Zinophora pearlae, Redman & Hamer & Barraclough, 2003

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 : 256-257

Zinophora pearlae sp. n. Redman

Figs 2 , 147–152

Type material (examined): Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 1ơ, Ncandu Forest Reserve [2729DD], 1.ii.1996, O. Bourquin ( NMSA 15604 ) . Paratypes: 2ơ, same data as holotype .

Etymology: This species is named for the first author’s sister Pearlrose Sowazi, in recognition of her unstinting support of his studies.

Diagnosis: Two femoral spines, one longer, slightly curved and distally directed, concealed by posterior telocoxal fold, the other tooth-like and emerging from anterior limb of telopodite ( Figs 149, 152 ). Dorsal surface of anterior telocoxal fold produced into a digitiform process behind and above telocoxal spine, extending beyond margin of posterior telocoxal fold, such that it is visible aborally ( Fig. 150 ). Posterior telocoxal fold with distal and median triangular processes ( Fig. 149 ). Lateral margin of telocoxite with angular projection curling orally, and with serrated distal margin ( Figs 149, 150 ). Telocoxal spine prominent, with broad base, curved and with apex directed downwards ( Figs 149, 150 ).

Description:

Dimensions: Males, n = 3. Body width 5.0, 5.0–5.2; collum width 5.5, 5.0–5.5; body length 55.0, 55.0–65.0; leg length 3.5, 3.3–3.6; antenna length 4.1, 4.0–4.1.

Number of segments: 41, 41–44.

Colour: Head and collum light brown. Clypeus brown. Prozonites light brown, mesozonites brown, and metazonites dark brown. Pre-anal ring and anal valve brown. Legs and antennae brown.

First ozopore: Segment 6.

Collum:Anterior corner forming 90 angle, without distinct projection. One submarginal groove ( Fig. 147 ).

Gonopods: Two femoral spines present, one longer, slightly curved, distally directed, and apically tapered ( Figs 149, 152 ). The other femoral spine shorter, tooth-like and emerging from anterior limb of telopodite, rather than from flexure of telopodite ( Fig. 152 ). Thumb a saucer-shaped laminate plate broadening apically, with dentate margin and curled towards pectinophore. Pectinophore a short laminate plate with series of long spiniform projections emerging from surface along lateral margin closer to second lamella. Second lamella a long laminate plate broadening apically and curled away from other apical elements ( Figs 151, 152 ). Telocoxal spine with broad base, curved with apex directed basally ( Figs 149, 150 ). Dorsal surface of anterior telocoxal fold produced into a short process behind and above telocoxal spine ( Fig. 150 ), this process extending beyond distal margin of posterior telocoxal fold, such that process is visible aborally. Posterior telocoxal fold with distal and median triangular process ( Fig. 149 ). Lateral margin of telocoxite with angular projection curling orally and with serrated distal margin ( Figs 149, 150 ). Posterior telocoxal fold sloping diagonally over anterior telocoxal fold (on aboral surface), not concealing telocoxal spine and with median lobe not overlapping opposite posterior telocoxal fold ( Fig. 149 ).

Pre-anal ring: Caudal spine almost extends beyond margin of anal valve.

Distribution: The species is known only from the type locality in the Ncandu Forest Reserve, in the northern part of the Drakensberg Escarpment in KwaZulu-Natal ( Fig. 2 ).

Remarks: This is the only Zinophora species with two femoral spines that are clearly of unequal length. The gonopods most closely resemble those of Z. mudenensis , but differ from this species as follows: Z. pearlae has two femoral spines and Z. mudenensis has one femoral spine; the distal margin of the posterior telocoxal fold in Z. pearlae is triangular and in Z. mudenensis it is rounded; in Z. pearlae the telocoxal spine has a broad base, and is sharply curved with its apex directed proximally, and in Z. mudenensis the telocoxal spine has a narrower base and is gently curved proximally. The first pair of legs of the male of Z. pearlae is also unusual for the genus. The prefemora are in contact medially, the apex of the prefemoral process is triangular and more like that of Harpagophora in shape, and the syncoxosternum has an incomplete suture ( Fig. 148 ).

Figures

Fig. 2. Distribution of southern African Zinophora species.

Figs 147–152.Zinophora pearlae sp. n. 147. Lateral view of collum; arrow indicates anterior end of millipede. 148. Oral view of first pair of male legs. 149. Aboral view of gonopods. 150. Oral view of gonopods. 151.Aboral view of telopodite. 152. Oral view of telopodite. afp = process on anterior telocoxal fold; c = telocoxal spines; dp = process on distal margin of posterior telocoxal fold; f1, f2 = two femoral spines; lp = lateral process; p = pectinophore; sl = second lamella; t = thumb.