Harpagophora alokopyga Attems 1909
Creators: name: Redman, Guy T.
name: Hamer, Michelle L.
name: Barraclough, David A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2003
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Diplopoda
Spirostreptida
Harpagophoridae
Harpagophora
Harpagophora alokopyga

description: Harpagophora alokopyga Attems, 1909   
Figs 1, 10–19  
 Harpagophora alokopyga Attems, 1909: 44; Attems 1928; Schubart 1966.   
 Harpagophora (Harpagophorella) alokopyga; Demange 1983; Hamer 1998.   
 Harpagophora polyodus Attems, 1909: 45; Attems 1928; Schubart 1966. Syn. n.   
 Harpagophora (Harpagophorella) polyodus; Demange 1983; Hamer 1998.   
 Type material (examined): Syntypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: 4ơ, Klein Namaland, Komaggas [2917DC] (ZMHB 4936).   
 Additional material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: 1ơ2^, 14 miles inland of Port Nolloth [2916BD], 4.vi.1962, W. J. Lawson (NMSA 18922); 2ơ, Hondeklipbaai Dunes (30.32˚S:17.27˚E), 2–3.xi.1985, C. Griswold & T. Doyen (NMSA 16150). Western Cape: 2ơ, Worcester District [3319CB], 1940 (TMSA 16851, 16853); 1ơ, Kuboos [2817AC], Groenkloof River, Namaqualand [3318CB], 28.xi.1962, W. D. Haake (TMSA 15811). No locality data: 1ơ (SAMC B8559).   
 Diagnosis: Larger femoral spine apically bifid with points of subequal length (Fig. 14). Spine branch a saucer-shaped laminate plate broadening apically with dentate margin (Fig. 15). Distal medial margin of telocoxite (above telocoxal spine) produced into a rounded protrusion. Lateral margin of telocoxite undulating with two laterally directed bulges, one distally (at same level as telocoxal spines), and other basally at opening of gonocoel where telopodite emerges; distal bulge more acute and obvious than proximal bulge (Figs 10–12).   
Description:  
 Dimensions: Males, n = 9. Body width 5.5, 5.5–7.1 [6.3]; collum width 6.0, 6.0–7.0 [6.4]; body length 64.0, 64.0–85.0 [73.0]; leg length 3.0, 3.0–4.3; antenna length 4.0, 4.0–5.0 [4.5].   
 Number of segments: 49, 46–52 [49].   
 Colour: Head and clypeus light brown. Collum light brown with dark brown patches. Prozonites light brown to yellow, mesozonites light brown, metazonites dark brown. Anal valve and caudal spine light brown to yellow. Legs and antennae light brown.   
 First ozopore: Segment 6.   
 Collum: Anterior and lateral margins almost forming blunt right angle. One submarginal groove (Fig. 18).   
 Gonopods: Larger femoral spine straight and partially concealed under flaps on aboral surface of telocoxite, apically bifid with points of subequal length. Second femoral spine shorter and slender, and directed obliquely laterally (Figs 10–12, 13, 14). Pectinophore with series of long spiniform projections emerging from hyaline plate. Spine branch a saucer-shaped laminate plate broadening apically with dentate margin. Surface of posterior limb of telopodite with numerous ridges or corrugations apically (Figs 15, 16). Distal region of telocoxite with small medial telocoxal spines. Distal medial margin of telocoxite (above telocoxal spine) produced into a broadly rounded protrusion. Lateral margin of telocoxite with two bulges, one distally and the other basally at the opening of the gonocoel where telopodite emerges; distal bulge smaller and narrower apically.Aboral surface of telocoxite with two flaps which partially conceal larger femoral spine (Figs 10–12).   
 Pre-anal ring: Caudal spine short, barely surpassing margin of anal valve and slightly upturned distally.   
 Distribution: H. alokopyga occurs in the south-western part of the Western Cape, and its distribution extends to Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape (Fig. 1). This area comprises predominantly fynbos and succulent Karoo biomes.   
 Remarks: H. polyodus is synonymised with H. alokopyga. This became apparent after examination of the H. alokopyga type material from ZMHB, which resembles H. polyodus, as illustrated in Attems (1909). The whereabouts of the type material of H. polyodus is unknown. The syntypes of H. alokopyga show variation in the form of gonopods, the fundamental difference being in the presence of a distinct or a reduced telocoxal spine. There is no real justification provided by Attems (1909) for separating the two species, and his rationale is unclear as some specimens of H. alokopyga are illustrated with a telocoxal spine, as shown in his illustrations for H. polyodus.Additional evidence for synonymy is provided by the distribution, as both these species occur in the same area.
description: Published as part of 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, pp. 203-277 in African Invertebrates 44 (2) on pages 214-215, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7666308