Brevitibius matopoensis Mwabvu, Hamer & Slotow, 2007, sp. n.
Creators: name: Mwabvu, Tarombera
name: Hamer, Michelle L.
name: Slotow, Robert H.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2007
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Diplopoda
Spirostreptida
Spirostreptidae
Brevitibius
Brevitibius matopoensis

description: B. matopoensis sp. n. Mwabvu
Fig. 6
Type material (examined): Holotype: ZIMBABWE: 1 ɗ, Matopo National Park, Maleme Rest Camp [2028D1], 6.iii.1989, J. Minshull (NMZ/D562)
Additional material examined: ZIMBABWE: 1 ɗ, Doddieburn Ranch [2129A4], 10.xii.1985, J. Minshull (NMZ/D356).
Etymology: So named to highlight the type locality in Zimbabwe.
Diagnosis: Apical telocoxite with broadly rounded lateral process and two median processes that form a V-shape; the rounded lateral process folded downwards with the rim or edge just above the telopodite knee and extending into a distal median process (Fig. 6 a). Proximal median process tilted away from the distal median process; the opposite median processes are in touch, leaving a median window between the opposite telocoxites (Figs. 6 a, 6b).
A sub-apical constriction of median leaf produces a lateral lobe below the setose region (Fig. 6 a).
Abbreviations: cf, collum fold; llb, lateral leaf lobe; ll, lateral leaf; lp, lateral process; ml, median leaf; mlb, median leaf lobe; mlc, median leaf constriction; mp, median process; pfl, prefemoral lobe; tp, telopodite; w, window.
Description:
Size: Body length 110– 104 mm; minimum and maximum body width 3–5 mm and 6–8 mm; antenna length 5–6 mm.
Number of body rings: 56–61.
Colour: Body black; head brown; leg and antennae brown to dark brown.
Collum: With three complete folds (Fig. 6 d) and one to three incomplete folds.
Pre-femoral process of 1st pair of male legs: Trowel-shaped (Fig. 6 c).
Sigilla on body ring: Three rows present, becoming one ventrally.
Gonopod: 4–5 mm long. Orally, apical telocoxite with a median process gently tilted away from main apical process, thus forming a V-shaped incision, and touching the opposite one as does the distal median process (Figs. 6 a, 6b). Lateral process of distal telocoxite broadly rounded and folded over itself, ending in a thick rim just above the telopodite knee. Rim extending to the midpoint of distal telocoxite. Below the setose apex of median leaf a deep constriction forms a neck and a lateral lobe.
Aborally, apical telocoxite raised with a short median process and a wider proximal rounded median process. A broadly rounded lateral process overhangs the telopodite knee (Fig. 6 a, 6b). Lateral leaf with a bulb-shaped, basally rounded lobe (Fig. 6b). Apical telopodite with incomplete looping.
Distribution: South west of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (Fig. 10).
Remarks: The folding of the apical telocoxite in matopoensis is similar to that in brincki and, to a lesser extent, gokwensis. However, the extent and relative position of folding differs. Unlike brincki, it has two median processes. Like friendi, nigerrimus, flavicollis, brincki and gokwensis, it also has a large bulb- or flask-shaped lobe on the lateral leaf. Both matopoensis and gokwensis have a constricted median leaf sub-apically, just below the setose area, but gokwensis lacks an obvious proximal lateral lobe.
description: Published as part of Mwabvu, Tarombera, Hamer, Michelle L. & Slotow, Robert H., 2007, A taxonomic review of the southern African millipede genus, Bicoxidens Attems, 1928 (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae), with the description of three new species and a tentative phylogeny, pp. 1-23 in Zootaxa 1452 on pages 11-13, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.176282