Morogorius pugio Enghoff, 2025

Enghoff, Henrik, Ngute, Alain Senghor K., Mnendendo, Hamidu R., Kivambe, Exaud E., Mhagawale, Waziri, Malanda, Robin C., Mpoto, Athuman & Marshall, Andrew R., 2025, A mountain of millipedes XII. The Chelodesmidae of the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania (Diplopoda, Polydesmida), European Journal of Taxonomy 997, pp. 210-255 : 226-228

Morogorius pugio Enghoff sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:66768505-0FD5-4E1B-AC6F-D763ADD4639E

Figs 1 , 9

Diagnosis

Differs from other species of Morogorius by the simple thin, straight, pointed parasolenomere with a small needlelike side branch ( Fig. 9D–E ).

Etymology

Named after the parasolenomere which reminds of a dagger (Latin ‘ pugio ’). Noun in apposition.

Material examined (total 1 ♂)

Holotype

TANZANIA • ♂; Morogoro Region, Udzungwa Mts Natl. Park, Kidatu ; 07°40′42.1″ S, 36°55′06.8″ E; 1482 m a.s.l.; 21 Apr. 2014; J. Malumbres-Olarte leg.; Plot 6, pitfall trap, sample code 6 PT8; NHMD 1184710.

Description (male)

SIZE. Length ca 31 mm, max. width 5.7 mm.

COLOUR. After 10 years in alcohol head medium brown, collum and dorsal side of body rings dark; paranota 2, 3, 5, 7, 9–10, 12–13 and 15–19 contrastingly whitish, paranota 4, 6 and 8 of a slightly lighter hue than main part of dorsum, sides of body rings medium brown; telson light brown, epiproct whitish; antennae and venter light brown; legs whitish brown.

COLLUM. With pair of setae close to anterior margin.

BODY RINGS. Metazonites 1.4× as broad as prozonites, apparently without setae; with a prominent transverse sulcus on rings 5–17. Granulation irregular, but with a tendency to longitudinal striolation behind sulcus. Paranota from ring with 7 posterior corners projecting slightly backwards, first as rounded lobes, further back more triangular. Sides of rings with uniform tuberculation, no larger tubercles along posterior margin.

LEGS. Length 1.2× maximum body width.

GONOPODS ( Fig. 9 ). Coxa (cx) with a strong conical apical process (cxp), one long seta (as) on anterior surface basal to process, a field of setae (ls) on lateral surface. Prefemoral part (prf) ca 2 × as long as broad. Prefemoral process (prp) closely appressed to and distally curving over solenomere. Solenomere (slm) long, slender, taeniate, pointed. Parasolenomere (ps) much shorter than solenomere, thin, straight, pointed, with small needlelike side branch (nb) basally.

Distribution and habitat

Known only from one site in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park ( Fig. 1 ). Collected in a pitfall trap at 1482 m a.s.l.

Figures

Fig. 1. Map of the Udzungwa Mts showing collecting areas for Chelodesmidae Cook, 1895. Yellow squares: Morogorius spp.D: M. divisus Enghoff sp. nov.,L: M. louishanseni Enghoff sp. nov., P: M. pugio Enghoff sp. nov. K: M. kitungulu Enghoff sp. nov., C: M. cochlear Enghoff sp. nov. Red squares: Tanzaniella howelli Hoffman, 1977. Blue squares Dionaeadesmus force Enghoff gen. et sp. nov. Purple squares: Callistocilla dolorotrix Hoffman, 2005. The position of the squares within the green circles/ ovoids does not indicate exact location. Based on Marshall et al. (2010: fig. 1).

Fig. 9. Morogorius pugio Enghoff sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (NHMD 1184710), left gonopod. A. Lateral view. B. Tip of solenomere. C. Mesal view. D. Ventral view (most prefemoral setae trimmed). E. Parasolenomere, isolated. F. Anterior view. Abbreviations: as = anterior coxal seta; ca = cannula; ci = cingulum; cx = coxa; cxp = coxal process; ls = lateral coxal setae; nb = needlelike side branch; prf = prefemoral part; prp = prefemoral process; ps = parasolenomere; slm = solenomere. Scale bars: A, C–D, F = 0.2 mm; B = 0.02 mm; E = 0.1 mm.