Scaptodesmus vandenspiegeli sp. nov

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2F2B336E-F414-49BD-A1F5-4C65CC3E0304

Figs 10–13 & 14

Material examined: Holotype male (NHMN-62-13), Cameroon, Center Region, Zamakoe secondary Forest, 3.5563N, 11.5218E, 706 m a.s.l., 21.III.2015, leg. A. R. Nzoko Fiemapong.

Paratypes: male (NHMN-62-14), Cameroon, Center Region, Lékié Division, Obala, Cacao based agroforest, 4.168376 N, 10.213165 E, 641 m a.s.l., 26.IV.2023, leg. Guibai Jean and A. R. Nzoko Fiemapong; 1 female (NHMN-62-15), Cameroon Littoral Region, Ebo Forest, 4.346097 N, 10.213165 E; 18.IV.2022, 1 male (SEM, ARNF), Cameroon, Center Region, Kala Mountain 03.83544N, 11.35148E, 1050 m a.s.l., mature natural secondary forest, 22.V.2024; 1 female (ARNF), same locality and date; 1 female (NHMN-62-16) Ongot, 3.85N, 11.483334E, degraded secondary forest, ca 810 m a.s.l., 08.VII.2022, all leg. A.R. Nzoko Fiemapong.

Etymology. To honor Dr. Didier Vandenspiegel, a taxonomist who has greatly contributed to the knowledge of Afrotropical and other Diplopoda.

Diagnosis. This species differs from congeners by the marbled olivaceous-brown coloration without special yellow spots at lateral margins of paraterga (Fig. 10). Gonopod postfemoral process (pfp) complex, presenting a small, rounded lamella just after the curvature and bifid distally (Fig.12D); external branch of acropodite forming a large solenomere (slo), which has only an indistinct, small solenomere proper at its tip, next to a larger internal axe-shaped branch forming a solenophore (sph).

Description. Length of holotype, ca. 43 mm, width of midbody pro- and metazona, 3.3 and 8 mm, respectively. Length of paratypes, 44 mm, width of midbody pro- and metazona, 3.5–4.5 and 9–10.5 mm (male, female), respectively. Dorsum granulate (Figs 10, 11C). Coloration (preserved in 70% ethanol) olivaceous-marbled-brown; antennae, venter and legs brown to light brown.

Head densely microgranulate; interantennal isthmus about half as broad as diameter of antennal socket.Antennae long and only slightly clavate, in situ reaching past body ring 4 when stretched dorsally; in length, antennomere 4=3>2>6>1>7; apical segment with usual four sensory cones.

Body with 20 segments (male, female). In width, head <collum <ring 2 <3 <4 <5 <6–16, body tapering towards telson starting with ring 17. Collum transversely ellipsoid, not covering the head from above; sides narrowly rounded; dorsal surface densely and irregularly microgranulate (Figs 10, 11C). Dorsum slightly convex (Fig. 10). Prozona smooth and shining; metazona dull, densely microgranulate; pleurosternal region with transverse rows of small, tubercles/short spines. Metaterga 2–5 each with a small, evident impression at bases of paraterga, following paraterga (nearly) regularly convex, continuing the convex outline of mid-dorsal region. Paraterga broad, mostly lying at about half body height, and slightly declined, paraterga 17–19 increasingly clearly drawn past rear tergal margin, 19th sharp. Sides below paraterga densely granulate, grains in the caudal row being longer, spiniform, and sharp. A thin and dark axial line sometimes traceable dorsally, particularly well visible on collum and prozona.

Epiproct short, spade-shaped, strongly flattened dorsoventrally, subtruncate, tuberculate dorsally (Fig. 10). Hypoproct microgranulate, subtrapeziform, with 1+1 caudal setae distinctly separated and borne on minute knobs. Paraprocts likewise densely microgranulate.

Sterna broad, almost flattened, densely granulate on metazona (Fig. 12B). Gonapophyses on male coxae 2 vestigial. Legs, very long and slender, about 1.5 times as long as the height at midbody (male), in length, femur> tarsus> tibia> prefemur = postfemur>coxa; claw very small, slightly curved; ventral surface of legs densely setose except for both postfemur and coxa. No brushes on ventral surface of tarsi (Fig. 11D).

Gonopod aperture (Fig. 12B) transversely ovoid, large, lateral and posterior edges slightly elevated, fully concealing both gonocoxae and bases of telopodites.

Gonopods (Fig. 12 C-F): coxite medium-sized, subcylindrical, fused at base to a small membranous sternal remnant, poorly setose distodorsally, including a pair of very closely placed, distalmost and particularly long setae.

Cannulae slender, without peculiarities. Telopodites in situ directed forward, held subparallel to each other, suberect, not crossing each other mesally. Prefemoral part erect, taking up ca. 2/3 total length of telopodite. Femorite absent, but a relatively complex postfemoral process (pfp) present, recurved at a right-angle, bifid, bearing a small, rounded lamella/plate just after the curvature. Acropodite twisted, divided parabasally into two lobes: a medial, large and axe-shaped solenophore (sph) and a large lateral solenomere (slo) branch, this bearing an indistinct, small solenomere proper at its tip.

Female. Cyphopods located directly behind of leg-pair 2 on body ring 3; broadly ovoid in ventral view (Fig. 13). Anterior and posterior valves densely setose, ventral margins elevated, forming distinct carinae. Contact line between the two valves forming a median groove (Fig. 13B). Operculum small and relatively proximal (Fig. 13 C).

Distribution. This species is currently known from three localities in Cameroon's southern forest region, where it has been usually found under leaf litter and in decaying material. It has been recorded in syntopy with S. kala sp. nov. in the Central region of the country (Fig. 14). The species inhabits both degraded secondary forests and mature, undisturbed forest.