Sterropristes sarasinorum Attems, 1934

Muadsub, Sawitree, Sutcharit, Chirasak, Pimvichai, Piyatida & Enghoff, Henrik, 2012, Revision of the rare centipede genus Sterropristes Attems, 1934, with description of a new species from Thailand (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae), Zootaxa 3484, pp. 35-52 : 37

Sterropristes sarasinorum Attems, 1934

( Figures 1 A–C, 2–4 and Table 1 )

Sterropristes sarasinorum Attems, 1934: 43 –47, figs 1–5. Type locality: Tomohon, Sulawesi (=Celebes), Indonesia.

Type material. Holotype NHB 432a (specimen in ethanol).

Description of the holotype. The original description is quite detailed. Distinguishing characters are: antennal articles 1 to 7 glabrous or with very few setae, 8 to 17 densely setose. Basal borders of coxosternal tooth plates meeting at right angles. Forcipular tarsungula curved, internal margins with 9 teeth. Tergites 3 to 20 with complete paramedian sutures. Sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment noticeably truncated posteriorly. Coxopleura of ultimate legs longer than sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment. Ultimate legs thickened, prefemora 1½ times, femora 2 times and tibiae 2½ times longer than their widths, prefemora and femora with posterior dorsal grooves, ventral sides of both tarsi prominently convex. Leg 1 with one femoral spur and two tarsal spurs, legs 2 to 20 each with one tarsal spur. Trunk, head capsule, antennae and ultimate legs dark brown, legs pale olive and yellow.

Remarks. We have examined the holotype and found inconsistencies with the original description. Attems (1934) mentioned that leg 1 has two tibial spurs and that legs 2 to 18 have one tibial spur each; the posterior grooves on the ultimate legs were not mentioned. However, we found that leg 1 has one femoral spur and two tarsal spurs ( Fig. 4 C), and legs 2 to 20 have only one tarsal spur each ( Fig. 4 D, E). In addition, the posterior grooves on the prefemora and femora of the ultimate legs are clearly recognizable ( Figs 3 G, I, 4G).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Spiracles of segments 3, 5 and 7 (left to right, respectively). A – C. Holotype NMB 432 a of Sterropristes sarasinorum Attems, 1934. D – F. Specimen CUMZ 3205 of Sterropristes metallicus from Penang Botanical Gardens, Penang, Malaysia. G – I. Holotype CUMZ 3207 of Sterropristes violaceus Muadsub and Panha n. sp.

FIGURE 3. Holotype NMB 432 a of Sterropristes sarasinorum Attems, 1934. A. Ventral view of forcipules. B. Dorsal view of left antenna. C. Tergites 2 to 5, complete paramedian sutures start on tergite 3. D. Sternites 1 to 5, complete paramedian sutures start on sternite 4. E. Tergites 18 to 21. F. Sternites 18 to 21, showing sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment shorter than coxopleura. G – J. Ultimate legs; (G, I) posterior groove on prefemur and femur, and (H, J) prominently convex shape of both tarsi.

FIGURE 4. Drawings of Sterropristes sarasinorum Attems, 1934, holotype NMB 432 a. A. Antennae. B. Forcipules. C. Sternites 1 and 2. D, E. Sternites and legs 8 and 18. F. Sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment shorter than coxopleura. G. Oblique view of ultimate leg showing posterior grooves on prefemur and femur. H. Lateral view of ultimate leg showing convex underside on both tarsi.