Orthomorpha cingulata Attems, 1898, by original designation.

Differs from other species of the genus by the following combination of characters. The metaterga have strong contrasting colors, which are not circularly patterned as in other Nedyopus species, and the gonopod femur suddenly widens at the base, with l’ and l” not jagged.

China – Anhui Province: • 1 ♂, Fuyang, 30.I.2020, Yihao Ge leg. (IBGAS). • Jiangxi Province: 1 ♂ and 1 ♀, Ji’an, (27.1439°N, 115.0426°E), 50 m a.s.l., 19.V.2017, Xuankong Jiang leg. (IBGAS). • Shandong Province: 1 ♂ and 1 ♀ (20231025001), Yantai, Zhifu District, Zhifu Island, (37.6100°N, 121.3716°E), 40 m a.s.l., 25.X.2023, Xuankong Jiang, Tian Lu and Chongwu Lu leg. (CMMI); • 16 ♂♂ and 12 ♀♀, same data, (IBGAS);• 15 ♂♂ and 13 ♀♀, Yantai, Zhifu District, Tashan Park, (37.5056°N, 121.3972°E), 290 m a.s.l., 24.X.2023, Xuankong Jiang, Tian Lu and Chongwu Lu leg. (IBGAS).

Length ca 17.5–25.1 mm (♂), 18.2–32.7 mm (♀) with 20 segments. Live color variable (Fig. 1A). Posterior half of each metazonae with transverse band, pale yellow to orange. Antennomere 1–6 dark brown, antennomere 7 whitish. Legs light yellow (Fig. 2A–H).

Figure 1. 

Live specimens A Nedyopus swinhoei (Pocock, 1895) comb. nov. from Zhifu Island, Shandong, China B Kronopolites svenhedini (Verhoeff, 1934) sp. reval. from Xinyang, Henan, China. Not to scale. Photographs by Xuankong Jiang.

Figure 2. 

Nedyopus swinhoei comb. nov. A anterior part of body, dorsal view B anterior part of body, lateral view C segments 10 and 11, dorsal view D segments 9–11, lateral view E sternal cones between coxae 4, anterior view F–H posterior part of body, dorsal, lateral, and ventral view, respectively. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Clypeolabral region and vertex densely setose. Epicranial suture distinct. Width of body gradually expanded from head to 5^th segment, approximately equal in width from 5^th to 16^th segments, and tapering from 16^th to telson. Caudal corner of collum broadly rounded, declined ventrad, produced behind rear tergal margin (Fig. 2A, B).

Cuticle shining (Fig. 2A, C, F); surface below paranota finely microgranulate (Fig. 2B, D, G). Paranota strongly developed (Fig. 2A, B, C, F), slightly upturned, lying rather high (at upper 1/3 of body) but below dorsum; anterior edge broadly rounded and narrowly bordered; posterior edge nearly straight. Ozopores evident, lying on paranota at its posterior margin, in segments 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15–19. Transverse sulcus usually distinct (Fig. 2A, C, F), complete on metaterga 5–18 (♂), narrow, linear, shallow, reaching bases of paranota, faintly ribbed at bottom. Stricture between pro- and metazonae evident, broad and deep, ribbed at dorsal side down to base of paranota (Fig. 2A–F). Pleurosternal carinae with a sharp caudal tooth on segments 3–6. Epiproct (Fig. 2G, H) conical, flattened dorsoventrally; tip subtruncate; pre-apical papillae small, lying close to tip. Hypoproct roundly subtriangular, spinnerets at caudal edge small and well separated (Fig. 2H). Sterna densely setose, without modifications, but with two small, rounded, fully separated, setose cones between ♂ coxae 4 (Fig. 2E).

Gonopods (Fig. 3) intricate. Coxite elongate, subcylindrical, strongly setose distoventrally. Prefemoral part nearly half femoral length. Femorite short and bulge out at one end like a belly, distal portion carrying two lobes (l’ and l”). l’ parallel to solenophore. Solenophore lamelliform, twisted distally. Solenomere short and flagelliform.

Figure 3. 

Nedyopus swinhoei comb. nov., left gonopod A lateral view B dorsal view C mesal view. sm, solenomere; sph, solenophore; l’, l”. Scale bar: 1 mm.

China: Anhui (New record), Jiangsu, Jiangxi (New record), Shandong, Taiwan (Pocock 1895; Chen et al. 2006b; Zhang et al. 2024); Indonesia, Japan, Korea (Nguyen and Sierwald 2013).

The specimens from Zhoushan Island were initially identified as K. swinhoei by Brölemann in 1896, without providing a justification. However, our investigation reveals a distinct divergence from the original description. For instance, the specimens from Zhoushan are notably larger (47 mm vs 35 mm) and have more vivid in color on the metazonites (orange-red vs yellow).

During our research in Zhifu, we found a species that closely matches Pocock’s description, leading us to confidently identify it as K. swinhoei. On examination of the topotypes, we observed significant differences in the gonopods compared to Brölemann’s illustrations (1896). These differences, including the femorite (strongly twisted and expanded in Nedyopus vs straight in Kronopolites), the postfemoral sulcus (missing in Nedyopus vs existed in Kronopolites) and the solenophore (lamelliform in Nedyopus vs tubuliform in Kronopolites), indicate that this species belongs to Nedyopus rather than Kronopolites, and is identical to the widespread species Nedyopus patrioticus (Attems, 1898). Consequently, K. swinhoei is formally transferred to Nedyopus, and Nedyopus patrioticus is considered a junior synonym of Nedyopus swinhoei (Pocock, 1895) comb. nov. Additionally, N. patrioticus consists of two subspecies Nedyopus patrioticus patrioticus (Attems, 1898) from Japan and Nedyopus patrioticus unicolor (Carl, 1902) from Indonesia. Therefore, the subspecies unicolor should be treated as Nedyopus swinhoei unicolor (Carl, 1902) comb. nov.

Figure 4. 

Distribution of Nedyopus swinhoei comb. nov. Yellow: literature records; purple: specimens collected in this article; blue: type locality.

Nedyopus swinhoei (Pocock, 1895) comb. nov. has a wide distribution across Asia, from Indonesia to China, Korea, and Japan (Wang 1955; Nguyen and Sierwald 2013). This species is often found near human habitation and may spread through human activities. In China, documented records of this species were limited to Jiangsu, Shandong, and Taiwan provinces (Pocock 1895; Wang 1955; Zhang et al. 2024), possibly due to limited investigation. Our study identified additional distribution locations in Anhui and Jiangxi, suggesting that the species might be found in other regions across China in the future.

Kronopolites svenhedini (Verhoeff, 1934) sp. reval., by present designation.

See Likhitrakarn et al. (2015: 29).

Attems (1914) established the genus and designated Strongylosoma swinhoei Pocock, 1895 as the type species by monotypy. However, due to the misidentification of this species, which was later transferred to Nedyopus, the correct designation by Attems, Kronopolites svenhedini (Verhoeff, 1934) sp. reval., has now been reclassified as the type species of the genus.

China – • Gansu Province: 5 ♂♂ and 40 ♀♀ (20230922044, -45, -46, 20230922048–20230922051, 20230922054–20230922057, -60, -61, -63, -66, -67, -68, -70, -72, -73, -75, -76, 20230922078–20230922090, 20230922092–20230922098, -101, -102, -104), Lintao County, Fenghuangshan Forest Park (35.4009°N, 103.8901°E), 1960 m a.s.l., 22.IX.2023, Tianyun Chen, Jiabo Fan & Yiying Zhao leg., (CMMI); • 2 ♂♂ and 2 ♀♀, Dingxi City, Anding District, Guanying Town, Yawan Village, 27.VI.2008, Zhiyong Di leg., (IBGAS). • Henan Province: 1 ♂ and 2 ♀♀, Xinyang City, Dabieshan station (32.1252°N, 114.0118°E), 110 m a.s.l., 10.VIII.2023, Xuankong Jiang & Leilei Shi leg., (IBGAS);• 1 ♂ and 1 ♀ 5J, Xinyang City, Shihe district, Bailongtan Reservoir (31.9987°N, 113.9105°E), 230 m a.s.l., 10.VIII.2023, Xuankong Jiang & Leilei Shi leg., (IBGAS); • 17 ♂♂ and 5 ♀♀ 3J, Xinyang, Nanwan Reservoir (32.1252°N, 114.0118°E), 110 m a.s.l., 9.VIII.2023, Xuankong Jiang & Leilei Shi leg., (IBGAS). • Qinghai Province: 3 ♂♂ and 10 ♀♀, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Jianzha County, Zhiyong Di leg., (IBGAS). • Shaanxi Province: 1 ♂ (20190907029), Mei County, Honghegu National Forest Park (34.0533°N, 107.7836°E), 1730 m a.s.l., 7.IX.2019, Chao Jiang leg., (CMMI); • 3 ♂♂ and 4 ♀♀ (20200905117, -118, 20230802001, -02), Xi’an, Huyi District, Taiping National Forest Park (33.9951°N, 108.7163°E), 540 m a.s.l., 2.VIII.2023, Tianyun Chen &Yuan Xiong leg., (CMMI). • Zhejiang Province: 3 ♂♂ and 3 ♀♀, Anji County, Longwangshan Scenic Area, 22.VII.2018, Rong Fu leg., (IBGAS).

Differs from other species of the genus by the following combination of characters: metazonae have two shapes, either as a transverse band or a median oval spot, and also have two color variations, ranging from pale yellow to orange-red; paraterga relatively poorly developed, set lower (mostly at about 1/3 height of segments), caudal corners usually not surpassing rear tergal contours, at most narrowly rounded; ♂ sternal cones present; processes a and b of gonopod on a broad common stem, neither slender nor long (Golovatch 2009).

Length ca 26.0–50.0 mm (♂), 27.0–60.0 mm (♀) with 20 segments. Live color variable (Fig. 1B). Head, prozonae, anterior part of collum, and metazonae black; posterior part of collum and each metazonite with transverse band or oval spot, pale yellow to orange-red. If the patches not covering ozopores, then the ozopores exhibit the same color of the patches. Telson black with color of tip identical to the patches. Antennae black; legs black to reddish brown (Fig. 5A–H).

Head densely setose. Antennae moderately long (Fig. 5A), extending behind body segment 3 when stretched dorsally. Width gradually widened from collum to 5^th segment, roughly equal in 5^th–16^th segments, and tapering from 16^th to telson.

Collum of different specimens with one or two transverse rows of setae, one row with 1+1 anterior, two rows with 1+1 at both anterior and intermediate. Caudal corner of collum very broadly rounded, declined ventrad, produced behind rear tergal margin (Fig. 5A, B).

Cuticle shining, prozonae finely shagreened, metaterga finely rugulose (Fig. 5A, C, F), surface below paranota finely microgranulate (Fig. 5B, D). Postcollum metaterga with one transverse row of setae: 4+4 or 3+3 in anterior (pre-sulcus). Tergal setae long and slender, mostly abraded. Paranota well developed (Fig. 5A–F), lying rather high (at upper 1/2 of body), arched. Ozopores evident, lateral, lying in an ovoid groove at about 1/4 in front of posterior edge of metaterga, in segments 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15–19. Transverse sulcus usually distinct (Fig. 5A, C, F), slightly incomplete on segment 18, complete on metaterga 3–18 (♂), narrow, linear, shallow, reaching bases of paranota, faintly ribbed at bottom. Stricture between pro- and metazonae evident, broad and deep, ribbed at bottom down to base of paranota (Fig. 5A, B, D, G). Pleurosternal carinae with a sharp caudal tooth on segments 2–7, thereafter increasingly strongly reduced until 18^th segment (♂). Epiproct (Fig. 5G, H) conical, flattened dorsoventrally, with two small apical papillae; tip subtruncate; pre-apical papillae small, lying close to tip. Hypoproct roundly subtriangular, spinnerets at caudal edge small and well separated (Fig. 5H). Sterna densely setose with a long tongue-shaped process on ♂ coxae 4 (Fig. 5E). Legs rather long and slender (Fig. 5A, B, D, G).

Figure 5. 

Kronopolites svenhedini sp. reval A anterior part of body, dorsal view B anterior part of body, lateral view C segments 10 and 11, dorsal view D segments 9–11, lateral view E sternal cones between coxae 4, ventral view F–H posterior part of body, dorsal, lateral and ventral views, respectively. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Coxite of gonopods (Fig. 6) thick, pressing inwards on the spermathecal fossa in the prefemur. Prefemur short, with numerous slender setae. Femorite rather stout, with an evident mesal groove and a strong distolateral sulcus demarcating a postfemoral part; the latter well developed, with very prominent bipartite, crescent-shaped, lateral processes: process a rather long and broad; process b short, broad and pointed. Solenophore in the form of a long, tubular branch. Solenomere flagelliform.

Figure 6. 

Kronopolites svenhedini sp. reval, left gonopod A ventral view B mesal view C dorsal view D lateral view. sm, solenomere; sph, solenophore; a, b. Scale bar: 1 mm.

China: Chongqing, Qinghai, Gansu, Guizhou, Henan (new record), Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Zhejiang (Golovatch 2019; Chen et al. 2023).

Verhoeff (1934) described a new monotypic genus and species, Kansupus svenhedini, based on specimens from Gansu, China. Later, Attems (1936) and Hoffman (1962) synonymized the name with Kronopolites and K. swinhoei respectively, relying on Brölemann’s (1896) description. However, our research shows that Brölemann (1896) misidentified this species. Thus, K. svenhedini sp. reval. should be resurrected. To maintain the stability of the taxonomic name Kronopolites, the type species of Kronopolites now fixed (under Article 70.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature 1999) as Kronopolites svenhedini (Verhoeff, 1934), which was misidentified as Kronopolites swinhoei (Pocock, 1895) in the original designation by Attems (1914). Furthermore, the publications mentioning this species did not state where the type specimen is preserved, rendering the location of its storage unknown (Verhoeff 1934; Attems 1936, 1937; Hoffman 1962; Zhang and Li 1978; Wang 1996).

Figure 7. 

Distribution of Kronopolites svenhedini sp. reval. Yellow: literature records; purple: specimens collected in this article. blue: type locality.

Kronopolites svenhedini (Verhoeff, 1934) sp. reval. is widely distributed in China, with the westernmost occurrence in Qinghai, the easternmost in Zhejiang, the southernmost in Yunnan and the northernmost in Gansu. It shows variation in color, body size, and subtle differences in gonopod shape among different populations (Golovatch 2013). These differences may be attributed to geographic isolation or varying habitats, suggesting the potential presence of cryptic species. This hypothesis could be explored in future research using molecular methods.