Zoosphaerium aureum, 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 : 43-46

Zoosphaerium aureum , new species

Derivatio nominis: aureum , adjective, refers to the golden anal shield (Fig. 17C).

Studied material: Holotype: 1 M (28.5 mm long), ZMUCX01 . Locus typicus: Madagascar, Province Antsiranana, Parc National Montagne d'Ambre , 1100 m, 12°32'S, 49°10'E, coll. Coddington, Scharff, Larcher, Griswold, Andriamasimanana, 29.xi.1993.

Paratypes: 2 M, 2 F, ZMUCX02 . same data as holotype ; 1 M, 1 F, FMMC, same data as holotype ; 1 M, 1 F, ZMUCX03 . Antsiranana; Parc National Montagne d'Ambre , 1000 m, 12°32'S, 49°10'E, coll. Coddington, Scharff, Larcher, Griswold, Andriamasimanana, 21–30.xi.1993 .

Other material: 3 M, 1 F, 1 imm. CAS BLF 2782 , Parc National Montagne d'Ambre , 12.2 km 211° SSW Joffreville, 1300 m, montane rainforest, 12°35'47"S, 49°9'34"E, coll. Fisher, Griswold et al., pitfall trap, 2–7.ii.2001. 1 M, CAS BLF 2853 , same collection data as previous, but malaise trap. 1 M, 1 F, FMMC 3932 .

Distribution: This remarkable colored species (Fig. 17C) is only known from the mountainous areas of Montagne d'Ambre (Fig. 5).

Diagnosis: Up to 40 mm long. Collected males appear to be smaller than females. Color unique (Fig. 17C), anterior part of body rings 3–12 red, while head, collum, thoracic shield and posterior margin of posterior body rings are pitchblack. Lateral depressions of thoracic shield and paratergite depression of body rings 3–12 red. Body rings 3–12 with single black stripe in anterior red area. Anal shield bright-golden. Texture of tergites smooth and glabrous. Antennomeres 1–4 with sclerotized teeth (Fig. 30A), disc with 20–30 apical cones (Fig. 30A). All antennomeres without groove (Fig. 30A). Movable finger of posterior telopods weakly curved, with two large, non-sclerotized lobes and three thin spines ( Fig. 29A ), posterior side with circa 23 sclerotized teeth ( Fig. 29B ). Two stridulation ribs on each male harp (Fig. 28D) and 4–6 on each side of female washboard. Anal shield with two, short, same-sized locking carinae, located closely to the margin. Operculum of vulva well-rounded, not or only weakly notched, protruding slightly above coxa (Fig. 28C).

Similar species: Besides the coloration pattern, Z. aureum , n. sp. displays a unique combination of characters: the weakly notched operculum, the strongly developed female washboard and the two small, same-sized locking carinae on the anal shield.

Description: Body length: Males (5 specimens): length up to 28 mm, width of thoracic shield up to 13 mm, height of thoracic shield up to 7.5 mm. Females (4 specimens): length up to 41 mm, width up to 18.1 mm, height up to 10.8 mm. Males smaller than females.

Habitus: Anal shield well-rounded (Fig. 17C). Tergites very smooth and hairless.

Coloration: Aposematic, anterior part of body rings 3–12 red, while head, collum, thoracic shield and posterior margin of more posterior body rings pitch-black (Fig. 17C). Lateral depressions of thoracic shield and paratergite depression of body rings 3–12 red. Furthermore body rings 3–12 with single black stripe in anterior red area. Anal shield bright-golden (Fig. 17C). Head, antennae and legs red. Preserved specimens loose their coloration pattern in alcohol, the red part fades to brown.

Head: Eyes with more than 75 ocelli.

Antennae: Length of antennomeres: 1=2=3=4=5<6; sixth antennomere bearing disc with 20–30 apical cones (Fig. 30A). First antennomere broadest, short and cylindrical, without groove, apically on one side with single row of sensilla basiconica (Fig. 30A). Sclerotized teeth at the base of antennomeres 1–4 (Fig. 30A).

Mandible: Six rows of pectinate lamellae, number of teeth declining from apical to proximal. Intermediate area with circa 11 rows of same-sized spines (Fig. 31). Molar plate with large impression, condylus apically with two steps (Fig. 31).

Gnathochilarium: Laterally of palpi 3 or 4 sensory cones, located together (Fig. 30B). Depression on posterior side of palpi with some sensory cones (Fig. 30B). Two different types of sensory uvulas on central pads: long, cylinder-shaped ones with pit and more plain ones (Fig. 30C).

Epipharynx: With medium sized apical tooth. Shape similar to those of other species of the genus (Wesener & Sierwald 2005A).

Collum: Median part of collum glabrous.

Thoracic shield: Surface similar to tergites.

Tergites: Smooth and glabrous. At high magnification (60x) very small, dot-like pits become visible. Paratergites slightly projecting posteriorly.

Endotergum: Inner section with short spines and very few, isolated bristles (Fig. 35C). Cuticular impressions absent. Externally 2 or 3 rows of marginal bristles, standing very closely to one another. Bristles scaly, long, protruding up to end of tergite (Fig. 35C).

Anal shield: Rounded, neither bell-shaped nor tapered (Fig. 17C). Covered with minute hair. Ventral side with two black locking carinae, both carinae of similar size.

Legs: Tarsi of first pair of legs with three or four, second with four to six ventral spines. First two leg pairs with only weakly curved claws and without apical spine. Tarsi of legs 3–21 with curved claws, 8–10 ventral spines and one apical spine. Femur 1.9 and tarsus 4.5 times longer than wide.

Stigmatic plate: First lobe well-rounded, long and weakly curved (Fig. 28A). Second stigmatic plate wellrounded (Fig. 28B). Stigmatic plates 3–21 with spine-like process.

Female sexual characters: Washboard in large females with six well-developed stridulation ribs on each half. Stridulation ribs symmetrical and strong. Vulva large, covering more than 3/4 of coxa. Operculum large, protruding slightly beyond coxa. Apical margin of operculum weakly notched. Mesal plate long and broad, reaching up to operculum height (Fig. 28C).

FIGURE 028. Zoosphaerium aureum n. sp., paratypes, A: first leg pair with first stigmatic plates, posterior view; B: second leg pair with gonopore and left second stigmatic plate; C: female second coxae and prefemur with vulvae, posterior view; D: left side of anterior telopod, anterior view; E: last three podomeres of anterior telopod, posterior view (hairs not drawn); F: anterior telopod, last two podomeres, lateral view (hairs not drawn). Abbreviations: Apo = tracheal apodeme; cav = cavity; Cx = coxa; EP = external plate of vulva; Go = gonopore; IP = mesal plate of vulva; O = operculum; Pre = prefemur; s-p = sclerotized spot; SR = stridulation ribs; St = stigmatic plate; St-O = stigma opening. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Male sexual characters: Male gonopore covered with large, sclerotized, undivided and rounded plate. Apical part of plate membranous (Fig. 28B). Anal shield well-rounded.

Anterior telopods (Figs 28D–F): All podomeres covered on both sides with numerous long hairs. First podomere harp two stridulation ribs, both straight, lateral rib almost three times larger than mesal rib. Second podomere process lobe-like and little curved with rounded edges, reaching almost height of third podomere, with sclerotized spots. Third podomere cavity mesally with numerous sclerotized spots and 4 or 5 small spines. Tip with one triangular, sclerotized spot.

Posterior telopods: Movable finger slightly curved; hollowed-out inner margin with two non-sclerotized lobes and three smaller, sclerotized spines, posterior aspect with circa 23 crenulated teeth. Fixed finger as wide and as long as movable finger, with almost straight tip, single membranous lobe, on inner margin covered with numerous sclerotized spots. First podomere on both sides almost glabrous, second podomere on both sides covered with numerous hair. Third podomere only basally with numerous hair. Inner horns with sharp-edged tips, slightly curved backwards.

Figures

FIGURE 29. Zoosphaerium aureum n. sp. posterior telopods, paratype, A: posterior telopods, anterior view; B: left posterior telopod, posterior view. Abbreviations: AL = anal lobes; cr-t = crenulated teeth; IH = inner horns; ml = membranous lobe. Scale bars = 1 mm.