Granitobolus andohahelensis 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 : 71-72

Granitobolus andohahelensis Wesener , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D022AF86-E072-4090-B604-F7D5A3C8F425

Material examined: 4 ♂, 7 ♀, 32 imm. Holotype: 1 ♂ (33 mm long), FMMC 13603 , Madagascar, Province Toliara, Andohahela, Mt. Vasiha , 500 m, 24°55’19” S, 46°44’45” E, station 12, on 15° slope, E of summit, no granite outcrops, leg. K. Emberton, 6.II.1995 . Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 8 imm., FMMC W045 , Parc National de Andohahela, Malio , rainforest, 24°55.810’ S, 46°46.343’ E, leg. Wesener et al., 30.V.2007 ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, ZMUC W045 , same data as previous ; 1 ♀, 2 imm., ZMH W045 , same data as previous .

Other material examined: 1 ♀, 12 imm., W045, same data as previous material, but stored as vouchers at University Antananarivo ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 4 imm., FMMC W078 , Province Toliara, Manantantely , 24°59’17.14” S, 46°55’27.95” E, rainforest, leg. Wesener et Schütte, 06.VI.2007 ; 1 ♀, ZMH W078 , same data as previous ; 1 ♀, 6 imm., W078, same data as previous, University Antananarivo .

Differential diagnosis: G. andohahelensis differs from G. endemicus in a slightly different colour pattern and differently shaped telopodites of the anterior ( Fig. 38F ) and posterior gonopods ( Fig. 38G ).

Description. Measurements: males with 37 or 38 rings, circa 31–35 mm long (broken), 3.3–3.5 mm wide. Females with 38 rings, 37–43 mm long, 3.7–4.1 mm wide.

Coloration affected by alcohol. Anterior part of head and appendages white to reddish ( Fig. 38A ). Mesozona and anterior part of metazona dark grey, posterior part of metazona dark orange ( Figs 38 A–C). Antennae very short, in males protruding back to ring 4 ( Fig. 38A ), in females to ring 2. Preanal process well-rounded, extending beyond anal valves ( Fig. 38C ).

Anterior gonopod sternite elongated into a short, well-rounded lobe ( Fig. 38D ). Coxite large, inconspicuous, with neither processes, nor projections ( Fig. 38D ). Telopodite visible on anterior side, on posterior side apically with a rounded process ( Fig. 38F ). Telopodite process starting at mesal margin, laterally curved, slightly extending beyond coxite ( Fig. 38F ).

Posterior gonopods: telopodite apex not erect, covered by a membranous area ( Fig. 38G ). A membranous area present between apex and beak, with a short process projecting above margin ( Fig. 38E ).

Intraspecific variation: the specimens from Manantantely display, in comparison with the holotype from Vasiha, small differences on the beak of the posterior gonopod. These differences are now regarded as intraspecific variation. No variation at all was observed between the holotype collected in Vasiha 1995 and those collected few hundred meters East in Malio 2007 ( Fig. 30 ). Like in G. endemicus , females of different size classes are present.

Distribution and ecology: known from the rainforest of Malio, as well as 20 km east from the forest of Manantantely ( Fig. 30 ). It is currently unclear if similar specimens collected from Ebosika, the Isaka-Ivondro corridor and Ivorona also belong to G. andohahelensis, Single specimens taken from the littoral forests of Mandena and Sainte Luce show a uniformly black coloration and most likely belong to a yet undescribed species. All specimens of G. andohahelensis were collected in thin root layers covering large granitic outcrops.

Etymology: andohahelensis , adjective, after the type locality.

Figures

Figure 30. Distribution of the genera Pseudocentrobolus gen. n., Granitobolus gen. n. and Caprobolus gen.n.

Figure 38. Granitobolus andohahelensis 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. av = anal valves; Co = collum; Cx = coxite; fs-p = finger-shaped process; Gn = gnathochilarium; Md = mandible; ms = marginal setae; P = parasitic nematode?; Pre = preanal ring; re = rectangular extension; sf = setiferous foveolae; St = sternite; T = telopodite. Scale bars = 1 mm.