Remysymphyla spinosa, Camacho & Vandenspiegel, 2012

Camacho, Miguel Domínguez & Vandenspiegel, Didier, 2012, Scolopendrellidae (Myriapoda, Symphyla) from the Afrotropics with descriptions of seven new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 32, pp. 1-28 : 19-23

Remysymphyla spinosa sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2F1D7455-D3F6-4DC5-A731-04C893267D6A

Figs 9 , 10

Type material

Holotype Sex unknown, CONGO D.R., Kivu, Itombwe, terr. D’Uvira , tête de source de la Nyalengwe (03º30’ S, 029º00’ E), in a mountain forest with bamboo, 2500 m, coll. Leleup N., Aug. 1959 ( MRAC 22161 ).

Paratypes 2, sex?, same data as holotype ( MRAC 22162 ).

Type locality

CONGO D.R., Kivu, Itombwe, terr. D’Uvira, tête de source de la Nyalengwe (03º30’ S, 029º00’ E), in a mountain forest with bamboo, 2500 m.

Etymology

The species name is an adjective emphasizing the long and erect setae of the tergites, which give this species a spiny aspect.

Description (holotype)

LENGTH. 2.1 mm.

HEAD. 1.3 times as long as broad with broadest part behind the middle on a level with lateral protuberances ( Fig. 9A ). Lateral margins nearly straight. Central rod well-developed and not broken. Frontal branches also well-developed. Median branches not very distinct in the holotype, but clearly distinct in the paratypes ( Fig. 9B ). Dorsal surface with very long and spiny setae of equal length. Cuticle with dense granulation ( Fig. 9G ).

ANTENNAE. Broken in holotype. Rather short, in paratype left antenna with 27 segments, right with 29, ( Fig. 9C ). All segments of equal length and pretty broad, 1.8-1.9 times as wide as long. Antennae densely setose, with a spiny appearance; setae erect and long. Longest setae in the inner part of the median segments, with length of 0.5-0.7 times the diameter of segments. Secondary whorl of setae appears in the 6 th- 8 th segments. Size and number of setae decreases gradually in the seven distal segments, and are totally absent in the last three ones. Apical segment flattened, more than 3 times as wide as long. It presents a transversal depression, bestowing a coffee-bean shape. All segments with pretty long and conspicuous pubescence.

TERGITES. Not all well-visible in the studied specimens, at least 17 can be counted in the holotype, of which 13 present triangular processes ( Figs 9A , 10A ). All tergites – except the first and the two latest – sclerotized only in the lateral parts. All tergal setae very long; shortest setae at least as long as triangular processes. Triangular processes longer than broad in the anterior tergites, with digitiform ends and no apical setae; processes of the posterior tergites thinner and reduced to small digitiform projections ( Fig. 10C ). First tergite with six setae arranged in two groups of three. Second tergite comparatively very large ( Fig. 9A, E ), with five posteromarginal, one central and six lateromarginal setae. Anterolateral setae not longer than the rest. All tergites with pubescence. Last tergite subelliptical, with posterior margin convex ( Fig. 10B ).

LEGS. First pair of legs reduced to two oviform knobs densely covered by numerous spines ( Fig. 9F, H ). Two longer setae on the laterals, about twice as long as the whole knob. Last pair of legs with thick and long setae at the distal part of the joints ( Fig. 10B, C ). Femur and tibia with three setae; tarsus with two protruding dorsal setae. Cuticle pubescent.

STYLI. Small, elongate and spike-like, covered by hairs ( Fig. 9D ).

CERCI. 2.8 times as long as wide, with straight margins ( Fig. 10B, C ). About 25 visible setae from the dorsal view, slightly curved and depressed. Cuticle with faint pubescence. Limit between cerci sensu stricto and terminal areas not transversal, but diagonal, as a continuation of the outer margin towards the inner margin ( Fig. 10B ). Terminal area small, 0.1 times as long as the total length of the cerci, conical, longer in the outer margin than in the inner with six diagonal striae, parallel to the basis of the terminal area. Apical seta about as long as terminal areas, curved inwards ( Fig. 10B, C ).

Affinities and differential diagnosis

The morphology of the first pair of legs, which does not present evidence of several joints, makes Remysymphyla spinosa sp. nov. more similar to R. hebetocornuta Scheller, 1971 than to the remaining African species. The spiny aspect of the body is characteristic for this species.

Remarks

The genus attribution of this species has been problematic, mainly due to the above-explained confusion regarding the definition of Remysymphyla . The study of type specimens of Remysymphyla hova Aubry & Masson, 1952 allowed the recognition of the first pair of legs of R. spinosa sp. nov. as typical for this genus ( Figs 8 B-D; 9F, H). However, observations using SEM seems to be suboptimal for detection of one of its major diagnostic characters: the number of joints on the first pair of legs. Although no joints were discernible in this species, the shape of the oviforms knobs of R. spinosa sp. nov. resembles the two-jointed legs of R. hebetocornuta Scheller, 1971 .

Figures

Fig. 9. Remysymphyla spinosa sp. nov. A. Head and first 3 tergites (T1, T2, T3) of holotype, dorsal view. Arrows, digitiform end of triangular processes; al, anterolateral setae; cr, central rod; fb, frontal branches; lp, lateral protuberance of the head; mb, median branches. B. Head and first tergite (T1) of paratype, dorsal view. Cr, central rod; lp, lateral protuberance of the head; mb, median branches. C. Antennae of paratype. Arrows, transversal depression of apical segments. D. Stylus of the leg 11 (arrow) of paratype. E. Detail of first (T1) and second (T2) tergites of holotype. Arrows, digitiform end of triangular processes; al, anterolateral seta; cs, central seta. F. Head and first legs of paratype, lateral view. G. Detail of the surface of the head of paratype. H. Detail of the first leg of paratype.

Fig. 10. Remysymphyla spinosa sp. nov. A. Posterior part of the trunk of the holotype, tegal areas 8-15 (TA8-TA15) (fide Domínguez Camacho 2009: 108, fig. 4), corresponding to tergites 9-21 (T9-T21). Doubled labeling of tergites shows partial sclerotization. B. Last tergite (T21), last pair of legs and cerci (C) of holotype, dorsal view. Arrows, diagonal limit between cerci sensu stricto and terminal areas (tar); as, apical seta; f, femur; t, tibia; ta, tarsus of the last right leg. C. Last tergites, last pair of legs and cerci (C) of holotype, lateral view. Arrow, digitiform projection of tergite 19; as, apical seta; f, femur; t, tibia; ta, tarsus of the last left leg; tar, terminal area of the cerci.

Fig. 8. Remysymphyla hova Aubry & Masson, 1952. Paratypes (MNHN K002) from Ambanja (A-D) and Ambatolampy (E and F), Madagascar. A. Head and anterior half of the trunk, dorsal view. T1-T11, tergites 1-11; TA1-TA9, tergal areas 1-9 (fide Domínguez Camacho 2009, fig. 4, page 108). Doubled labeling of tergites shows partial sclerotization. B. Head and first pair of legs, ventral view. C, D. Detail of the first leg of two different specimens. E. Cerci (C) last tergal areas (TA14, TA15) (fide Domínguez Camacho 2009, fig. 4, page 108) corresponding to tergites 18-21 (T18-T21), dorsal view. Only exterior parts of tergites 17 and 18 are sclerotized (doubled labeled). F. Last tergite (T21) and cerci (C) of other specimen. Arrows, diagonal basis of the terminal areas (ta).