Cryptops penicillatus Lawrence, 1960

Lewis, John G. E., 2011, A review of the species in the genus Cryptops Leach, 1815 from the Old World related to Cryptops (Cryptops) hortensis (Donovan, 1810) (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha, International Journal of Myriapodology 4, pp. 11-50 : 29-30

Cryptops penicillatus Lawrence, 1960

Cryptops penicillatus Lawrence, 1960 Faune de Madagascar 12. Myriapodes Chilopodes, p. 76, fig. 22 a-d.

Material examined.

MNHN. Holotype. [Madagascar Centre: forêt de] Manjakatompo, Ankaratra Mts 2,000 m, I 1956. (Forcipules are missing).

Description.

(Additional data from Lawrence (1960) in parentheses).

Length 16.5 mm. Colour yellow, without dark subcuticular pigment. Antennal articles 12+11, the basal 2 with long, 3 with, in addition, some short setae. The number of short setae increase over 4, 5, and 6. An irregular basal whorl of long setae from 4. Cephalic plate without sutures. (Tergite 1 without sutures and overlying posterior margin of cephalic capsule. Anterior margin of coxosternite weakly convex with 2+2 long and 3+3 short setae on each side [these data from Lawrence (1960) Fig. 22 c]. Poison gland calyx spherical, situated in anterior part of forcipular coxosternite).

(No paramedian sulci or sutures ( “sillons”) before tergite 7, indistinct on the other tergites. Lateral sulci only occupying the anterior third of each tergite, last 3 tergites without sulci). Sternites with deep wide longitudinal sulcus (on all sternites except the first), transverse sulcus very fine (none). Sternite 21 with corners broadly rounded and posterior margin straight (small, rounded).

Coxopleuron with 8 large pores (6-8) occupying anterior 55% of coxopleuron and with at least 6 minute setae in pore field. Six fine setae on posterior margin and 5 between this and the pore field. Ultimate legs with fine setae, the ventrolateral setae of the prefemur thicker, without a medial longitudinal glabrous area. Tibia with 6, tarsus 1 with 4 saw teeth (5+3). Legs 1-19 with fine setae, tarsi undivided, pretarsal accessory spurs very small. (Leg 20 three basal articles with a brush of setae ventrally).

Remarks.

Described from Madagascar, Cryptops penicillatus is very similar to and is hereregarded as a Cryptops decoratus lacking dark subcutaneous pigment of which it is a junior subjective synonym. For a full discussion of this see p. 23.