Zoosphaerium solitarium, Wesener, 2009

Wesener, Thomas, 2009, Unexplored richness: discovery of 31 new species of Giant Pill-Millipedes endemic to Madagascar, with a special emphasis on microendemism (Diplopoda, Sphaerotheriida), Zootaxa 2097 (1), pp. 1-134 : 58-61

Zoosphaerium solitarium , new species

Derivatio nominis: solitarium , adjective, refers to the isolated and potential microendemic occurrence at the Montagne des Français, as well as to the unusual telopods of this species.

Holotype: 1 M (48 mm long), ZSM FGZC1897 , Madagascar, Province d'Antsiranana, Montagne des Français , tropical dry forest, base camp, coll. J. Köhler et al., iii.2008.

Paratypes: 1 M, FMMC FGZC1661 , Madagascar, Province d'Antsiranana , Montagne des Français, tropical dry forest, between cave and Fort, coll. J. Köhler et al., iii.2008; 1 M, Museum Hamburg FGZC1662 , same data as previous ; 1 M, ZSM FGZC1842 , same data as previous , but pitfalls; 1 F, ZSM FGZC1693 , same data as previous ; 1 M, CAS BLF 3129 . Montagne des Français , 7.2 km 142° SE Antsiranana (= Diego Suarez), 180 m, tropical dry forest, 12°19'22"S, 49°20'17"E, coll. Fisher, Griswold et al. 22–28.ii.2001 .

Distribution: This species is only known from the Montagne des Français, a dry forest on a calcareous hill in NE Madagascar (Fig. 38).

Diagnosis: Medium sized, up to 50 mm long. Color faded to brownish, posterior margin of tergites dark brown (Fig. 39B), texture orange-peel like. First antennomere with groove, antennomeres 1–5 with sclerotized teeth (Figs 41A, B), disc with circa 45 (42–45) apical cones (Fig. 41C). Movable finger of posterior telopods slender and elongated, not curved, with three thin spines (Fig. 40E), posterior side with circa eight small sclerotized teeth (Fig. 40F). Fixed finger straight, only tip weakly curved towards third podomere. Finger slender and strongly elongated, clearly longer than movable finger. Single, weakly developed stridulation rib on male harp (Fig. 40B). Third podomere of anterior telopods of medium length and relatively slender, not as long as first podomere. Two locking carinae on anal shield, located closely towards laterotergites. Anterior carina short, posterior one three times longer than first. Mesal plate of female vulva extending beyond operculum. Operculum elongated into two same-sized, rounded but slightly acute tips, extending beyond coxa (Fig. 40A).

Similar species: The shape and position of the locking carinae and the female vulva mark Z. solitarium n. sp. as a member of the Z. platylabum species-group, but the special-shaped posterior telopods are unique inside Zoosphaerium . The anterior telopods are, especially at the fragile shaped third podomere and the weakly developed stridulation rib, very similar to those of Z. broelemanni , n. sp..

FIGURE 040. Zoosphaerium solitarium n. sp., paratype, A: second left coxa with vulva, posterior view; B: right half of anterior telopod, anterior view; C: last two podomeres of anterior telopod, lateral view; D: last two podomeres of anterior telopods, posterior view; E: posterior telopod, anterior view; F: chela of posterior telopod, posterior view. Abbreviations: cav = cavity; cr-t = crenulated teeth; Cx = coxa; EP = external plate of vulva; IP = mesal plate of vulva; O = operculum; Pre = prefemur; s-p = sclerotized spot; scl-t = sclerotized teeth; SR = stridulation rib. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 041. Zoosphaerium solitarium n. sp., paratype, SEM, antenna, A: antennomeres 1–3, lateral view; B: antennomeres 4–6, lateral view; C: disc, apical view. Abbreviation: sb = sensilla basiconica.

Description: Body length, Males (5 specimens): length up to 49 mm, width up to 27.2 mm, height up to 14.5 mm. Female: length up to 51 mm, width up to 28.4 mm; height up to 15.3 mm.

Habitus: Body of reduced height. Thoracic shield of unique shape.

Coloration: Legs, antenna, head, collum and tergites reddish-brown, posterior margins of tergites 3–12 dark brownish (Fig. 39B).

Head: Eyes with more than 60 ocelli.

Antennae: Length of antennomeres: 1=2=3>4=5<6 (Figs 41A, B), sixth antennomere disc with 42–45 apical cones (Fig. 41C). First antennomere of greatest width, cylindrical with groove and sensilla basiconica (Fig. 41A). Few sensilla basiconica also present on fifth antennomere (Fig. 41B). Sclerotized teeth at base of antennomeres 1–5 (Figs 41A, B).

Mouthparts not dissected.

Collum: Median part of collum glabrous.

Thoracic shield: Of unusual shape, anterior edges projecting towards head (Fig. 39B). Concave lateral extension wide and deeply excavated.

Tergites: Texture with orange-peel like pattern and mostly glabrous. Tips of paratergite posterior margins projecting posteriorly (Fig. 39B).

Endotergum: Inner section with numerous short spines and long bristles (Fig. 47B). Between marginal ridge and inner area single row of elliptical cuticular impressions. Circular impressions of medium width (Fig. 47B). Externally two rows of marginal bristles. Bristles short, protruding up to tergite margin (Fig. 47B).

Anal shield: Well-rounded, neither bell-shaped nor tapered. Ventral side of anal shield with two black locking carinae, located closely to laterotergites. Anterior carina small, second carina three times longer than first.

Legs: Tarsi of first pair of legs with seven or eight, second and third with eight ventral spines. First two leg pairs with only weakly curved claws and without apical spine. Tarsi of legs 4–21 with curved claws, 10 or 11 ventral spines and one apical spine. Femur 2.3 and tarsi 4.9 times longer than wide.

Stigmatic plates: First lobe long, with well-rounded tip.

Female sexual characters: Subanal plate with washboard, consisting of short, incontinuous stridulation ribs, with two up to three ribs on each half. Vulva large, covering more than 3/4 of coxa. Operculum long, slightly extending beyond coxa. Apical margin of operculum medially deeply notched, with two large, samesized lobes. Both lobes with acute, but well-rounded tips (Fig. 40A). Mesal plate long, extending beyond coxa and operculum (Fig. 40A).

Male sexual characters: Male gonopore covered with large, undivided and rounded plate.

Anterior telopods (Figs 40B–D): First podomere only at inner margin with few hairs. Harp with single stridulation rib. Rib long but weakly developed. Second and third podomere on both sides covered with numerous isolated hairs. Second podomere process lobe-like and little curved with rounded edges, protruding up to half of third podomere height, apically with sclerotized spots. Third podomere long but slender, cavity mesally with numerous sclerotized spots and five thin, sclerotized spines, laterally six crenulated, small teeth. One sclerotized spot located closely to tip.

Posterior telopods (Figs 40E, F): Movable finger slender and long, not tapering towards well-rounded tip, length 2.7 times greater than width. Hollowed-out inner margin only present on apical half of podomere, with three sclerotized spines towards fixed process of second podomere, posterior aspect with eight small, sclerotized teeth. Movable finger shorter than fixed finger, the latter running straight, only tip slightly curved. Margin of fixed finger apically covered with few, minute sclerotized spots. First podomere glabrous, podomeres 2 and 3 covered on both sides with few, long isolated. Inner horns of syncoxite with pointed, slender tip.