Symphylella lubumbashi, Camacho & Vandenspiegel, 2012

Camacho, Miguel Domínguez & Vandenspiegel, Didier, 2012, Scolopendrellidae (Myriapoda, Symphyla) from the Afrotropics with descriptions of seven new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 32, pp. 1-28 : 11-13

Symphylella lubumbashi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5AD5782F-EB94-4BFF-B70F-A9BB5E6728B1

Figs 4 , 7D

Type material

Holotype Sex unknown, CONGO D.R., Shaba, Lubumbashi (11º40’ S, 027º28’ E), coll. Goffinet G., Dec. 1969 ( MRAC 22154 ).

Paratypes 2, sex unknown, same data as holotype ( MRAC 22155 ); 2, sex unknown, same data as holotype ( MRAC 22156 ).

Type locality

CONGO D.R., Shaba, Lubumbashi (11º40’ S, 027º28’ E).

Etymology

The species name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

Description (holotype)

LENGTH. 1.8 mm.

HEAD. 1.2 times as long as broad with broadest part in the middle on a level with lateral protuberances ( Fig. 4A ). Lateral margins nearly straight. Central rod thin, more distinct in the posterior half. Frontal branches not visible in any of the studied specimens. Median branches absent. Dorsal surface with short setae. Cuticle with faint and dense pubescence ( Fig. 4B ).

ANTENNAE. Proportionately short and depressed, left antenna broken, right with 14 segments ( Fig. 4F ). First segment smaller, following segments pretty broad, about twice as wide as long. Length of setae 0.25-0.3 times the diameter of segments, shorter in most distal segments. No second whorl of setae. Apical segment subglobular, wider than long. All segments with faint pubescence.

TERGITES ( Figs 4A, E , 7D ). First tergite rudimentary with seven setae arranged in two groups of three and four. Triangular processes of following tergites with straight margins, prominent end-swellings and one seta between apical and inner basal setae ( Fig. 4E ). One short seta between first and second tergites in the median part ( Fig. 4E ). Second tergite with seven posteromarginal setae, only one central seta, and four thick and erect lateromarginal setae ( Fig. 4E ). Anterolateral seta longer and well distinct in all anterior tergites. Margin between triangular projections straight in the second tergite but curved in the following ones. Third tergite with eight posteromarginal setae with two central ones, six-seven lateromarginal setae. Setae of the central part of third tergite clearly shorter than marginal ones. All tergites with a dense and conspicuous pubescence.

LEGS. First pair of legs strongly reduced to small spiny spot with two protruding setae ( Fig. 4C, D ). Last pair of legs with protruding setae in the distal part of the joints ( Fig. 4H ). Femur with one longer distal seta on the dorsal side. Tibia with four protruding setae in the distal part. Tarsus with three thick and protruding distal setae. Cuticle pubescent.

STYLI. Small, elongate, covered by hairs resembling a spike ( Fig. 4F ).

CERCI. 2.5 times as long as wide, with slightly curved sides ( Fig. 4I ). 25-30 long, straight and depressed dorsal setae. Outer side of distal half with one or two erect setae; ventral side with four or five setae – not erect – arranged in a longitudinal row ( Fig. 4H ). Cuticle with faint pubescence. Terminal area conical, 0.1 times as long as the total length of the cerci with seven-nine transversal striae ( Fig. 4I ). Apical seta straight, 1.7 times as long as terminal area.

Affinities and differential diagnosis

The presence of only four lateromarginal setae on the second tergite is a characteristic feature shared by S. lubumbashi sp. nov., S. foucquei Jupeau, 1954 and S. elongata Scheller, 1952 . However, S. lubumbashi sp. nov. differs from the latter two species by the presence of a seta between apical and inner basal setae of the triangular processes on the second and third tergites.

Remarks

There is intraspecific variation in the chaetotaxy of the first and second tergites: one paratype presents only six setae on the first tergite, and a small seta between the anterolateral and the following more posterior on the second tergite.

Figures

Fig. 4. Symphylella lubumbashi sp. nov., holotype (dorsal views) and paratype (ventral and lateral views). A. Head and first 4 tergites (T1, T2, T3, T4), dorsal view. Cr, central rod; lp, lateral protuberances of the head. B. Detail of the surface of the head. C. Detail of the first leg. D. Head and first 2 pairs of legs, ventro-lateral view. E. Detail of first (T1) and second (T2) tergites. Arrows, small end-swelling of triangular processes; al, anterolateral setae; as, apical setae; cs, central seta of the posteromarginal setae; ibs, inner basal setae of the posteromarginal setae; s, seta between first and second tergites. F. Right antenna. G. Stylus of the leg 11 (arrow). H. Posterior part of the trunk, last pair of legs and cerci (C), lateral view. White arrows, protruding setae of the femur (f), tibia (t) and tarsus (ta) of last left leg; grey arrows, protruding setae of tibia (t) and tarsus (ta) of the right left; vs, ventral setae of right cercus, in a row. I. Last tergite and cerci (C), dorsal view. As, apical setae; es, erect setae of outer side of cerci, ta, terminal area.

Fig. 7. Schemata of the three first tergites and chaetotaxy of the described species of Symphylella. A. S. erecta sp. nov. B. S. fuko sp. nov. C. S. kalundu sp. nov. D. S. lubumbashi sp. nov. E. S. malagassa sp. nov. F. S. tanganyika sp. nov. — Marginal setae of second and third tergites labelled: lm, lateromarginal setae; lm (al), anterolateral seta of lateromarginal; p, posteromarginal setae; p(a), apical setae – belonging to the posteromarginal setae; p(c), central setae of posteromarginal; p(ib), inner basal setae of posteromarginal; s, seta between first and second tergites. Scale: 50 μm.