Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Articles
Published: 2007-04-19
Page range: 1–23
Abstract views: 76
PDF downloaded: 1

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

School of Biological & Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Durban 4041, South Africa
School of Biological & Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
School of Biological & Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Durban 4041, South Africa
Diplopoda gonopod telocoxite telopodite lateral leaf median leaf

Abstract

The eight species of Bicoxidens were studied in order to verify their taxonomic validity and determine the status of new material. Two new synonymies are established: B. grandis Lawrence, 1965 = B. matabele (Schubart, 1966) and B. flavicollis Attems, 1928 = B. nasti Mwabvu, 2000. B. polyptychus, incorrectly placed in Bicoxidens, on the basis of morphological characters, including gonopods, is moved to Brevitibius Attems, 1950. Three new species, B. matopoensis Mwabvu, B. nyathi Mwabvu and B. gokwensis Mwabvu are described. An identification key to the species, a phylogenetic analysis based on gonopod morphology and distribution data for each species are also presented

References

  1. Attems, C. (1928) The Myriapoda of South Africa. Annals of the South African Museum, 26, 1–431

    Hamer, M. (1998) Checklist of Southern African millipedes. Annals of the Natal Museum, 39, 11–82

    Hamer, M. (1999) An illustrated key to the spirostreptidian (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida) genera of Southern Africa. Annals of the Natal Museum, 40, 1–22.

    Hamer, M. (2000) Review of the millipede genus Doratogonus, with description of fifteen new species from Southern Africa (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae). Annals of the Natal Museum, 41, 1–76.

    Hamer, M. & Slotow, R. (2000) Patterns of distribution and speciation in the genus Doratogonus (Diplopoda: Spirostreptidae). Fragmenta Faunistica, 43, 295–311.

    Krabbe, E. (1982) Systematik der Spirostreptidae (Diplopoda, Spirostreptomorpha). Abh. Naturwiss. Ver. Hamburg, N. F. 24, 1–476.

    Kraus, O. (1958) Myriapoda, In: Parc National de l’ Upemba. 1. Mission. G. F. De Witte, fasc. 54, 3–67

    Lawrence, R. F. (1965) New Spirostreptidae and Harpagophoridae Diplopoda) from southern Africa. Mems. Inst. Invest. cient. Mocamb. Serie A 7, 38–39.

    Mwabvu, T. (2000) Two new species of Bicoxidens Attems, 1928, from Zimbabwe (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae) African Zoology, 115(1), 115–119.

    Mwabvu, T. (2005) New records and localities of spirostreptid millipedes (Myriapoda: Diplopoda) of Zimbabwe with notes on nomenclatural changes and habitat. Arnoldia Zimbabwe, 10(25), 249–256

    Nyamapfene, K. (1981). Soils of Zimbabwe. Nehanda Publishers, Harare, Zimbabwe.

    Schubart, O. (1966) Diplopoda III: Pselaphognatha, Opisthospermophora, Colobognatha. In: South Africa Animal Life. B. Hanstrom, P. Brinck & G. Rudebeck (eds) 12, 86–89 & 118–120.