Hylekobolus goodmani Wesener, 2009

Wesener, Thomas, Enghoff, Henrik & Sierwald, Petra, 2009, Review of the Spirobolida on Madagascar, with descriptions of twelve new genera, including three genera of ' fire millipedes' (Diplopoda), ZooKeys 19 (19), pp. 1-128 : 109-111

Hylekobolus goodmani Wesener , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C097B4BE-0F42-4C7D-B087-4C7B4396C826

Material examined: 6 ♂, 3 ♀ Holotype: 1 ♂ (hind end missing), FMMC 7936 , Province Toliara, RNI Andohahela parcel I, 440 m, rainforest, 24°37.6’ S, 46°45.9’ E, leg. S. Goodman, 19–28.X.1995 . Paratypes: 2 ♂, 1 imm., FMMC 8190 , Province Toliara, RNI Andohahela parcel I, 1200 m, rainforest, 24°35.0’ S, 46°44.1’ E, leg. S. Goodman, 7–17.XI.1995 ;

Other material examined: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, FMMC 8191 , same data as previous ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, FMMC 8202 , RNI d’ Andohahela parcel 1, 1875 m, montane rainforest, 24°33.7’ S, 46°43.3’ E, pitfall traps, leg. S. Goodman, 5.XII.1995 .

Differential diagnosis: the gonopods clearly identify this species ( Figs 59 D–G). H. goodmani is quite similar in colour to the sympatric H. montanus sp. n. The latter, however, is much larger and has completely different posterior gonopods.

Description. Measurements: male holotype with 49 rings, 55 mm long, 4.7–4.9 mm wide.

Coloration: head, median part of collum, anterior 3/4 of body rings and anterior half of anal segment dark grey ( Fig. 59A ). Posterior margin of body rings, telson and margins of collum light brown ( Fig. 59C ). Legs light brown, antennae darker grey ( Fig. 59B ). Eyes with 40–44 ocelli ( Fig. 59A ).

Anterior gonopod sternite basally wide, apically elevated into a rectangular lobe with a well-rounded tip ( Fig. 59D ). Mesal process of coxite slender and protruding ( Fig. 59D ). Apical process of telopodite large and well-rounded. Retrorse margin slender, widely projecting above telopodite margin ( Fig. 59F ), basally of apical process not projecting ( Fig. 59F ).

Posterior gonopod telopodite bent 90° ( Fig. 59G ). Projection absent from lateral margin (w, Fig. 59E ). Apical process (x) basally extraordinary slender, only twice as wide as sperm canal ( Fig. 59E ). Projection of sperm canal (z) long and slender, running parallel to apical process ( Fig. 59G ). Tip sharp-edged. Membranous lobe (y) large and well-rounded ( Fig. 59E ).

Distribution and ecology: this species is only known from the Anosy Mountains, north of the Isaka-Ivondro corridor ( Fig. 54 ).

Etymology: goodmani , adjective, named after Dr. Steven M. Goodman who collected this and numerous other remarkable Malagasy millipede species.

Figures

Figure 54. Distribution map of the genus Hylekobolus gen. n.

Figure 59. Hylekobolus goodmani sp. n., male holotype. A head, lateral view B legs 1–7, ventral view C telson D anterior gonopod, anterior view E left posterior gonopod, anterior view F anterior gonopod, posterior view G left posterior gonopod, posterior view. Apo = apodeme; av = anal valves; Co = collum; Cx = coxite; Gn = gnathochilarium; Md = mandible; Pre = preanal ring; St = sternite; sub = subanal scale; T = telopodite. Scale bars = 1 mm.