urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9FC7C5B7-C5E0-4D66-8E9F-F1B75EBD1AA0
Figs 2, 5G, 8–9
Differs from other species of the genus by the shape of the postnodal telopodite, which resembles a thresher shark’s tail, and by the triangular shape of the sternal process on segment 6.
The name is a noun in apposition, referring to the thresher shark, Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre, 1788), and its tail in particular, the shape of which resembles the postnodal teleopodite in the new species.
Holotype
TANZANIA • ♂; Iringa District, Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve, 11 km SE of Masisiwe Village, Kihanga Stream; 08°22′05.7″ S, 35°58′41.6″ E, 1800 m a.s.l.; 17–27 May 1997; ZMUC and SI Exp. 1997; NHMD 621670.
Other material
TANZANIA • 1 ♀; same collecting data as for holotype; NHMD 621671.
Male
SIZE AND SHAPE. Body length ca 53 mm. Maximum width 6.9 mm. W/L ratio 13%. Height of body ring eight 4.9 mm. H/W ratio= 72%.
COLOUR (Fig. 8). Face, collum, prozona, sterna and metaterga yellow/brown, legs and antennae slightly lighter.
STERNAL PROCESS ON BODY RING 6 (Fig. 5G). Triangular with ‘wavy’ dark brown edge and long setae.
HYPOPROCT. Almost semicircular, with small round median projection, paramedian tubercles projecting beyond edge of sclerite.
GONOPOD (Fig. 9). Gonocoxa with paracannular setae. Telopodite endonodal. Process M and L similar in shape and size, both curved laterad. Postnodal teleopodite wide at base, narrowing shortly after, relatively short, curved dorsad. With narrow triangular subapical lobe on lateral side. Solenomere of telopodite narrow and curved anteriad.
Known only from the type locality in the Udzungwa Scarp FR (Fig. 2).