A giant African millipede re-discovered, re-located and re-classified after 120 years (Diplopoda, Spirobolida, Pachybolidae).

A. R. Nzoko Fiemapong, Henrik Enghoff

    Abstract

    The giant millipede Pachybolus tectus Cook, 1897, described from Zanzibar, East Africa, and never re-collected till now, is re-described based on newly collected specimens from Cameroon, West Africa. The species is transferred to the genus Pelmatojulus Saussure, 1860, and compared with the most similar congener, P. togoensis (Cook, 1897). The type specimen of P. tectus, which no longer exists, probably was mis-labelled. An overview of the distribution of Pelmatojulus species
    and records of the genus from Cameroon are given, including P. brachysternus (Cook, 1897) as new to the fauna of Cameroon. Pelmatojulus insignis (Saussure, 1859) and P. togoensis are recorded as new to the fauna of Ghana.
    OriginalsprogEngelsk
    TidsskriftZootaxa
    Vol/bind4527
    Udgave nummer3
    Sider (fra-til)403-413
    Antal sider11
    ISSN1175-5326
    DOI
    StatusUdgivet - 6 dec. 2018

    Citationsformater