Mecistocephalus satumensis Takakuwa, 1938

Published, First, 2007, The Mecistocephalidae of the Japanese and Taiwanese islands (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha), Zootaxa 1396, pp. 1-84 : 34-35

Mecistocephalus satumensis Takakuwa, 1938

Figs. 43–45

[1] Mecistocephalus satumensis: Takakuwa 1938d — Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Formosa 28: 281 (original description); fig. 1–5 Mecistocephalus (Mecistocephalus) satumensis: Takakuwa 1938a — Annot. Zool. Japon. 17: 355 Mecistocephalus (Mecistocephalus) satumensis: Takakuwa 1940 — Fauna Nippon. 9: 75 (key); fig. 76–78 Mecistocephalus (Mecistocephalus) satumensis: Takakuwa 1942b — Micron. Sci. 5: 18, 22 (key) Mecistocephalus satumensis: Takakuwa 1943 — Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 13: 170 Mecistocephalus (Mecistocephalus) satumensis: Takashima 1949 — Acta Arachn. 11: 13 Mecistocephalus satumensis: Shinohara 1961b — Zool. Mag. Tokyo 70: 215

[2] Mecistocephalus satumensis: Takano 1980 — Atypus 76: 53 Mecistocephalus satumensis: Murakami 1993 — List Species Anim. Japan 5: 105

Diagnosis. A Mecistocephalus species with 45 leg­bearing segments. Body length reaching at least 7 cm. Each clypeal plagula about 3.5 times as wide as long. Anterior ala of the labrum subrectangular, with the medial margin not reduced to a vertex; posterior ala subrectangular, with the external margin longer than the medial margin. Forcipular article I with only one distal tooth.

Type material. Holotype: sex not stated, 70 mm long, adult ( Takakuwa, 1938d).

Type locality. ‘Makurazaki (Kagosimaken)’, Kyushu ( Takakuwa, 1938d).

Depository of type material. The holotype is probably lost (see Discussion).

Material examined. None.

Description. Body reaching at least 7 cm. Body colour light brownish­yellow, head and forcipular segment darker. Head about 1.4 times as long as wide. Clypeus: clypeal ratio about 2.0; areolate part of clypeus without smooth insulae, each side with 3 setae; plagulae without evident sensilla or setae, each plagula about 3.5 times as wide as long. Labrum: anterior ala subrectangular, its medial margin longer than the medial margin of the posterior ala; posterior ala subrectangular, the external side enlarged in form of a rounded lobe, so that the external margin is longer than the medial one. Spiculum well developed; buccae with setae in the posterior half only. Mandible: about 7 lamellae; first lamella with about 5 teeth; average intermediate lamella with about 15 teeth; margin of the basal tooth with spiniform processes. First maxillae: anterior corners of coxosternum not projecting. Forcipules: article I about 1.5 times as long as wide, with one distal tooth; articles II and III each with a poorly developed tooth; tarsungulum with one basal tooth shallow and rounded. A total of 45 leg­bearing segments. Ratio between the length of the first leg and the length of the second about 0.9. Sternal sulcus not furcate. Last leg­bearing segment: sternum about 1.6 times as long as wide, with a pair of lateral notches.

Distribution in the considered area.

Honshu: Miyake­jima, Izu­shoto, Tokyo [2] (transcribed from Japanese).

Kyushu: ‘Makurazaki (Kagosimaken)’ [1] (type locality).

General distribution. Honshu and Kyushu.