Zinophora thukela, Redman & Hamer & Barraclough, 2003

Redman, Guy T., Hamer, Michelle L. & Barraclough, David A., 2003, Revision of the Harpagophoridae (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida) of southern Africa, including descriptions of five new species, African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 203-277 : 266-268

Zinophora thukela sp. n. Redman

Figs 3 , 184–190

Type material (examined): Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 1ơ, Tugela Valley, Farm Gannahoek (2840'40''S: 30 00'35''E), under stones and fallen aloes, northeast rocky slope in valley bushveld woodland, 21.xi.1999, O. Bourquin ( NMSA 18729 ) . Paratypes: 4ơ, same data as holotype ( NMSA 18709 ) ; 1ơ, Tugela Ferry area [2830CB], 14.ii.1995, D. Herbert ( NMSA 16104 ) ; 1ơ, Weenen Nature Reserve (28.85498˚S:30.00612˚E), 13.xi.2001, G. Redman ( NMSA 19168 ) , 1ơ, (28.85207˚S:30.00781˚E, NMSA 19159 ) ; 1ơ, on road to Weenen Nature Reserve (28.97025˚S:29.89988˚E), 13.xi.2001, G. Redman ( NMSA 19158 ) ; 1ơ1^, Weenen Nature Reserve (28.87980˚S:30.02180˚E), 14.xi.2001, G. Redman ( NMSA 19169 ) , 1ơ, (28.87907˚S:30.01543˚E, NMSA 19164 ) , 1ơ, (28.87866˚S:30.01789˚E, NMSA 19170 ) , 1ơ, (28.87907˚S:30.01543˚E, NMSA 19165 ) ; 1ơ, (28.87981˚S:30.02180˚E, NMSA 19166 ) , 1ơ, (28.87598˚S:30.00600˚E, NMSA 19160 ) , 1ơ, (28.87907˚S:30.01543˚E, NMSA 19167 ) .

Etymology: The species name refers to the area where the species was first collected - the Tugela area, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. ‘ Thukela ’ is the correct Zulu spelling of the area, and is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: Telopodite with two femoral spines, one more conspicuous, directed upwards and tightly curved medially, not concealed beneath telocoxal folds; other spine straight ( Fig. 186 ) and partially concealed beneath posterior telocoxal fold ( Fig. 184 ). Lateral projection on outer margin of posterior telocoxal fold triangular with acute apex ( Fig. 184 ). Telocoxal spine narrow at base, directed aborally and with apex pointed towards base of gonopod ( Figs 184, 187 ).

Description:

Dimensions: Males, n = 14. Body width 6.5, 6.0–8.5 [7.8]; collum width 6.0, 7.0–8.7 [7.8]; body length 87.0, 73.0–91.0 [81.7]; leg length 2.7, 2.0–3.5; antenna length 4.0, 4.0–5.9 [4.5].

Number of segments: 49; 46–49; [48].

Colour: Head dark brown. Clypeus light brown to orange. Collum dark brown, anterior margin orange. Prozonites light brown to yellow, mesozonites brown, and metazonites dark brown. Anal valve brown, margin orange. Caudal spine dark brown and orange towards tip, apex dark brown. Legs and antennae light brown to orange.

First ozopore: Segment 6.

Collum: Anterior corner with moderate anterior projection forming an angle of about 90. One submarginal groove.

Gonopods: Two femoral spines present, both originating at flexure of telopodite, and subequal in length. One spine straight and partially concealed under posterior telocoxal fold, other spine projecting outwards and then strongly curved medially towards distal part of posterior telocoxal fold ( Fig. 186 ), not concealed beneath posterior telocoxal fold ( Fig. 185 ). Pectinophore with about six long setiform projections embedded in hyaline plate. Thumb a concave/saucer-shaped laminate plate with dentate margin. Second lamella broadening apically and curled away from other apical elements ( Fig. 188 ). Telocoxal spine with narrow base, tilted aborally with acute apex directed towards basal part of gonopod ( Fig. 184 ). Posterior telocoxal fold with triangular lateral projection directed orally, with weakly serrated edge ( Fig. 185 ). Posterior telocoxal fold distally rounded and sloping diagonally over anterior telocoxal fold, not concealing telocoxal spines, nor overlapping opposite posterior telocoxal fold ( Figs 184, 185, 187 ).

Pre-anal ring: Caudal spine extending well beyond margin of anal valve and upturned distally ( Fig. 189 ).

Distribution: Restricted to the Tugela Valley region of KwaZulu-Natal ( Fig. 3 ). Most specimens were found on stony soils in open to semi-open woodland, and on rocky areas along the edges of floodplains.

Remarks: There were no females in all the material examined. This is probably because females were not collected, rather than that they were not present during sampling.

There is variation in colour in the males. Some have two longitudinal orange stripes along the dorsal surface of the trunk from the second segment to the penultimate segment. There is also variation in the gonopods. For example, the position where the femoral spine from the opposite gonopod rests is variable, but this may be a result of the orientation of the gonopods when viewed.

In two specimens from Weenen Nature Reserve the telocoxal spines are dentate on the dorsal margin as in Z. levis and Z. similis , but the shape of the telocoxal folds and femoral spines are identical to that of other Z. thukela specimens ( Fig. 185 ).

Z. thukela most closely resembles Z. levis but differs from this species as follows: telocoxal spine in Z. thukela has a smooth dorsal margin and a narrow base, and in Z. levis the telocoxal spine is dentate on dorsal margin with a broad base. In Z. thukela the curved femoral spines is directed upwards and tightly curved medially, whereas in Z. levis the curved spine is directed laterally and is not curved medially.

The syncoxosternum of the first pair of male legs of Z. thukela has an incomplete suture, and the prefemora are similar in shape to those of Harpagophora ( Fig. 190 ).

Figures

Fig. 3. Distribution of southern African Zinophora species.

Figs 184–190. Zinophora thukela sp. n. 184–185, 187. Aboral view of gonopods. 184. NMSA 18709. 185. NMSA 19170. 187. NMSA 18709. 186. Telopodite. 188. Apical elements of telopodite. 189. Lateral view of anal valves and pre-anal ring. 190. Oral view of first pair of male legs. c = telocoxal spines; f1, f2 = femoral spines; lp = lateral process; p = pectinophore; sl = second lamella; t = thumb.