Zinophora sabulosa (Attems, 1928)

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 : 259-262

Zinophora sabulosa (Attems, 1928)

Figs 3 , 163–169

Poratophilus sabulosus Attems, 1928: 380 .

Philoporatia sabulosa ; Attems 1928; Demange 1969.

Poratophilus (Philoporatia) sabulosus ; Schubart 1966.

Zinophora sabulosa ; Demange 1983; Hamer 1998.

Type material (not examined): Attems (1928) gave the following locality data: [ South Africa] Cape Province, Coldstream, Humansdorp (B. 5297); [ Namibia] Otjiwarongo and Grootfontein District . The whereabouts of the type material is unknown . Types were suspected to have been in SAMC, but they were not found there.

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng: 2ơ, Pretoria, Koedoespoort [2527BD]. x. 1909, G. P. F. Van Dam ( TM 15856 ); 1ơ, Pretoria Hornsneck [2528CA], 7.xii.1911, G. Van Dam & G. L. Roussou ( TMSA 16138 No. 696); 1ơ, Wonderboom District [2528CA], Saltpan, 12.xii.1911 ( TMSA 6141 No. 695); 2ơ, Pretoria [2528CA] ,

163 l 164

Medunsa Campus , xii.1996, E. Green ( NMSA 18638 ) . Northern Cape: 1ơ, Kromrand (SE 2925 AC), ix–xii.1984 ( NMBA 12449 ) ; 1ơ, Pniel Community Area (28.60165˚S:24.49581˚E), in road with white rock (calcrete) and short trees with leaves with white undersurface, 6.xii.2001, G. Redman ( NMSA 19185 ) ; 1ơ, Pniel (28.59129˚S:24.38621˚E), 6.xii.2001, G. Redman ( NMSA 19195 ) ; 1ơ, in road between Campbell and Griquastad (28.81287˚S:23.61137˚E), 7.xii.2001, G. Redman ( NMSA 19182 ) ; 1ơ1^, in road past Dejager Farm near Spitskop Nature Reserve (28.34073˚S:21.1722˚E), 11.xii.2001, G. Redman ( NMSA 19184 ) ; 1ơ, Dwaalhoek (27.78036˚S:21.28103˚E), 11.xii.2001, G. Redman ( NMSA 19181 ) ; 1ơ, Dwaalhoek (27.78036˚S:21.28103˚ E), 11.xii.2001, G. Redman ( NMSA 19183 ) ; 1ơ, in farm road between Doornkloof & Petrusville (30.44533˚S:24.98822˚E), 14.xii.2001, G. Redman ( NMSA 19196 ) . North West Province: 1ơ, Madikwe Game Reserve (24.82629˚S:26.18989˚E), near Abjagterskop gate, 16.i.2000, M. Hamer & R. Slotow ( NMSA 18715 ) ; 1ơ, Mogwase Sun City /JHB road on Northam road (25.39252˚S:27.29820˚E), large orange, red, brown striped harpagophorid, Acacia Savanna , 30.x.2000, R. Slotow ( NMSA 18952 ) .

Diagnosis: One long femoral spine on telopodite, this incurved medially, passing just below telocoxal spine and lobe of posterior telocoxal fold, with apex sometimes resting on posterior telocoxal fold of opposite gonopod ( Figs 164, 167 ). Thumb reduced, branching off base of pectinophore and curved away from other apical elements ( Fig. 166 ). Lateral surface of posterior telocoxal fold with prominent digitiform process ( Figs 163, 164, 168 ). Medially, posterior telocoxal fold with prominent horizontal lobe passing just above telocoxal spine ( Fig. 164 ). Anterior telocoxal fold bearing telocoxal spine with apically upturned hook ( Figs 164, 168 ).

Description:

Dimensions: Males, n = 10; females, n = 2. Body width 8.9–11.1 [10.1], female 9.3– 10.5; collum width 8.0–10.0 [9.2], female 8.0–9.0; body length 90.0–135.0 [107.0], female 70.0–85.0; leg length 4.7–7.5, female 4.3–4.7; antenna length 5.5–7.0 [6.4], female 5.5–5.7.

Number of segments: 45–49 [47], female 44, 47.

Colour: Head and clypeus light brown to orange. Collum light brown to orange, with strip of brown along anterior and posterior margins. Prozonites light brown, mesozonites brown, and metazonites dark brown. Pre-anal ring and anal valve orange. Tip of caudal spine dark brown to black. Legs and antennae light brown.

First ozopore: Segment 6.

Collum: Anterior corner with moderate projection directed ventrally ( Fig. 165 ).

Gonopods: Telopodite with one long, strongly curved femoral spine ( Fig. 167 ), with apex sometimes resting on posterior telocoxal fold of opposite gonopod ( Fig. 164 ). Thumb reduced, branching off from base of pectinophore and curved away from other apical elements ( Figs 164, 166 ). Second lamella a thin and broad hyaline plate, broadening apically and flat ( Fig. 166 ). Anterior telocoxal fold bearing telocoxal spine with apical hook ( Figs 164, 168 ). Medial margin of posterior telocoxal fold with horizontal lobe passing just above telocoxal spine, and exceeding median margin of anterior fold ( Fig. 164 ). Lateral margin of posterior telocoxal fold with finger-like projection ( Figs 163, 164 ).

Pre-anal ring: Caudal spine hooked and almost vertical, just surpassing posterior margin of anal valve.

Distribution: Z. sabulosa has a very wide distribution ( Fig. 3 ), from Namibia (Attems 1928), through the northern parts of South Africa from the Upington area in the west, to Brits in the east. Other records are from Gauteng and the North West Province (Madikwe Game Reserve).

Remarks: Z. sabulosa may easily be confused with Z. munda , but the two species are distinguished by the telocoxal spines which have an apically upturned hook in Z. sabulosa . In addition, the thumb of the telopodite in Z. sabulosa is reduced and not as long as that in Z. munda .

Figures

Fig. 3. Distribution of southern African Zinophora species.

Figs 163–169. Zinophora sabulosa (Attems, 1928). 163. Oral view of distal region of gonopod (TMSA 15856). 164.Aboral view of gonopods (TMSA 15856). 165.Lateral view of collum; arrow indicates anterior end of millipede. 166. Apical elements of telopodite. 167. Telopodite. 168. Aboral view of gonopods (NMSA 18711). 169. Oral view of first pair of male legs. c = telocoxal spine; f = femoral spine; l = median lobe of posterior telocoxal fold; p = pectinophore; rt = reduced thumb; sl = second lamella.