Sphaeropoeus variegatus Pocock, 1895

Wesener, Thomas, 2016, Redescription and phylogenetic analysis of the type species of the giant pill-millipede genus Sphaeropoeus Brandt, 1833 (Diplopoda, Sphaerotheriida, Zephroniidae), Zootaxa 4184 (1), pp. 141-157 : 152-153

Sphaeropoeus variegatus Pocock, 1895

Figures 3 A–E

Sphaeropoeus variegatus Pocock, 1895: 412 .

Sphaeropoeus variegatus Pocock 1895: 412 (first description).— Jeekel 2001: 24 (list).

Type material examined. M holotype, NHML, "locality? near Singapore?" (label written in pencil).

Re-diagnosis. The unique denticulate margin of the femur of the walking legs separates S. variegatus from any known congeneric species. Small-bodied, tergites densely setose; thoracic shield without a deep groove; anal shield with single locking carina of medium length. Antennae axe-shaped with>70 apical cones. Femur of walking legs wide, with 14 ventral spines and a conspicuous femur with a denticulate mesal margin ( Fig. 3 A). Anterior telopod podomere 2 posteriorly not only with a long process ( Fig. 3 B) but additionally with a large membranous lobe ( Fig. 3 C). Podomere 4 bends posteriorly. Posterior telopod with 15 tiny, rectangular teeth on podomere 3.

Redescription. Measurements: male holotype: 30.1 long, 12.4 (2nd = widest) wide, 7.7 (2nd = highest) height.

Coloration completely faded to light brown, only eyes green

Head: Eyes with>70 ocelli. Antennae very short, protruding to center of head. Antennomeres 1–5 with few longer setae, 6 densely pubescent. Antennomere 6 towards disc with single row of sensilla basiconica. Antennomere 6 axe-shaped, twice as wide as antennomeres 1–5. Male with 70/70 apical cones. Palpi of gnathochilarium located in single field.

Collum anterior margin with 4–5 rows, posterior margin with 1–2 rows of longer setae, central part glabrous.

Thoracic shield covered with fine hair. Grooves wide, lacking striae or ledges; not as deep as in S. hercules . Tergites 3–12 covered in fine hair, posterior half sometimes with surface resembling orange. Paratergite tips of midbody tergites projecting posteriorly.

Anal shield well-rounded, completely covered in fine hair, posterior margin thickened. Underside carrying single locking carina of medium length located close to anal shield margin.

Endotergum not examined because of lack of permission.

Stigmatic-plate 1 well-rounded, slightly curved towards coxa.

Pleurite 1 elongated into a strongly tapering process. Pleurite 2 and beyond of regular shape.

Leg 1 with 2 or 3, 2 with 4 or 5, 3 with 8 ventral and a single apical spine. Leg pairs 4–21 with 13–15 ventral spines. Coxa process visible, well-rounded ( Fig. 3 A). Femur 2.2, tarsus 5.7 times longer than wide ( Fig. 3 A). Femur with a strongly dentate mesal margin ( Fig. 3 A).

Male gonopore opening covered by a single, apically membranous plate. Apically of opening is a sclerotized, triangular plate.

Anterior telopod ( Figs 3 B–D): four podomeres, first two of equal length, 3 half as long as 2, 4 <3, curved posteriorly ( Fig. 3 B). Telopoditomere 2 with a strong, curved process, process in mesal view with a large membranous lobe. Telopoditomere 3 posteriorly with a shorter process juxtaposed to apex process of telopoditomere 2 ( Figs 3 C, D).

Posterior telopod ( Figs 3 E, F): Podomere 3 & 4 longer than process of podomere 2. Podomere 4 short, with membranous ledge and two spines. Podomere 3 3.2 times longer than wide ( Fig. 3 E). Hollowed-out inner margin with a membranous ledge, posterior aspect with 15 small crenulated teeth and two spines ( Fig. 3 F). Immovable finger wide, straight, membranous area apically with two large membranous lobes ( Fig. 3 E). Podomeres 1–3 in anterior view with numerous setae ( Fig. 3 E), in posterior view with few setae mainly located at the margins. Podomere 4 in both aspects glabrous ( Fig. 3 F). Inner horns with a 2-tipped extension.

Female unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Sphaeropoeus variegatus Pocock, 1895, holotype, NHML. A: left leg 9, posterior view; B: right anterior telopod, anterior view; C: anterior telopod, mesal view; D: anterior telopod, lateral view; E: left posterior telopod, anterior view; F: left posterior telopod, posterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm. Abbreviations: numbers refer to podomere number above syncoxite; Cx = coxa; Fe = femur; IH = inner horn; IL = inner lobes; PFe = postfemur; Pre = prefemur; syn = syncoxite; Ta = tarsus; Tib = tibia.