Cacuminostreptus vumbaensis, Mwabvu, Tarombera, Hamer, Michelle, Slotow, Rob & Barraclough, David, 2010

Mwabvu, Tarombera, Hamer, Michelle, Slotow, Rob & Barraclough, David, 2010, A revision of the taxonomy and distribution of Archispirostreptus Silvestri 1895 (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae), and description of a new spirostreptid genus with three new species, Zootaxa 2567, pp. 1-49 : 40-43

Cacuminostreptus vumbaensis sp. n. Mwabvu

Fig. 14

Type material: Holotype: ZIMBABWE: 1 3, Chimanimani [19 0 47'S, 32 0 52'E], 1957, (NMZ/D602)

Additional material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: 1 3, Kruger National Park [22 0 08'S, 31 0 03'E], ( NMSA 9273). ZIMBABWE: 1 3, Chimanimani [19 0 47'S, 32 0 52'E], 1957, ( NMSA 7223); 1 3, Chimanimani [19 0 47'S, 32 0 52'E], 1963, ( NMSA 8949); 1 3, Nyanga [18 0 12'S, 32 0 43'E],1998, T. Mwabvu ( NMSA 21937); 1 3, Chirinda Forest [20 0 40'S, 32 0 60'E], 1998, T. Mwabvu ( NMSA 20507); 1 3, Eastern Highlands Tea Estates [18 0 12'S, 32 0 43'E], 2008, T. Mwabvu ( NMSA 21937); 1 3, Mount Silinda [20 0 40'S, 32 0 60'E], 1955, ( NMSA 6250). 1 3, Pungwe River, Honde Valley [18 0 14'S, 32 0 40'E], x.1998, T. Mwabvu ( NMSA 20492); 1 3, Gweru [19 0 27'S, 29 0 49'E], 6.xii.2003, T. Mwabvu ( NMSA 20494).

Etymology: The specific name refers to the Vumba Mountains (75 km north of Chimanimani) which are part of the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, where vumbaensis is common.

Diagnosis: Apex of apical metaplical process flat; apical metaplical process convex laterally ( Fig. 14a ).

Description: Size: Body length 130–215 mm; maximum body width 7–15 mm.

Number of body rings: 58–67.

Colour: Body black; legs and antennae reddish brown or dark brown.

Collum: Broad with rounded anterior lobe, with 3–5 complete striae and an incomplete stria ( Fig. 14d ).

Pre-femoral process of 1st pair of male legs: Proximally wide and parallel, mesial apical extension nippleshaped and deflected laterally ( Fig. 14c ).

Gonopod: ( Figs 14a, 14b ) Apex of sternum not extending to level of paracoxite apex; paracoxite rounded apically ( Figs 14a, 14b ).

Apex of proplica wide; medial lobe of apical proplica long and extends distally. Subapical groove present on proplicae.

Metaplicae narrow proximally.

Lateral metaplical process narrow proximally leading to crescent-shaped arrowhead apex; distally tapering.

Proximal lobe of arrowhead short, extending towards telopodite ( Figs 14a, 14b ).

Oral fold of apical metaplical process overlaps proximal part of lateral metaplical process.

Distribution: Known from the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe; Kruger National Park, South Africa and western Mozambique.

Remarks: There are variations in the size of the gonopods and the orientation of the lateral metaplical process within and between populations. The gonopod of C. vumbaensis resembles closely that of C. mazowensis . The two species differ in the convexity of the lateral edges of the metaplicae, the shape of the apex of the apical metaplical process and the shape of the lateral metaplical process. The longer lateral metaplical process of C. vumbaensis closely resembles that of C. conatus and C. triangulatus than C. mazowensis .

C. vumbaensis has been recorded from a wide range of vegetation types and altitudes. In Zimbabwe the species is found in miombo woodland and montane vegetation at altitude greater than 1 000 m above sea level. Further south C. vumbaensis occurs in dry savanna at altitude below 500 m above sea level, in southern Zimbabwe and Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Figures

FIGURE 14 a, b. Cacuminostreptus vumbaensis (NMZ / D 602). a, oral view of gonopods (without left telopodite); b, aboral view of gonopods.