Harpagophora diplocrada Attems, 1909

Redman, Guy T., Hamer, Michelle L. & Barraclough, David A., 2003, Revision of the Harpagophoridae (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida) of southern Africa, including descriptions of five new species, African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 203-277 : 221-223

Harpagophora diplocrada Attems, 1909

Figs 1 , 40–44

Harpagophora diplocrada Attems, 1909: 42 ; Attems 1914 1922 1926 1928; Schubart 1966; Jeekel 1970. Harpagophora (Harpagophora) diplocrada ; Demange 1983; Hamer 1998.

Type material (not examined): NAMIBIA: Southern Hereroland : Otjimbingwe [2216AC]; Great Namaland: Keetmanshoop, Kubub [2616CB], Schultze. The whereabouts of the type material is unknown .

Material examined: NAMIBIA: 1ơ, Narlldas Sil, 9.i.1913 ( TMSA 20484 ) ; 1ơ, Naukluft Mts [2416AA], Blaaskranze farm, 2416AB, 3.ii.1969, B. Lamoral ( NMSA 9662 ) ; 1ơ, Grootberg area , Palmfontein Farm area, 25.ii.1969, B. Lamoral ( NMSA 9670 ) ; 1ơ3^, Halsos Mts , Valencia Farm, ii.1969, B. Lamoral and R. Day ( NMSA 9666 ) ; 6ơ8^, Daan Viljoen Nature Reserve , outside Windhoek [2217CA], i.2000, C. Boix ( NMSA 18920 ) . No locality data : 1ơ ( SAMC C2099 ) .

Diagnosis: Larger femoral spine apically expanded and with two large divergent, acute projections ( Fig. 42 ). Spine branch of telopodite a narrow, cylindrical spine not apically bifid ( Fig. 43 ). Pectinophore ribbon-like and incurved towards spine branch, with series of long setiform projections along one margin ( Fig. 43 ). Distal medial margin of telocoxite extended into long and slender projection ( Figs 43, 44 ).

Description:

Dimensions: Males, n = 8; females, n = 9. Body width 7.5–10.6 [9.6], female 7.0–12.0 [10.7]; collum width 7.5–10.1 [9.2], female 6.5–10.6 [9.4]; body length 85.0–115.0 [98.0], female 65.0–112.0 [97.4]; leg length 4.6–6.4; antenna length 5.0–6.9 [6.0].

Number of segments: 49–53 [52]; female 50–54 [52].

Colour: Head dark brown. Clypeus dark brown in area around supralabral pits and above eyes, but light brown between eyes. Collum dark brown. Prozonites yellow, mesozonites orange and, metazonites dark brown. Anal valve and caudal spine dark brown. Legs dark brown. Antennae light brown.

First ozopore: Segment 6.

Collum: Anterior corner rounded and obtuse. Posterior corner of collum extending a little beyond posterior border and overlapping second segment. One submarginal groove with smaller groove along vertical margin ( Fig. 40 ).

Gonopods: Larger femoral spine distally directed, apex expanded and bifid with two large, divergent points of unequal size and length. Smaller femoral spine simple and partially curled round base of larger femoral spine ( Fig. 42 ). Pectinophore ribbon-like and incurved towards spine branch, with series of long setiform projections along one margin. Spine branch narrow, cylindrical, incurved and apically tapered ( Figs 42, 43 ). Medial distal region of telocoxite with a long, slender finger-like projection; area below projection with one to three short, hook-like telocoxal spines medially ( Figs 43, 44 ). Surface of telocoxite with short, laterally directed flap sometimes partially concealing femoral spine ( Fig. 43 ).

Pre-anal ring: Caudal spine short and upturned distally.

Distribution: H. diplocrada is endemic to Namibia, and occurs from southern Namibia through central Namibia and just into the northern region of the country ( Fig. 1 ).

Remarks:This is a large millipede compared with other southern African harpagophorids. A likely explanation for the large size is to minimise water loss in the arid Namibian environment.

The identity of the material examined was confirmed by comparison with the original illustrations, as the repository of the type material is unknown.

There is variation in the number and orientation of telocoxal spines and the apex of the larger femoral spine, both within and between populations. In some specimens there is a single medially directed, short telocoxal spine, and in other specimens there are two or three short and hooked telocoxal spines ( Figs 43, 44 ). In some material examined, the suture of the syncoxosternum is incomplete.

Figures

Fig. 1. Distribution of Harpagophora, Metaphora and Poratophilus species in southern Africa. G = Gauteng; KZN = KwaZulu-Natal; L = Lesotho; MP = Mpumalanga; S = Swaziland; NW Prov = North West Province; W Cape = Western Cape.

Figs 40–44. Harpagophora diplocrada Attems, 1909. 40. Lateral view of anterior region of millipede. 41. Oral view of first pair of male legs. 42. Aboral view of telopodite. 43. Aboral view of gonopods (NMSA 18920). 44.Aboral view of gonopods (NMSA 9670). f1 = large femoral spine; f2 = small femoral spine; mp = median process; p = pectinophore; s = spine branch.