Bicoxidens nigerrimus, Attems, 1928

Mwabvu, Tarombera, Hamer, Michelle L. & Slotow, Robert H., 2007, A taxonomic review of the southern African millipede genus, Bicoxidens Attems, 1928 (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae), with the description of three new species and a tentative phylogeny, Zootaxa 1452, pp. 1-23 : 13-14

B. nigerrimus Attems, 1928

Fig. 7

Bicoxidens nigerimus Attems, 1928 ; Lawrence, 1965; Schubart, 1966; Krabbe, 1982; Hamer, 1998; Mwabvu, 2000, 2005

Type material (examined): Holotype: ZIMBABWE: 1 ɗ, Salisbury [17 0 35'S, 31 0 05'E], 1926 ( SAMB 3361); Paratype: 1 ɗ, Salisbury [17°35'S, 31°05'E], 1926 ( SAMB 3351)

Additional material examined: ZIMBABWE: 1 ɗ, Taru Dam [2030A4], 7.ii.1994, F. Nyathi (NMZ/D753)

Diagnosis: Apical telocoxite slightly tilted upwards, with a rounded lateral process which extends into a distal median process ( Fig. 7 a); two short rounded median processes present ( Fig. 7b ).

Description:

Size: Body length 110–135 mm; minimum and maximum body width 4 mm and 7 mm; antenna length 5– 6 mm.

Number of body rings: 55–61.

Colour: Body black; antennae and legs brown.

Collum: With two complete folds and an incomplete fold.

Pre-femoral process of 1st pair of male legs: Rounded tips weakly turned medially.

Sigilla on body ring: Three rows, becoming one ventrally.

Gonopod: 4–5 mm long. Apical telocoxite wide, with a rounded lateral process and three median processes ( Fig. 7 a). Smaller median process proximal to middle one. Upper and longer process separated from middle one by a U-shaped invagination ( Fig. 7 a). Aborally, bulb shaped basally rounded lobe present on lateral leaf. The postfemur forms an incomplete loop near the extremity.

Distribution: Harare and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe ( Fig. 10)

Remarks: This small-bodied species is not widely distributed as flavicollis . The gonopod has a bulb- or flask-shaped lobe on the lateral leaf as in friendi , matopoensis , brincki , and gokwensis ; the apical folding of the telocoxite resembles that in matopoensis and brincki , but differs from them by being smaller and tilted upwards.

Abbreviations: at, apical telocoxite; cf, collum fold; llb, lateral leaf lobe; lp, lateral process; mp, median process; pfl, prefemoral lobe; st, sternite; tp, telopodite

Figures

FIGURE 7. B. nigerrimus (SAM B 3361). a, oral view of gonopods; b, aboral view of gonopods; c, oral view of prefemoral lobe of first pair of male legs; d, lateral view of collum.