite with distally directed blunt lobe. Lateral margin broadly rounded.( Figs 47, 48 ). Telocoxal spine absent, however medial margin of distal part of telocoxite acutely depressed at base of distal part of telocoxite, about a third of gonopod length from distal margin in general position of telocoxal spine ( Figs 47, 48 ). Aboral surface of telocoxite with fold adjacent to telocoxal spine partially concealing larger femoral spine.

Pre-anal ring: Caudal spine short, just surpassing margin of anal valve and slightly upturned distally.

Distribution:The only known record of H. dittoktenus is from Ashton (Robertson District) in the Western Cape ( Fig. 1 ).

Remarks: The identity of the material examined was confirmed by comparison with the original illustration.According to the original description and the key by Attems (1928), H. dittoktenus does not have telocoxal spines, but both the specimens examined had the marginal depression which could be interpreted as an obscure spine.

The gonopods of this species very closely resemble those of H. alokopyga , especially in terms of the telocoxite. The apical elements of the telopodite, however, distinguish the two species.

The origin of the name dittoktenus is unclear and it has therefore not been modified to agree with the gender of the genus name.

Figures

Fig. 1. Distribution of Harpagophora, Metaphora and Poratophilus species in southern Africa. G = Gauteng; KZN = KwaZulu-Natal; L = Lesotho; MP = Mpumalanga; S = Swaziland; NW Prov = North West Province; W Cape = Western Cape.

Figs 45–49. Harpagophora dittoktenus Attems, 1914. 45. Oral view of first pair of male legs. 46. Lateral view of collum; arrow indicates anterior end of millipede. 47. Aboral view of gonopods (SAMC 1672). 48. Aboral view of gonopods from same sample. 49. Apical elements of telopodite. f1 = large femoral spine; ml = median lobe; p = pectinophore; s = spine branch.