Cacuminostreptus conatus ( Attems 1928 ) Attems, 1928

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 : 32

Cacuminostreptus conatus ( Attems 1928) comb. n.

Fig. 11

Triaenostreptus conatus Attems 1928 , p. 368–369, figs 531–533. Archispirostreptus conatus: Krabbe 1982 ; Hamer 1998, 1999; Mwabvu 2005 Spirostreptus conatus: Hoffman 2008

Type material: Syntype: PORTUGESE EAST AFRICA ( MOZAMBIQUE): 1 3, Zandemela near Chai Chai [24 0 16'S, 33 0 56'E], ( NHMW 2524) (also labelled SAM 6023).

Additional material examined: ZIMBABWE: 1 3, Mhlekwane School [2231A2], 17.xii.1996, F. Nyathi (NMZ/D844).

Diagnosis: Apical metaplical process with a narrow, longer and laterally deflected sausage-shaped oral fold of distal metaplica ( Fig. 11a ); aboral fold of apical metaplical process shorter and wider than oral fold; apex of apical metaplical process conical with raised base.

Description: Size: Body length 180 mm; maximum body width 15 mm.

Number of body rings: 54.

Colour: Black.

Collum: Laterally square, with 2–3 complete striae and 1–2 incomplete striae ( Fig. 11d ).

Pre-femoral process of 1st pair of male legs: Proximally broad and parallel, apical extension long and deflected laterally ( Fig. 11c ).

Gonopod: ( Figs 11a, 11b ) Apex of sternum almost reaching level of paracoxite apex; paracoxite apex flat, fused tightly to metaplica.

Proplicae wider and flat apically, and not overlapping lateral metaplical process. Small medial lobe on apical proplica extending distally, concealed under oral fold of metaplica.

Oral fold of apical metaplical process longer and sausage-shaped apically. Aboral fold of metaplica with a diagonal ridge; mesial depression extends distally.

Lateral metaplical process narrowly joined to metaplica, forming acute angle with apical metaplical process ( Figs 11a, 11b ). Lateral metaplical process triangular mid-length, sharply tapering distally.

Oral fold of apical metaplical process deflected laterally; aboral fold of apical metaplical process shorter and wider than oral fold ( Fig. 11a ).

Distribution: Known from Chimanimani and Mount Silinda, Zimbabwe; Mozambique, Kruger National Park, South Africa ( Krabbe 1982) and Mhlekwane School in south-eastern Zimbabwe.

Remarks: The gonopod of C. conatus closely resembles the gonopods of the new species, C. vumbaensis , C. triangulatus and C. mazowensis , by having apically wide proplicae, an arrow-head shape of the distal lateral metaplical process and a crescent-shaped antetorsal process with a distal spine. However, C. conatus is distinguished from vumbaensis and mazowensis by a lateral metaplical process which is narrowly joined to the metaplica and slanting towards the apical metaplical process, a long and laterally deflected oral fold of the apical metaplical process, and the presence of an aboral ridge and depression on the metaplicae. In C. vumbaensis and C. mazowensis the lateral metaplical process is not deflected towards the apical metaplical process. The triangular shape of the apical metaplical process of the gonopod of C. triangulatus is unique in this genus.

Figures

FIGURE 11 a, b. Cacuminostreptus conatus (NMZ / D 844). a, oral view of gonopods (without left telopodite); b, aboral view of gonopods.