identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
03D08719DE51E909F3BCA6AB3808859F.text	03D08719DE51E909F3BCA6AB3808859F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scaptodesmus Cook 1896	<div><p>Scaptodesmus Cook, 1896: 16 (original description).</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CE8D01B6-DC13-49B8-AF91-8A4BBFBB58AB</p><p>Type-species: Scaptodesmus porati Cook, 1896, Cameroons, by original designation.</p><p>Historical diagnosis. According to Cook (1896), the genus Scaptodesmus is easily recognized by the presence of ozopores located on distinct excavations at the lateral margins of the carinae, the dorsum very slightly convex, and the telson with the marginal processes very strongly developed.</p><p>Updated diagnosis. A genus of Chelodesmidae (subfamily: Prepodesminae), distinguished by the absence of a conspicuous paramedian or dorsomedian horn on the metaterga; subrectangular, elevated, horizontal paranota with dentate lateral, anterior, and posterior margins, combined with a slightly convex dorsum (Figs 2A, 3, 7, 10); the normal pore formula (5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15–19), with ozopores being located on distinct excavations along the lateral margins of the paranota (Figs 2A, 4A, 11A–B, 8B–D), gonopod telopodites suberect, in situ directed forward (Fig. 8F), held parallel to each other, not crossing mesally; femoral process subcylindrical, usually densely setose, elongated, partly erect, taking up ca. 2/3 total telopodite length, without femorite, with a complex dorsal postfemoral process (pfp) demarcated from acropodite by a distinct cingulum; acropodite twisted and divided into two lobes (Figs 2C, D, 5, 9, 12C–F). External branch forming a solenophore (sph), larger than internal branch, or solenomere (slo), supporting a seminal groove all along (Fig. 2C–D).</p><p>Key to species of Scaptodesmus</p><p>The key below is based on male characters and therefore, Scaptodesmus porati Cook, 1896 is excluded as the gonopods have never been illustrated.</p><p>1. Gonopod postfemoral process undivided, complex in structure, folded into a lateral groove, or rake-shaped and bearing 3–4- minute denticles distally................................................................................ 2</p><p>- Gonopod postfemoral process bifurcate and mostly simple in structure........................................... 3</p><p>2. Solenophore broad, opposite a relatively thin and falcate solenomere branch, lacking a solenomere proper at apex (Fig. 8).................................................................................... S. manengouba sp. nov.</p><p>- Solenomere branch about half as wide as solenophore, with a distinct, small solenomere proper at apex (Figs 4E, 4G).............................................................................................. S. kala sp. nov.</p><p>3. Curvature of postfemoral process showing a small inner blade at mid-length (Figs 11D, 11F), tips of the two bifurcate branches of postfemoral process subequal in size............................................... S. vandenspiegeli sp. nov</p><p>- Postfemoral process without small inner blade at mid-length of curvature, tips of the two bifurcate branches unequal in size (Fig. 2C)................................................................................. S. granulosus .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D08719DE51E909F3BCA6AB3808859F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko;Blandenier, Quentin;Tamesse, Joseph Lebell;Mitchell, Edward A. D.	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko, Blandenier, Quentin, Tamesse, Joseph Lebell, Mitchell, Edward A. D. (2025): Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical millipede genus Scaptodesmus Cook, 1896 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae), with integrative descriptions of three new species from Cameroon. Zootaxa 5696 (3): 361-384, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3
03D08719DE50E908F3BCA43238F9859B.text	03D08719DE50E908F3BCA43238F9859B.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scaptodesmus porati Cook 1896	<div><p>Scaptodesmus porati Cook, 1896</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 835743F8-DDE3-4456-AC97-54164492DA2F</p><p>Diagnosis. This species differs from congeners by the coloration being mostly red or reddish-brown; lateral margin of paranota usually yellowish; top of head rugulose, forehead wrinkled and densely setose; telson with a very strongly developed marginal process.</p><p>Distribution. Only known from the type locality: Mapanja, Cameroon.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D08719DE50E908F3BCA43238F9859B	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko;Blandenier, Quentin;Tamesse, Joseph Lebell;Mitchell, Edward A. D.	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko, Blandenier, Quentin, Tamesse, Joseph Lebell, Mitchell, Edward A. D. (2025): Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical millipede genus Scaptodesmus Cook, 1896 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae), with integrative descriptions of three new species from Cameroon. Zootaxa 5696 (3): 361-384, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3
03D08719DE5DE905F3BCA3A7391A80CB.text	03D08719DE5DE905F3BCA3A7391A80CB.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scaptodesmus granulosus (Attems 1931)	<div><p>Scaptodesmus granulosus (Attems, 1931)</p><p>Kyphopyge granulosa Attems, 1931, by original designation</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DD216F03-2061-4E39-91D7-A896EBDB1FBA</p><p>Figs 2 &amp; 14</p><p>Diagnosis. This species differs from congeners by a greyish black coloration; paranota subrectangular with lateral, anterior and posterior edges denticulate (Fig. 2A). Lateral edges usually forming three lobes: two tridentate, corresponding to anterior and posterior edges. Poreless rings usually with three tridentate lobes. Telson short and broad, densely granulated all over (Fig. 2B). Gonopods (Fig. 2C–E) featuring a postfemoral process (pfp) located on caudal surface, curved at a right angle anteriorly and straight distally, divided distally into two unequal spiniform branches. Solenomere lobe (slo) broad and falcate, extending from outer to inner edge, accompanied by a broad, elongated, racket-shaped lamellar solenophore (sph), curved inwards, opposite solenomere branch.</p><p>Distribution. Buea, Cameroon; Gabon; Democratic Republic of the Congo;? Nigeria.</p><p>Remark. The type of this species, originally claimed as having been housed in the ZMH, is lost (Dr. Danilo Hans, personal communication).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D08719DE5DE905F3BCA3A7391A80CB	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko;Blandenier, Quentin;Tamesse, Joseph Lebell;Mitchell, Edward A. D.	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko, Blandenier, Quentin, Tamesse, Joseph Lebell, Mitchell, Edward A. D. (2025): Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical millipede genus Scaptodesmus Cook, 1896 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae), with integrative descriptions of three new species from Cameroon. Zootaxa 5696 (3): 361-384, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3
03D08719DE5DE904F3BCA57F391185D6.text	03D08719DE5DE904F3BCA57F391185D6.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scaptodesmus kala Fiemapong & Blandenier & Tamesse & Mitchell 2025	<div><p>Scaptodesmus kala sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 047F0B3C-C242-4BA1-B9FD-950523127F62</p><p>Figs 3–6 &amp; 14</p><p>Material examined. Holotype male (NHMN-62-2), Cameroon, Center Region, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=11.339264&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=3.829667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 11.339264/lat 3.829667)">Kala Mountain</a>, 3.829667N, 11.339264E, 1050 m a.s.l., secondary forest, 25.V.2024, leg. A.R. Nzoko Fiemapong.</p><p>Paratypes: 1 male, 2 females (NHMN-62-3); 2 females (NHMN-62-4), same data, together with holotype; 1 male (SEM, ARNF), same locality, but 22.V.2024; 1 fragmented female (NHMN-62-5), 1 female (NHMN-62-6), 1 female (ARNF), same locality, but 21.V.2024; 2 fragmented males, 1 female (NHMN-62-7), same locality, but 24.V.2024; 1 female, (ARNF), 1 male (ARNF), same locality, but 17.V.2024, all leg. A. R. Nzoko Fiemapong. 1 male, 2 females (ARNF), 1 male (NHMN-62-8), 1 female (NHMN-62-9), secondary forest, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=11.342354&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=3.831365" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 11.342354/lat 3.831365)">Kala Mountain</a>, 3.831365N, 11.342354E 1010 m a.s.l., secondary forest, 25.V.2024, leg. A.R. Nzoko Fiemapong .</p><p>Etymology. To emphasize the type locality; noun in apposition.</p><p>Diagnosis. This species differs from congeners by the gonopod aperture being transversely ovoid, the anterior margin forming a small, apical, conical projection (Fig. 4D). Gonopod postfemoral process (pfp) markedly enlarged, rake-shaped, tip bearing 3 or 4 minute denticles (Fig. 5). The medial branch constituting a solenophore (sph) and a lateral branch, or solenomere (slo), the latter bearing a small solenomere proper (sl) at its tip.</p><p>Description. Length of holotype, 38 mm (male), width of midbody pro- and metazona, 4 and 10 mm (male), respectively. Length of paratypes, 48 mm, width of midbody pro- and metazona, 4.5–5 and 11–11.5 mm (male, female), respectively. Coloration (preserved in 70% alcohol) brown to light brown-yellowish on paratergal callus, legs yellow-brown (Fig. 3B–C). Venter and clypeolabral region brownish; antennae light brown.</p><p>Head densely setose in clypeolabral region and shagreened behind antennae, interantennal isthmus almost as wide as diameter of antennal socket. Antennae long and only slightly clavate, reaching in situ the anterior margin of body ring 4 when stretched dorsally; antennomeres 5 and 6 each bearing a dorso-apical group of tiny bacilliform sensilla; in length, antennomere 2&gt;6&gt;3=4–5&gt;1&gt;7; apical segment densely pilose, with usual four sensory cones.</p><p>Body with 20 segments (male, female). In width, collum &lt;ring 2&lt;3&lt;4&lt;5&lt;6–17, body tapering towards telson thereafter. Collum transversely ellipsoid, subflabellate, covering the head from above. Dorsal surface regularly granulate (Figs 3A, 4A). Dorsum slightly convex (Fig. 3A). Prozona smooth and slightly shining; metazona dull, densely granulate.Metazona with transverse sulci dividing them dorsally into two halves.Paranota inclined somewhat downwards, lateral edges forming irregular teeth, especially so on poriferous rings. A particularly pronounced axial line dividing metaterga 2–16 into two equal parts, less pronounced on following rings. Caudal corner of paranota increasingly high and drawn behind, near tergal margin on rings 17–19. Sharp spines, tubercles or cones observed at pleurosternal margins near coxae. Dorsum slightly declined, paratergal margins increasingly well inclined caudad starting with ring 16, thereafter mostly lying at about body midheight; only paraterga 17–19 increasingly clearly drawn past rear tergal margin, 19th sharp. Sides below paraterga densely granulate, grains in caudal row being longer, spiniform and sharp. Ozopores visible, open flush on surface near midlength slightly above lateral edge of paraterga (Fig. 3C).</p><p>Epiproct short, small, spade-shaped, flattened dorsoventrally, subtruncate, and dorsally granulate-tuberculate (Figs 3B, 4B). Hypoproct densely granulate-tuberculate, roundly subtrapeziform, with 1+1 caudal setae very distinctly separated and borne on minute knobs (Fig. 2B). Paraprocts likewise densely granulate (Fig. 3B).</p><p>Sterna broad, about 2.5–3 times as wide as coxa length, almost flat, microgranulate and slightly setose on metazona, prozona being smooth and devoid of setae (Fig. 3B). Gonapophyses on male coxae 2 vestigial. Legs long, about 1.5 times as long as midbody height (male, female); in length, femur&gt; tarsus&gt; prefemur = tibia&gt; postfemur&gt; coxa; claw very small, slightly curved; tarsi densely setose, but forming no brushes on ventral surface (Fig. 4C).</p><p>Gonopod aperture transversely ovoid in shape and fully concealing the gonocoxae and the bases of telopodites, with slightly elevated lateral and anterior edges, the latter forming a small cone at tip (Fig. 4D).</p><p>Gonopod (Figs 5A–C): coxites of medium size and subcylindrical; fused at base to a small membranous sternal remnant and, distodorsally, bearing a dense field of setae, including a pair of particularly long, closely placed distalmost ones (Fig. 5B, C).</p><p>Cannulae slender, without peculiarities (Fig. 5B). Telopodites in situ directed forward, held subparallel to each other and suberect. Prefemoral region densely setose, as usual, subcylindrical, taking up ca. 2/3 total length of telopodite. Femorite absent, but a large and complex postfemoral process (pfp) present, markedly enlarged, bent at a right angle, rake-shaped, bearing 3–4 minute denticles at tip (Fig. 5). Acropodite twisted and divided into two prominent lobes: a medial solenophore lobe (sph) and a lateral, small and falcate branch, or solenomere lobe (slo), this bearing a small solenomere proper (sl) at its apex.</p><p>Female. Cyphopods cordiform in anterior and posterior views (Fig. 6), located directly behind second pair of legs on body ring 3; composed of two densely setose vulvae (Fig. 6). Anterior and posterior valves joined distally, with a separation line barely distinguishable. Operculum (OP) relatively large and only lightly covered with small setae (Fig. 6A–C).</p><p>Distribution. Scaptodesmus kala sp. nov. is only known from its type locality (see Fig. 14). This species inhabits degraded secondary forests, where it has been found in leaf litter and decaying dead wood. It co-occurs with S. vandenspiegeli sp. nov. on Kala Mountain in the Central Region of Cameroon. Notably, it has mainly been observed during the rainy season.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D08719DE5DE904F3BCA57F391185D6	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko;Blandenier, Quentin;Tamesse, Joseph Lebell;Mitchell, Edward A. D.	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko, Blandenier, Quentin, Tamesse, Joseph Lebell, Mitchell, Edward A. D. (2025): Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical millipede genus Scaptodesmus Cook, 1896 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae), with integrative descriptions of three new species from Cameroon. Zootaxa 5696 (3): 361-384, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3
03D08719DE5FE903F3BCA6BE388D8598.text	03D08719DE5FE903F3BCA6BE388D8598.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scaptodesmus manengouba Fiemapong & Blandenier & Tamesse & Mitchell 2025	<div><p>Scaptodesmus manengouba sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: AF96C472-A182-48B8-AD26-AD4E42ABB721</p><p>Figs 7–9 &amp; 14</p><p>Material examined: Holotype male (NHMN-62-10), Cameroon, Littoral Region, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=9.82125&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=4.98536" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 9.82125/lat 4.98536)">Manengouba Mountain</a>, 4.98536N, 9.82125E, 2175 m a.s.l., forest, 16.VIII.2020, leg. A.R. Nzoko Fiemapong and M. Kameni Ngalieu.</p><p>Paratypes: 1 male (NHMN-62-11), 1 fragmented male (NHMN-62-12), 1 male (SEM, ARNF), same data, together with holotype .</p><p>Etymology. To emphasize the type locality; noun in apposition.</p><p>Diagnosis. Adult males of S. manengouba sp. nov. are distinguished from other congeners by the small body size (25 mm length); gonopod postfemoral process (pfp) complex, folded into a lateral groove (9A–B); acropodite external branch forming a small, elongate and falcate solenomere (slo), adjacent to a larger, subrounded, mesal solenophore (sph).</p><p>Description. Length of holotype, ca. 25 mm (male), width of midbody pro- and metazona, 3 and 4 mm (male), respectively. Length of paratypes, 25 mm, width of midbody pro- and metazoan, 2.7–3 and 3–4 mm (male), respectively. Coloration (preserved in 70% ethanol) brown with yellow-orange-brown paraterga; legs and clypeolabral region light yellowish (Fig. 7A); antennae brown, venter yellowish brown (Fig. 7C).</p><p>Head densely microtuberculate; moderately setose in dorsal view (Figs 7C, 8A). Interantennal isthmus about half as broad as diameter of antennal sockets. Antennae long and clavate (Fig. 7B), reaching in situ the anterior margin of body ring 4 when stretched dorsally; antennomeres 5 and 6 each bearing a dorso-apical group of tiny bacilliforms sensilla; in length, antennomere 6&gt;2=3-5&gt;1&gt;7; apical segment densely pilose with usual four sensory cones.</p><p>Body with 20 segments (male). In width, head = collum &lt;ring 2 &lt;3&lt;4&lt;5&lt;6=7–16; body then tapering towards telson. Collum (Fig. 8A) transversely ellipsoid, not covering the head from above; sides narrowly rounded; dorsal surface microgranulate (Figs 7A–C, 8A–F). Dorsum slightly declined (Figs 7C, 8A, C, E). Prozona smooth and shining; metazona dull, densely granulate; dorsal surface of metaterga uniformly microgranulate. Paraterga broad, set at about the upper 1/3 of body, tips undulated to slightly sawtooth-like, with the pores opening into a bulge (=peritremata) featuring two denticules behind and three in front of the pore (Fig. 8B, D). Pleurosternal margins with a field of tubercles, near the coxae. The dorsum exhibits a slight downward inclination, while the paraterga margin displays an increasingly posterior orientation towards the caudal margin, from segment 16 onwards, mostly lying at about half of body height and slightly bent down; only paraterga 16–19 increasingly clearly drawn behind the rear tergal margin. Sides below paraterga densely granulate, featuring spiniform in caudal margin. Ozopores visible, open flush on surface near midlength, slightly above the lateral edge of paraterga (Fig. 8D).</p><p>Epiproct short, broad, spade-shaped, strongly flattened, subtruncate, and densely granulated (Fig. 7B–C). Hypoproct densely granulate, roundly subtrapeziform, with 1+1 caudal setae distinctly separated and borne on minute knobs (Fig. 6B). Paraprocts likewise densely granulate (Fig. 8B).</p><p>Sterna broad, about twice as wide as the coxa length, almost flat, microgranulate and slightly setose (Figs 7B, 8F). Gonapophyses on male coxae 2 vestigial. Spiracles (Fig. 7A) large, remarkably tubiform. Legs long, about 2.0 times as long as the midbody height (male); in length, femur&gt; tarsus&gt; tibia&gt; prefemur&gt; postfemur&gt;coxa; claw very small, slightly curved; tarsi densely setose, but forming no brushes on ventral surface.</p><p>Gonopod aperture ovoid and relatively large; its lateral and posterior edges slightly elevated (Fig. 8F). This structure fully conceals the gonocoxae and the bases of the telopodites.</p><p>Gonopods (Fig. 8F): coxites of medium size and subcylindrical in shape. Telopodites in situ directed forward, held subparallel to each other and suberect. Prefemoral region densely setose and erect, taking up ca. 2/3 of total length of telopodite (Figs 8F, 9A). Femorite absent, but a large and complex postfemoral process (pfp) present, folded into a lateral groove (Fig. 9). Acropodite clearly twisted and divided parabasally into two branches. The small, elongate and falcate lateral branch forming the solenomere (slo), next to a larger, sub-rounded medial branch, the solenophore (sph).</p><p>Female. Unknown</p><p>Distribution. This species is only known from the type locality (Fig. 14). It was found in a relatively wellpreserved forest, on Mount Manengouba, in decomposing leaf litter.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D08719DE5FE903F3BCA6BE388D8598	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko;Blandenier, Quentin;Tamesse, Joseph Lebell;Mitchell, Edward A. D.	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko, Blandenier, Quentin, Tamesse, Joseph Lebell, Mitchell, Edward A. D. (2025): Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical millipede genus Scaptodesmus Cook, 1896 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae), with integrative descriptions of three new species from Cameroon. Zootaxa 5696 (3): 361-384, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3
03D08719DE5AE91EF3BCA3A73A748372.text	03D08719DE5AE91EF3BCA3A73A748372.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scaptodesmus vandenspiegeli Fiemapong & Blandenier & Tamesse & Mitchell 2025	<div><p>Scaptodesmus vandenspiegeli sp. nov</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2F2B336E-F414-49BD-A1F5-4C65CC3E0304</p><p>Figs 10–13 &amp; 14</p><p>Material examined: Holotype male (NHMN-62-13), Cameroon, Center Region, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=11.5218&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=3.5563" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 11.5218/lat 3.5563)">Zamakoe secondary Forest</a>, 3.5563N, 11.5218E, 706 m a.s.l., 21.III.2015, leg. A. R. Nzoko Fiemapong.</p><p>Paratypes: male (NHMN-62-14), Cameroon, Center Region, Lékié Division, Obala, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=10.213165&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=4.168376" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 10.213165/lat 4.168376)">Cacao</a> based agroforest, 4.168376 N, 10.213165 E, 641 m a.s.l., 26.IV.2023, leg. Guibai Jean and A. R. Nzoko Fiemapong ; 1 female (NHMN-62-15), Cameroon Littoral Region, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=10.213165&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=4.346097" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 10.213165/lat 4.346097)">Ebo Forest</a>, 4.346097 N, 10.213165 E; 18.IV.2022 , 1 male (SEM, ARNF), Cameroon, Center Region, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=11.35148&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=3.83544" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 11.35148/lat 3.83544)">Kala Mountain</a> 03.83544N, 11.35148E, 1050 m a.s.l., mature natural secondary forest, 22.V.2024 ; 1 female (ARNF), same locality and date; 1 female (NHMN-62-16) <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=11.483334&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=3.85" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 11.483334/lat 3.85)">Ongot</a>, 3.85N, 11.483334E, degraded secondary forest, ca 810 m a.s.l., 08.VII.2022, all leg. A.R. Nzoko Fiemapong .</p><p>Etymology. To honor Dr. Didier Vandenspiegel, a taxonomist who has greatly contributed to the knowledge of Afrotropical and other Diplopoda .</p><p>Diagnosis. This species differs from congeners by the marbled olivaceous-brown coloration without special yellow spots at lateral margins of paraterga (Fig. 10). Gonopod postfemoral process (pfp) complex, presenting a small, rounded lamella just after the curvature and bifid distally (Fig.12D); external branch of acropodite forming a large solenomere (slo), which has only an indistinct, small solenomere proper at its tip, next to a larger internal axe-shaped branch forming a solenophore (sph).</p><p>Description. Length of holotype, ca. 43 mm, width of midbody pro- and metazona, 3.3 and 8 mm, respectively. Length of paratypes, 44 mm, width of midbody pro- and metazona, 3.5–4.5 and 9–10.5 mm (male, female), respectively. Dorsum granulate (Figs 10, 11C). Coloration (preserved in 70% ethanol) olivaceous-marbled-brown; antennae, venter and legs brown to light brown.</p><p>Head densely microgranulate; interantennal isthmus about half as broad as diameter of antennal socket.Antennae long and only slightly clavate, in situ reaching past body ring 4 when stretched dorsally; in length, antennomere 4=3&gt;2&gt;6&gt;1&gt;7; apical segment with usual four sensory cones.</p><p>Body with 20 segments (male, female). In width, head &lt;collum &lt;ring 2 &lt;3 &lt;4 &lt;5 &lt;6–16, body tapering towards telson starting with ring 17. Collum transversely ellipsoid, not covering the head from above; sides narrowly rounded; dorsal surface densely and irregularly microgranulate (Figs 10, 11C). Dorsum slightly convex (Fig. 10). Prozona smooth and shining; metazona dull, densely microgranulate; pleurosternal region with transverse rows of small, tubercles/short spines. Metaterga 2–5 each with a small, evident impression at bases of paraterga, following paraterga (nearly) regularly convex, continuing the convex outline of mid-dorsal region. Paraterga broad, mostly lying at about half body height, and slightly declined, paraterga 17–19 increasingly clearly drawn past rear tergal margin, 19th sharp. Sides below paraterga densely granulate, grains in the caudal row being longer, spiniform, and sharp. A thin and dark axial line sometimes traceable dorsally, particularly well visible on collum and prozona.</p><p>Epiproct short, spade-shaped, strongly flattened dorsoventrally, subtruncate, tuberculate dorsally (Fig. 10). Hypoproct microgranulate, subtrapeziform, with 1+1 caudal setae distinctly separated and borne on minute knobs. Paraprocts likewise densely microgranulate.</p><p>Sterna broad, almost flattened, densely granulate on metazona (Fig. 12B). Gonapophyses on male coxae 2 vestigial. Legs, very long and slender, about 1.5 times as long as the height at midbody (male), in length, femur&gt; tarsus&gt; tibia&gt; prefemur = postfemur&gt;coxa; claw very small, slightly curved; ventral surface of legs densely setose except for both postfemur and coxa. No brushes on ventral surface of tarsi (Fig. 11D).</p><p>Gonopod aperture (Fig. 12B) transversely ovoid, large, lateral and posterior edges slightly elevated, fully concealing both gonocoxae and bases of telopodites.</p><p>Gonopods (Fig. 12 C-F): coxite medium-sized, subcylindrical, fused at base to a small membranous sternal remnant, poorly setose distodorsally, including a pair of very closely placed, distalmost and particularly long setae.</p><p>Cannulae slender, without peculiarities. Telopodites in situ directed forward, held subparallel to each other, suberect, not crossing each other mesally. Prefemoral part erect, taking up ca. 2/3 total length of telopodite. Femorite absent, but a relatively complex postfemoral process (pfp) present, recurved at a right-angle, bifid, bearing a small, rounded lamella/plate just after the curvature. Acropodite twisted, divided parabasally into two lobes: a medial, large and axe-shaped solenophore (sph) and a large lateral solenomere (slo) branch, this bearing an indistinct, small solenomere proper at its tip.</p><p>Female. Cyphopods located directly behind of leg-pair 2 on body ring 3; broadly ovoid in ventral view (Fig. 13). Anterior and posterior valves densely setose, ventral margins elevated, forming distinct carinae. Contact line between the two valves forming a median groove (Fig. 13B). Operculum small and relatively proximal (Fig. 13 C).</p><p>Distribution. This species is currently known from three localities in Cameroon's southern forest region, where it has been usually found under leaf litter and in decaying material. It has been recorded in syntopy with S. kala sp. nov. in the Central region of the country (Fig. 14). The species inhabits both degraded secondary forests and mature, undisturbed forest.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D08719DE5AE91EF3BCA3A73A748372	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko;Blandenier, Quentin;Tamesse, Joseph Lebell;Mitchell, Edward A. D.	Fiemapong, Armand Richard Nzoko, Blandenier, Quentin, Tamesse, Joseph Lebell, Mitchell, Edward A. D. (2025): Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical millipede genus Scaptodesmus Cook, 1896 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae), with integrative descriptions of three new species from Cameroon. Zootaxa 5696 (3): 361-384, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.3
