Zinophora levis (Attems, 1928) Redman & Hamer & Barraclough, 2003

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 : 248-249

Zinophora levis (Attems, 1928) , comb. n.

Figs 2 , 5, 9 , 121–126

Harpagophora levis Attems, 1928: 373 .

Harpagophora levis ; Attems 1934; Lawrence 1965; Schubart 1966; Demange 1983; Hamer 1998.

Type material (examined): Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 1ơ, Rietvlei [2930AB], Umvoti District ( SAMC 7752 ).

Additional material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 2ơ2^, Pietermaritzburg, Richmond road, in grass [2930CB], x.1942, R. F. Lawrence & W. G. Rump ( NMSA 3932 ) ; 11ơ5^, On road near Albert Falls [2930AD], 7.xi.1960, R. F. Lawrence ( NMSA 8122 ) ; 1ơ, Pongola Bush Reserve - Escarpment (27.3236˚S:30.4819˚E), 17.i.1995, M. Hamer ( NMSA 15519 ) ; 1ơ2^, Pietermaritzburg, Bisley Valley Nature Reserve [2930CB], grassland, walking along path, ii.1996, M. Hamer ( NMSA 15586 ) ; 1ơ, Utrecht district, Farm Gelykwater (27.5147˚S:30.76˚E), 1.xii.1999, B. Kasseepursad ( NMSA 18935 ) ; 1ơ, Richmond area on road (29.99155˚S:30.24497˚E), 13.xi.2000, R. Slotow ( NMSA 19057 ) ; 1ơ, Mooi River, Weston College Road (29.21043˚S:30.02059˚E), 25.xi.2000, R. Slotow & M. Hamer ( NMSA 19032 ) ; 1ơ, Ashburton area [2930CB], Ishona Langa Nature Reserve , 30.x.2001, M. Brown ( NMSA 19173 ) . Mpumalanga: 2ơ2^, Amerspoort [2729BB], 1964, R. F. Lawrence ( NMSA 9298 ) .

Diagnosis: Two femoral spines, one straight and partially concealed under posterior telocoxal fold, other projecting outwards at right angle to telopodite and not curled inwards ( Figs 123, 126 ).A third short, distally directed tooth-like spine present at flexure of telopodite ( Fig. 126 ). Lateral margin of posterior telocoxal fold with triangular protrusion with distal margin directed orally and with serrated edge. Telocoxal spine basally broad, with toothed dorsal margin ( Figs 121, 125 ).

Description:

Dimensions: Males, n = 12; females, n = 5. Body width 6.5, 5.8–7.5 [6.9], female 7.6– 9.2 [8.3]; collum width 6.4, 5.8–7 [6.6], female 7.3–8.4 [7.7]; body length 70.0, 50.0– 80.0 [74.1], female 70.0–103.0 [82.4]; leg length 3.6, 3.6–5, female 3.7–4.4; antenna length 4.4, 4.1–5.6 [4.8], female 4.1–5.9 [4.9].

Number of segments: 43, 42–48 [45], female 45–49 [46].

Colour: Head and clypeus light brown. Collum dark brown, anterior margin light brown. Prozonites light brown to yellow, mesozonites light brown, and metazonites dark brown. Anal valve brown, margin dark brown.Caudal spine brown.Legs and antennae light brown. First ozopore: Segment 6.

Collum: Anterior corner with acute anterior projection directed ventrally. One submarginal groove.

Gonopods: Two femoral spines subequal in length originating at flexure of telopodite. One spine straight and partially concealed under posterior telocoxal fold, other spine projecting outwards laterally at right angles to telopodite ( Figs 121, 123 ). A third short, tooth-like spine present at flexure of telopodite ( Fig. 126 ). Pectinophore with long spiniform projections embedded in hyaline plate. Thumb concave/saucer-shaped, and diverging off base of pectinophore. Distal margin of thumb dentate. Second lamella a laminate plate broadening apically and curled laterally ( Fig. 122 ).Telocoxal spine toothed on dorsal surface and basally broad but with acute apex, directed medially ( Fig. 121 ). Lateral margin of posterior telocoxal fold with protrusion curling orally and with serrated edge. Margin of posterior telocoxal fold sloping diagonally over anterior telocoxal fold, partly concealing one telocoxal spine, not overlapping opposite posterior telocoxal fold ( Figs 121, 125 ).

Pre-anal ring: Caudal spine just surpassing margin of anal valve and upturned distally. Distribution: Z. levis occurs predominantly in the grassland and savanna biomes in central KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mpumalanga ( Fig. 2 ).

Remarks: This species was previously considered to belong to Harpagophora , based on the two femoral spines. However, the form of the second spine is distinct from that of Harpagophora species. The transfer of this species to Zinophora is based mainly on the form of the telocoxal folds (reflexed against themselves) and the apical elements of the telopodite.

The form of the one femoral spine (f2) is variable. In some specimens the spine is directed laterally (straight) and in others it is bent aborally about halfway along its length. The structure of the first pair of male legs in most specimens examined resembles those of the genus Zinophora , i.e. syncoxosternum of first pair of male legs without trace of medial suture ( Fig. 9 ), but in some specimens a faint suture is visible.

Figures

Fig. 2. Distribution of southern African Zinophora species.

Figs 4–9. Characters of southern African Harpagophoridae. 4–6. Limbus from midbody segment. 4. H. attenuata. 5. Z. levis. 6. Z. munda. 7. Gnathochilarium (Z. punctata). 8. Mandible (Z. punctata). 9. Oral view of first pair of male legs (Z. levis).

Figs 121–126. Zinophora levis (Attems, 1928). 121. Aboral view of gonopod (NMSA 8122). 122. Apical elements of telopodite. 123. Telopodite. 124. Apical elements of telopodite. 125. Aboral view of gonopods (NMSA 19057). 126. Detail of femoral spines of telopodite. c = telocoxal spine; f1, f2, f3 = three femoral spines; p = pectinophore; sl = second lamella; t = thumb.