Corresponding author: Nestor Fernandez (
Academic editor: V. Pesic
The genus
Fernandez N, Theron P, Rollard C, Leiva S (2014) The family
This genus was created by Balogh in
The species
More recently, Subias (
With regard to Subias’s recombination of genera and currently accepted classification of
The genus is also complex in terms of the deposition of the type
First of all, the type material is not housed at the Museum Tervuren, and Mahunka never differentiated between IRAT and MRAT; MRAT most probably refers to the Musée Royal du Congo Belge Tervuren, and we suppose that the type material discussed by Balogh in 1958, and possibly that of
Other problems with the type deposition include: Mahunka indicated: “Holotype and 62 paratypes (Holotype and 30 paratypes IRAT; 30 paratypes HNHM and 2 paratypes MHNG (total holotype, plus 62 paratypes)”; but in the last part of text indicated 6 paratypes: “Holotype and 2 paratypes MRAT, 3 paratypes HNHM and 1 paratype MHNG”. That, two holotypes are referred to, one in 1954 and another 1962, with 68 paratypes, 62 from 1954 and 6 from 1962.
We studied most species cited, except for
This paper, the eighth in the series on the revision of the family
Specimens studied by means of optical microscopy were macerated in lactic acid and observed in the same medium using the open-mount technique (cavity slide and cover slip) described by
Specimens were also studied with the aid of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Specimens preserved in ethanol were carefully rinsed by sucking them into a Pasteur pipette several times, after which they were transferred to buffered glutaraldehyde (2,5 %) in Sörensen phosphate buffer (pH 7,4; 0,1 m) for two hours. After postfixation for two hours in buffered 2% OsO4 solution and being rinsed in buffer solution, all specimens were dehydrated in a series of graded ethanols and dried in a critical point apparatus. After mounting on Al-stubs with double sided sticky tape, specimens were gold coated in a sputter apparatus (
SEM observations were very complex, due to limited numbers and anatomic particularities shown by specimens. Two different types of SEM were used in order to obtain observations of adequate quality: 1) Tescan Vega II LSU (Tescan Orsay Holdings, Kohoutovice, Czech Republic) (Direction of Collections-SEM-EDS-MNHN) and 2) Hitachi SU3500 (Hitachi High-Technologies Europe, Krefeld, Germany) (Plateau technique de Microscopie Electronique et de Microanalyse (PMEM) (MNHN) using accelerating voltage of 15 Kv and 10 Kv respectively.
In the legends to Figures, images obtained with Tescan Vega II LSU are indicated with a small number 1 and those obtained with Hitachi SU3500, with a small number 2.
Measurements taken: total length (tip of rostrum to posterior edge of notogaster); width (widest part of notogaster) in micrometers (μm).
Leg chaetotaxy studies executed with the aid of standard, polarized and phase contrast microscopes are provisional, due to the fact that only adult specimens were available for study. Setal formulae of the legs include the number of solenidia (in parentheses); tarsal setal formulae include the famulus (ε).
Morphological terms and abbreviations used are those developed by F. Grandjean (1928–1974) (
MNHN: Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France; MNHG: Museum Natural History Geneva; HNHM: Hungarian Natural History Museum; MRAT: probably Musée Royal du Congo Belge Tervuren; IRAT: unknown.
The specific epithet is dedicated in homage to Mrs. Leone Hudson, our efficient and helpful collaborator who enormously facilitated our work.
Holotype and four paratype females. Holotype ♀ Makokou, northeastern province of Ogoové-Ivindo, 500 m alt. dense evergreen humid forest, I.1974, Y. Coineau, deposited in MNHN (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris).
Paratypes. Same data as holotype, 4 ♀ (2 in MNHN; 2 in MNHG). All specimens are preserved in 70% ethanol.
Type locality. Makokou, province of Ogoové-Ivindo, northeastern Gabon; situated at
Elongate animals;
Notogastral setae, fifteen pairs (holotrichy unideficient):
Supratutorial depression with three pocket depressions, one internal, another anterior and a third posterior to supratutorial depression. Bothridia cup-shaped with smooth bothridial ring and bothridial tooth. Lyrifissures
Large elevated interlamellar process (
Setae
Rostral margin slightly rectangular to hexagonal (Figures
The notogaster has: anterior depression (
Complex
Elevated zone presenting a series of aligned medial promontories (three pairs, variably developed) bearing setae
Humeral apophysis (
Tutorium (
Bothridia cup-shaped with smooth bothridial ring (
Notogastral promontories bearing setae clearly discernible (Figures
Only lyrifissures
Tibia I: solenidion φ1 on small apophysis; tibia I, II, setae
The specific epithet is dedicated in homage to Mr Rachid Kebir of Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelles, Paris, who assisted us with great kindness and friendship on many occasions over the past 20 years.
Holotype and four Paratype females. Makokou, northeastern province of Ogoové-Ivindo, 500 m. alt.dense evergreen humid forest, I.1974, Y. Coineau, deposited in MNHN. Paratypes. Same data as holotype, 4 ♀ (2 in MNHN; 2 in MNHG). All specimens preserved in 70% ethanol. Type locality. Makokou, province of Ogoové-Ivindo, northeastern Gabon; situated at
Thin cerotegumental layer covering entire body, giving the impression of a smooth surface. Setae
Polyhedral prodorsum; interlamellar process elevated, divided sagittally by large deep furrow;
Anterior part of notogaster rectangular; posterior part oval with some irregularities and less conspicuous promontories, dorsosejugal furrow narrow, rectilinear, hardly discernible. Fifteen pairs of notogastral setae (holotrichy unideficient),
Tutorium: rod-like curving cuticular thickening; supratutorial depression present; along with three pocket-shaped depressions, one anterior tutorial depression, one posterior tutorial depression and a small depression situated internally to supratutorial depression. Pedotecta I, prominent extended lamina, rounded apex; Pedotecta II small, ovoid lamina. Lyrifissures
Rostral margin slightly rectangular to hexagonal (Figures
Fifteen pairs (holotrichy unideficient) of notogastral setae:
Notogaster presenting: 1)
Simple
Humeral apophysis (
Lamellae (
Tutorium (
Bothridia cup-shaped,
Notogastral promontories and setae very clearly discernible (Figures
Only lyrifissures
Seta
Intricate structural shapes and the need to observe specimens from various angles and positions made many structures difficult to understand when only using optical observation. Comparing these species with others from the same genus was greatly complicated by very short and superficial original descriptions, and some errors were detected in descriptions of various species of the genus
Our gratitude to the reviewers of the manuscript for valuable comments towards improving this paper.
This work is based on research supported in part by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (UID) 85288. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and therefore the NRF does not accept any liability in regard thereto.