Chaleponcus limbatus Attems, 1914

Vohland, Katrin & Hamer, Michelle, 2013, A review of the millipedes (Diplopoda) of Namibia, with identification keys and descriptions of two new genera and five new species, African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 251-251 : 295-297

Chaleponcus limbatus Attems, 1914

Figs 79–82

Chaleponcus limbatus: Attems 1914 a: 203–205 , figs 257–260; 1922: 204; 1928: 412; Kraus 1960: 27;

Schubart 1966: 125; Hamer 1998: 58.

Chaleponcus dolabratinus Kraus, 1960: 21 , 27, figs 30–34; Schubart 1966: 123; Hamer 1998: 58. Syn. n. Diagnosis: Telocoxite rounded but with median apex angular, and median distal margin serrated. Basal lamella of gonopod tarsus with angular extension ( Fig. 79, tl2).

Description:

Size: Width of male 4.0–4.5 mm; 61–64 segments.

Colour: Dark brown, metazonites posteriorly bordered with reddish brown.

Head: 6 supralabral pits.

Collum: 2–3 folds ( Fig. 82).

Tergites and sternites: Prozonites with longitudinal striation, partly with faint horizontal striae. Metazonites and sternites smooth.

Gonopods: Telocoxite aborally with a rounded lamella, and medially with a distally directed lamella having a faintly serrated border. Telopodite with tibial process very small, having 0–2 minute basal processes. Three tarsal lamellae as usual, the basal inner one ( Fig. 79, tl1) beset with fringes, the outer one ( Fig. 79, tl2) with angular extension of variable length.

Holotype of C. dolabratinus (examined): ♂ NAMIBA: Waterberg [several localities by this name, so co­ordinates uncertain], 26–28.x.1952, Mertens ( SMFD 2725 /1).

Paratype (examined): 1♀ same data as holotype ( SMFD 2726 /2) .

Other material examined: NAMIBIA: 1♂ Rehoboth district, Garies Oos 489 [23°19'S 17°07E], 9.ii–23. iii.1996, E. Marais ( SMN 22134 ) ; 1♂ Windhoek district, Hoffnung 66 [22°32'22"S 17°11'47"E, 1922 m], 3.ii.1971, M.­L. Penrith, ‘ B.H. & E.M. ’ ( SMN 21713 ) ( NMNW) ; 1♂ Kamanjab district, Etosha Game Park [18°41'S 15°46'E], 5.iii.1969, P.G. Olivier ( SMN 21649 ) ( NMNW) ; 1♂ West Caprivi, Buffalo Base [17°50'S 23°57'E], iii–x.1990, E. Marais ( SMN 21964 ) ( NMNW) ; 1♂ Kamanjab district, Bloubokdraai [19°37'S 14°50'E], 10.viii.1987, E. Griffin ( SMN 21920 ) ( NMNW) ; 1♂ Omaheke region, east Hereroland, Eiseb River [21°29'S 18°31'E], 18.xi–15.xii.1988, E. Marais & M. Paxton ( SMN 21982 ) ( NMNW) . 1♂ Otjozondjupa region, 100 km N of Windhoek, Biodiversity Observatory Otjiamongombe , 21°35'S 16°56'E, 3.ii.2003, J. Frisch & K. Vohland (BIOTA­1529) ( ZMHB) ; 8♂ 7♀ 5 juv. Katima Mulilo district, Salambala camp site, 17°50'01"S 24°36'09"E, 23–30.xii.2002, A.H. & M.K. Kirk-Spriggs, hand collected ( SMN 22146–22164 ) ( NMNH) ; 1♂ 1♀ 7 juv. Owambo, Onkeleiwa , 17°25'S 15°29'E, in mopane leaf litter, 20.i.1993, E. Marais ( SMN 22132 ) ( NMNW) .

Distribution: Widely distributed in northern Namibia (Khomas and north up to Kunene River).

Remarks: The only distinction between C. limbatus and C. dolabratinus is the size of the outer tarsal lamella. Examintion of numerous specimens showed that this is a variable feature. O. Kraus (pers. comm.) indicated that characteristics of the gonopods might have been overstressed in relation to somatic features.