Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) kivuensis Lawrence, 1953

Lewis, J. G. E., 2005, A reassessment of Cryptops loveridgei Lawrence and C. kivuensis Lawrence, with observations on the subgenera Trigonocryptops Verhoeff and Paratrigonocryptops Demange (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha), African Invertebrates 46, pp. 115-115 : 120-121

Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) kivuensis Lawrence, 1953

Figs 14–21

C. kivuensis Lawrence, 1953: 419 . Holotype, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Idjwi Id., Lake Kivu,

ii.1939 (A. Loveridge), TC-674, unique number 14389, MCZ [examined] .

Diagnosis:Setose clypeal plate bearing ten large setae. Head paramedian sutures complete. Tergite 1 lacks paramedian sutures, these incomplete on segment 2 and 3, complete on 4. Anterior margin of forcipular coxosternum with 5–6 setae on each side. Pores occupy anterior 90% of coxopleuron. Ultimate leg prefemur with dorsomedial spinous process and ventral longitudinal area lacking spiniform setae.Femur with dorsolateral apical spinous process. Tibia with dorsolateral and dorsomedial apical spinous processes.

Description of holotype:

Length approximately 30 mm. Colour brown.

Antennae with 17+14 antennomeres, the basal two antennomeres with long setae, the third with medium and short, the subsequent with short fine setae and an irregular proximal whorl of long setae.

Head plate as long as wide with complete, anteriorly diverging paramedian sutures (Lawrence gives: with very faint furrows in its posterior two-fifths). Posterior margin of head plate overlies anterior margin of tergite 1 ( Fig. 14 ).

Clypeus, which is partially obscured, with indistinct anterior heart-shaped setose clypeal plate with about ten setae, some represented only by sockets ( Fig. 15 )

Anterior border of forcipular coxosternum slightly curved on each side with 6+4 long setae some represented only by their sockets on the sclerotised ridge ( Fig. 16 ). With 3+3 lateral setae (Lawrence gives: anterior margin with 3 or 4 long bristles). A prominent seta behind the anterior margin on each side and a very weak median longitudinal suture occupying the anterior 45% of the coxosternum.

Tergite 1 with anterior transverse suture (not mentioned by Lawrence) obscured by posterior margin of head capsule ( Fig. 14 ) and without paramedian sutures. Very fine oblique sutures on 2–5, these very difficult to make out. Paramedian sutures incomplete on tergites 2 and 3, complete on tergites 4–20. Lateral crescentic sulci (grooves) on tergite 5–19. No lateral longitudinal sutures. Pretergites visible on 2–20. Tergite 21 without median depression or spiniform setae.

Sternites with deeply grooved transverse sulcus (groove) from 3–19, the median longitudinal sulci scarcely visible, their appearance depending very much on correct illumination (Lawrence gives: sternites with cross furrows, the longitudinal ones definitely longer than the transverse ones). Trigonal sutures on sternites 3–8 ( Fig. 17 ) (sternites 1 and 2 obscured), becoming a transverse curved suture from 9 and then straight ( Fig. 18 ). Sternites punctate from 5, without tubercles. Sternite 20 with one or two stout setae antero-laterally, also on precoxa 19 and 20. Sternite 21 with sides converging posteriorly, and posterior margin slightly concave and lacking spiniform setae ( Fig. 19 ).

Numerous small pores occupying the anterior 88% of coxopleuron, with four setae on or anterior to posterior margin.

Ultimate legs long. Prefemur with dorsomedial apical spinous process, femur with dorsolateral and tibia with dorsolateral and dorsomedial apical spinous processes ( Fig. 20 ). Both second tarsi damaged. Prefemur with short spiniform setae, these absent dorsally and from median longitudinal ventral strip ( Fig. 19 ). Femur with spinous setae on posterior (inner) surface, a few on anterior (outer) on left femur. A few long fine setae on all podomeres. Tibia with 11 or 12 small saw teeth (mucrones) ventrally in a sinuous row ( Fig. 21 ). Tarsus 1 with 3 or 5 larger saw teeth.

Many of legs 1–19 are missing and mqny of those still attached lack terminal claws, some lack tarsi. Prefemur with spiniform setae anteriorly and ventrally, and a few occur posteriorly and dorsally. Femur with spiniform setae ventrally and a few anteriorly and posteriorly; ventrally only on the tibia. The tarsi very weakly divided, accessory spurs two, the anterior the longer (Lawrence gives: legs well provided with strong setae, those on the 13th pair to the ultimate legs strong and spine-like, especially on the prefemur and femur, where they form irregular rows). Leg 20 with spiniform setae dorsally, posteriorly and ventrally on prefemur, posteriorly and ventrally on femur, which is densely setose on its anterior face; tibia with spiniform setae ventrally.

Spiracles not visible.

Remarks: Lawrence (1953) stated that C. kivuensis agrees most closely with C. stupendus Attems, 1928 , but this was due to the fact that he overlooked its anterior transverse and trigonal sutures. It runs down to C. (T.) numidicus tropicus Attems, 1909 , recorded from three localities in Kenya, in Demange’s (1968) key. This species, is, however, smaller (18 mm) and has only 7+3 saw teeth (mucrones) on the ultimate leg tibia and tarsus rather than the (11 or 12) + (3 or 5) in C. kivuensis and the coxal pores occupy a restricted area on the coxopleuron rather than 90%.

Figures

Figs. 14–21. Cryptops (T.) kivuensis, holotype: (14) head plate and first tergite; (15) setose clypeal plate; (16) anterior margin of forcipular coxosternum; (17) sternite 8, trigs trigonal sutures; (18) sternite 11; (19) terminal segments and prefemur of left ultimate leg, ventral; (20) terminal segments and ultimate legs, dorsal; (21) tibia and tarsus of left ultimate leg, dam damaged area of tarsus 1. Scale bar = 0.5 mm, except Fig. 15 = 0.25 mm.