Archispirostreptus lugubris ( Brölemann 1901 ), Brolemann, 1901

Mwabvu, Tarombera, Hamer, Michelle, Slotow, Rob & Barraclough, David, 2010, A revision of the taxonomy and distribution of Archispirostreptus Silvestri 1895 (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae), and description of a new spirostreptid genus with three new species, Zootaxa 2567, pp. 1-49 : 18

Archispirostreptus lugubris ( Brölemann 1901)

Fig. 6

Spirostreptus lugubris Brölemann 1901 , p. 31–34, figs 8–11. Graphidostreptus lugubris: Attems 1914

Archispirostreptus lugubris: Schubart 1951 ; Hoffman 1965; Krabbe 1982

Type material: Holotype: ETHIOPIA: 1 3, Sabarguma Allata, 15.iii.1900, P. Magretti ( MNHN 1B 106).

Additional material examined: NIGER: 1 3, Monts Baguezane, Irrabellaben, 26.viii.1947, L. Chopard & A. Villiers ( MNHN 1B 108) (gonopods missing). SENEGAL: 2 3, Bambey [14 0 43'N, 16 0 14'W], ( MRAC 20504); 1 3, 1 Ƥ, Gouloubou [13 0 27'N, 13 0 43'W], 2.i.1979, D. Thys ( MNHN 1B 224).

Diagnosis: Sternite apex flat; oral fold of metaplicae abruptly narrow at level of telopodite knee ( Fig. 6a ). Lateral metaplical process slanting gently towards paracoxite ( Fig. 6a )

Description: Size: Body length 102–155 mm; maximum body width 8–13 mm.

Number of body rings: 55–64.

Colour: Body black or dark brown; legs and antennae brown.

Collum: Anterior produced into lobe, with 2–3 complete striae and 1–2 incomplete striae.

Pre-femoral process of 1st pair of male legs: Basally round with short tapering apical extension.

Gonopod: ( Figs 6a, 6b ) Sternum broad proximally, apex flat; paracoxite triangular.

Width of proplicae constant.

Metaplicae wide proximally; opposite metaplicae wider apart distal to sternite apex; oral fold of metaplicae narrow at level of telopodite knee.

Lateral metaplical process slanting towards paracoxite and broadly joined to metaplica. Lateral metaplical process at obtuse angle with apical metaplical process ( Figs 6a, 6b ).

Distally apical metaplical process convex medially and rounded apically.

Origin of antetorsal processes at telopodite knee.

Distribution: Known from Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia ( Krabbe 1982), Niger, Senegal and Ethiopia ( Fig. 15 ).

Remarks: Abrupt narrowing of the oral fold of the metaplicae has only been observed in the gonopods of lugubris . The telopodite is similar to those of A. dodsoni , A. tumuliporus , A. gigas , A. divergens and A. smithii ; and the lateral metaplical process resembles that of A. beccarii , A. tumuliporus , A. syriacus and A. dodsoni more than A. gigas , A. divergens or A. phillipsii . We have also established that some material of A. lugubris (MNHN 1B 224) from Senegal, housed in MNHN had been incorrectly identified as A. tumuliporus .

Two subspecies— Graphidostreptus lugubris maior Attems 1914 , p. 157, figs 155–156 and Graphidostreptus lugubris villiersi Schubart 1951 , p. 119–124, figs 1–5—from southern Sahara desert have been described. Archispirostreptus lugubris villiersi ( Schubart 1951) is a smaller variation of the type. Furthermore, the apical metaplical process of the gonopod is shorter and the lateral metaplical process is longer, with a pointed apex, than in A. lugubris maior and the other subspecies A. lugubris lugubris . Based on gonopod morphology these subspecies represent recognizable forms.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Distribution of Archispirostreptus and Cacuminostreptus species.

FIGURE 6 a, b. Archispirostreptus lugubris (MNHN, 1 B 106). a, oral view of gonopods; b, aboral view of gonopods.