A mountain of millipedes I: An endemic species-group of the genus Chaleponcus Attems, 1914, from the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Odontopygidae)
Author
Enghoff, Henrik
text
European Journal of Taxonomy
2014
2014-10-24
100
1
75
journal article
21808
10.5852/ejt.2014.100
5329bfc4-61b2-48f5-a96a-caf4ba31039b
2118-9773
3860450
B3E6C489-6D96-4AF5-A33D-EE8329A9321B
Chaleponcus hamerae
sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:
E27E3FB0-22E6-46EF-81CB-447DA44E3090
Figs 9
,
26
Diagnosis
Medium-sized. Characterized by the sub-rectangular outline of the cucullus, resembling
C. teres
sp. nov.
in this character, but differing by having a dorsal spine on each anal valve. Telomeral lamellae largely smooth. Gonopod coxa (
Fig. 9
) without a lateral process; metaplical shelf-spine long.
Etymology
The name honours Michelle Hamer in recognition of her work on the taxonomy and conservation of African millipedes.
Material studied
(total:
9 ♂♂
)
Holotype
TANZANIA
:
♂
,
Iringa Region
,
Udzungwa Mts
,
Udzungwa Scarp
FR,
above Chita village
,
1600–1650 m
,
8–13 Nov. 1984
,
pitfall traps
, montane rain forest,
N. Scharff
leg. (
ZMUC
).
Paratypes
All from
TANZANIA
,
Iringa Region
, Udzungwa Mts, Udzungwa Scarp FR, all in ZMUC:
4 ♂♂
, above Chita village,
1600–1650 m
,
8–13 Nov. 1984
, pitfall traps, montane rain forest, N. Scharff leg;
4 ♂♂
,
11 km
SE of Masisiwe village, Kihanga Stream,
1800 m
,
08°22’ 05.7” S
,
35°58’ 41.6” E
,
17–27 May 1997
. ZMUC & SI Exp.
Type locality
TANZANIA
:
Iringa Region
, Udzungwa Mts, Udzungwa Scarp
FR
, above Chita village,
1600–1650 m
, rain forest.
Description
(male)
DIAMETER.
2.1–2.3 mm
, 46–47 podous rings.
COLOUR. After 30 years in alcohol (brownish) yellow, traces of broad light dorsal stripe flanked by dorsolateral dark stripes, narrow lateral dark line at ozopore level.
ANAL VALVES. Each with a small dorsal spine and a very small ventral spine; marginal rim raised, setiferous tubercles on ravelins.
LIMBUS. With broadly rounded to spatulate, apically finely serrate lobes; lobes as broad as long or slightly broader, separated by rounded incisions much narrower than width of lobes, or by short stretches of straight, finely serrulate margin.
TARSAL SETATION. Normal.
GONOPOD COXA (
Figs 9
,
26
). About 3½-4 × as long as wide. Lateral margin basally slightly sinuous, basally convex,
ca.
at level of proplical lobe (
prl
) concave and then again convex, meeting oblique, straight apical margin under blunt angle; cucullus (
cu
) hence subrectangular in outline. Metaplical flange (
mf
) ending in blunt, rounded angle, no process; metaplical mesal margin slightly concave up to level of
prl
, distally tucked in, on posterior side sinuous: first concave, then convex, then concave again up to level of metaplical shelf (
ms
).
ms
very prominently projecting mesad but not notably posteriad. Metaplical shelf-spine (
mss
) short, originating from anterior-mesal part of
ms
, projecting distad, slightly curved.
GONOPOD TELOPODITE (
Fig. 26
). Solenomere without a proximal spine. Telomere distally with two distal
branches, both curving anteriad:
• anterior lamella (
al
) broad, twisted, mostly with smooth edges but with terminal, subrectangular lobe (
al’
) with dentate terminal edge,
• posterior lamella (
pl
) situated basal to
al
and rest of telopodite, large, smoothly curved, with smooth edges and subterminally with long, apical spine (
pls
).
Distribution and habitat
Known only from Udzungwa Mts, Udzungwa Scarp FR. Altitudinal range:
1600–1800 m
asl. Habitat: montane rain forest.
Coexisting species
C. nikolajscharffi
sp. nov.
was found in the same samples as
C. hamerae
sp. nov.
In addition,
C. circumvallatus
sp. nov.
was found in Udzungwa Scarp FR.
Notes
The gonopods quite resemble those of
C. teres
sp. nov.