Megaphyllum dentatum Verhoeff 1898

Megaphyllum dentatum (Verhoeff, 1898)

Figs 9a–g

Brachyiulus (Chromatoiulus) dentatus Verhoeff, 1898: 156, Figs 22–23. Brachyiulus dentatus: Verhoeff 1899b: 763.

Chromatoiulus dentatus: Attems 1927: 233, Figs 308–310

Chromatoiulus (Chromatoiulus) dentatus: Attems 1959: 305.

Megaphyllum dentatum: Enghoff & Kime 2009; Lazányi et al. 2012: 12, 41.

Distribution. Albania (Attems 1929); Bosnia and Hercegovina (Attems 1929); Bulgaria (Attems 1929); Kosovo (Makarov et al. 2004); Montenegro (Makarov et al. 2004); Republic of Macedonia (Makarov et al. 2004).

Diagnosis. Differs from all other consubgeners by two unique features of the promere (P) (Figs 9a–c): a large apical serrated lobe (sl) and a shelf-like protrusion (pr) in the apical third of its posterior surface.

Opisthomere’s (Figs 9a–b, 9d) posterior process (pp) thin, slightly exceeding the very elongated, slightly bent posterior solenomere process (psp). Anterior solenomere process (asp) very short.

According to Verhoeff (1898), the body colour is slightly variable, but both males and females have two bright dorsal longitudinal dorsal bands on darker grounds. Body length and height: males: 23.5–26.7mm, 1.7–2.2mm; females: 37.6–38.7mm, 2.8–3.1mm.

Remarks. The species’ name refers to the large apical serrated lobe. Moreover, the same author stated that the apical toothed lobe of the promere could play a role in holding the vulva, but our investigations do not support this hypothesis as the M. dentatum vulvae (Fig. 9g) do not differ from the common Megaphyllum s.str. vulva type. A similar, though smaller promere lobe can be found in M. projectum, especially in M. p. projectum. M. dentatum is the only Megaphyllum s. str. species with that distinct process on the promere’s posterior surface. Its position is much lower than that of the promerital process in M. transsylvanicum, and it is shelf-, rather than rod-like.