Poratophilus Silvestri, 1897

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 : 269

Poratophilus Silvestri, 1897

Poratophilus Silvestri, 1897: 16 ; Attems 1914 1926 1928; Carl 1917; Schubart 1966; Jeekel 1970; Demange 1983; Hoffman 1994; Hamer 1998.

Type species: Poratophilus australis Silvestri, 1897 .

Diagnosis (modified from Hoffman 1994): Paracoxites of gonopods elongate ( Fig. 191 ). Posterior telocoxal fold simple, broadly rounded and without lobes or processes along medial margin ( Fig. 191 ). Telopodite with one sickle-shaped femoral spine with acute point ( Fig. 192 ). Apex of femoral spine directed laterally away from medial margin of telocoxite. Apex of telopodite with two branches (the pectinophore and thumb = primary branch, and the second lamella = secondary branch) ( Fig. 192 ). Prefemora of first pair of male legs small, broadly in contact medially, and with elongate subtriangular basal projection. Coxae coalesced without trace of medial suture ( Fig. 200 ).

Distribution: The locality of the type species, P. australis was only given as ‘Africa meridionalis’. P. gorteri is known only from its type locality, in Mabalingwe in the Waterberg District, Limpopo, South Africa.

Remarks: Throughout this study no specimens of Poratophilus were collected. The only Poratophilus material available for purposes of this study was that of P. gorteri .

The rounded form of the anterior telocoxal fold and the orientation of the femoral spine (apex of femoral spine directed laterally) in the two species of Poratophilus are the main characters separating the genus from Zinophora .

Figures

Figs 191–192. Poratophilus australis Silvestri, 1897. From Hoffman (1994), adapted from original drawings by Silvestri (1897). 191. Oral view of gonopods. 192. Telopodite, aboral view. f = femoral spine; p = pectinophore; pa = paracoxite; sl = second lamella.

Figs 193–200. Poratophilus gorteri Hoffman, 1994. 193. Aboral view of gonopods. 194. Oral view of gonopods. 195–197. Apical elements of telopodite, different orientations. 198. Lateral view of collum; arrow indicates anterior end of millipede. 199. Lateral view of anal valve and pre-anal ring. 200. Oral view of first pair of male legs. af = anterior telocoxal fold; c = telocoxal spines; p = pectinophore; pa = paracoxite; pf = posterior telocoxal fold; sl = second lamella; t = thumb.