Bactrodesmus Cook, 1896

Type species.

Bactrodesmus claviger Cook, 1896, by subsequent monotypy, Liberia.

As reiterated recently (Golovatch et al. 2018), this genus was first proposed as a nomen nudum (Cook 1896a), but then properly typified (Cook 1896b). The sole useful information contained in the original description of B. claviger, which was accompanied by no illustrations, concerns its small size (7 mm long, 1 mm wide), typically micropolydesmid facies (small paraterga, large and clubbed tergal setae arranged in three transverse rows etc.), strongly enlarged gonocoxae that fully conceal the telopodites and, above all, ♂ legs 2, especially their tibiae, greatly enlarged compared to others (Cook 1896b). No number of body segments has been given.

Below we put on record a new Bactrodesmus coming from the Guinean portion of the Nimba Mountains. This allows us to unequivocally clarify the identity of the genus and provide a new diagnosis.

Diagnosis.

At least ♂ tibiae 2, as well as both gonopodal coxae and gonocoel hypertrophied, telopodites being strongly sunken and their distal outgrowths remaining nearly fully concealed inside gonocoel. Only one prominent, basal fold/branch (bb = sp) present, albeit fully concealed as well; a simple and short solenomere branch (sl) protected by bb mesally and by a clearly 2-segmented lateral part laterally.

Remark.

This genus is presumably among the most advanced representatives of Afrotropical Trichopolydesmidae in showing several autapomorphies.