Neosisyphus mirabilis (Arrow 1927) (Figs. 23, 24A)

Sisyphus spinipes Gory 1833

Gory 1833: 8; Harold 1869: 985; Péringuey 1901: 87; Arrow 1927: 459; Haaf 1955: 345; Ferreira 1972: 825; Paschalidis 1974: 21; Montreuil 2015: 3;

Sisyphus mirabilis Arrow 1927

Arrow 1927: 459; Haaf 1955: 345; Ferreira 1972: 825; Paschalidis 1974: 21; Montreuil 2015: 3;

Size: Male: length: 11.0–8.0 mm; width: 5.2–3.0 mm; Female: length: 11.2– 8.3 mm; width: 5.5–3.0 mm

Type locality: Cape of Good Hope

Diagnosis: N. mirabilis is distinguished from other southern African species by having mesotibiae that are strongly modified by indentations and protrusions including a spine projecting from the anterior edge. N. mirabilis differs from the similar east African species, N. tibialis (Raffray, 1877), by lacking tubercles on the pygidium.

Examined non-type material: See Supplementary information.

Distribution: Although the type locality of this species is cited as Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) (Gory 1833) it is more likely that the type specimen was originally collected from the Eastern Cape coastline. N. mirabilis is a summer rainfall species associated with coastal forest (Davis et al. 2002) and, possibly, upland woody vegetation in the Eastern Cape (South Africa). However, it is primarily found in the Maputaland Coastal Forest Mosaic in KwaZulu Natal (South Africa) and in Maputo Elephant Reserve (Mozambique) (Fig. 25).

Remarks: N. mirabilis was described by Gory (1833) as Sisyphus spinipes but the name was preoccupied by Sisyphus spinipes (Thunberg, 1818) . Arrow (1927) recognized the homonymy and renamed Gory’s species as Sisyphus mirabilis .

Conservation status: N. mirabilis is listed as a Least Concern species on the IUCN Red Data List (Davis 2013d). However, a potential major threat is clearance of native habitats (woodland and forest).