Zoosphaerium coquerelianum (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897)

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 : 72-73

Key to species of the Z. coquerelianum species-group

1. Male harp with two or three stridulation ribs............................................................................................................... 2

- Male harp with single stridulation rib. ......................................................................................................................... 7

2. Tergites glossy, anteriorly shiny light-green, posteriorly dark green. Specimen larger than 50 mm. Anal shield not well-rounded, with steep slope. Movable finger of posterior telopods apically with groove (Fig. 49E), finger 1.6 times longer than wide (Fig. 49D). .................................................................................................... Z. amabile , n. sp.

- Coloration pattern different, or if similar then specimens smaller than 35 mm. Anal shield well-rounded or bellshaped. Movable finger without apical groove, podomere 2.0–2.5 times longer than wide. ..................................... 3

3. Antenna with four apical cones. .................................................................................................................................. 4

- Antenna with>10 apical cones (Fig. 52D). ................................................................................................................. 5

4. Anal shield surface covered with short hairs. Posterior locking carina of anal shield 2.5–3 times longer than anterior carina ........................................................................................................ Z. alluaudi ( de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897)

- Anal shield surface glabrous. Posterior locking carina of anal shield more than 3.5 times longer than anterior carina ....................................................................................................... Z. voeltzkowianum ( de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897)

5. Male harp with three stridulation ribs (Fig. 51C). Movable finger of posterior telopods 2 times longer than wide (Fig. 51E). Endotergum with three rows of marginal bristles, bristles slightly extending beyond tergite (Fig. 63B). Posterior locking carina of anal shield four times longer than anterior carina. Male anal shield bell-shaped. Sclerotized teeth present on antennomeres 1–5 (Figs 52A, B). ..................................................... Z. trichordum , n. sp.

- Male harp with two stridulation ribs. Movable finger 2.4–2.5 times longer than wide. Endotergum with one up to two rows of marginal bristles, bristles not reaching tergite margin. Posterior locking carina of anal shield three times longer than anterior carina. Male anal shield well-rounded. Sclerotized teeth only present up to antennomere 3 or 4. ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

6. Specimens longer than 60 mm. Tergites dark-green, covered with numerous large pits and short setae. Operculum of vulva not protruding above coxal margin. Sclerotized teeth present on antennomeres 1–3, disc with circa 45 apical cones. Endotergum with two rows of marginal bristles. ................................ Z. villosum Wesener & Sierwald, 2005 A

- Specimens only slightly longer than 30 mm. Tergites jade-like green with thin brown posterior margin, texture glossy. Operculum of vulva deeply notched, strongly extending beyond coxa (Fig. 54A). Sclerotized teeth present on antennomeres 1–4 (Fig. 55A), disc with circa 14 apical cones (Fig. 55B). Endotergum with single row of marginal bristles (Fig. 63C). ...................................................................................................................... Z. smaragdinum n. sp.

7. Movable finger 3 times longer than wide (Fig. 56C). ...................................................................... Z. ambrense , n. sp.

- Movable finger <2.5 times longer than wide. .............................................................................................................. 8

8. Antenna with four apical cones (Fig. 62C). Movable finger of posterior telopods at inner margin with two membranous lobes (Fig. 58C). .................................................................................................................................... 9

- Antenna with>10 apical cones (Fig. 65C). Movable finger of posterior telopods at inner margin with single membranous lobe. ..................................................................................................................................................... 10

9. Collum glabrous. Anterior telopod second podomere process visible in anterior view (Fig. 58A). Fifth antennomere without sensilla basiconica (Fig. 59B). Endotergum with single row of large cuticular impressions, marginal bristles slightly protruding above tergite (Fig. 63E). .......................................................................................... Z. isalo , n. sp.

- Collum with isolated, long hair. Anterior telopod second podomere process not visible in anterior view (Fig. 61B). Fifth antennomere with field of sensilla basiconica (Fig. 62B). Endotergum with row of large cuticular impressions and second row of much smaller impressions, bristles long, strongly protruding above tergite (Fig. 63F). ................. ............................................................................................................................................................. Z. bilobum , n. sp.

10. First pair of stigmatic plates greatly enlarged (Fig. 64A). ......................................................................................... 11

- First pair of stigmatic plates triangular, tapering towards tip. .................................................................................. 12

11. Operculum of vulva ending clearly before coxal margin, deeply notched, divided into two large, well-rounded samesized lobes (Fig. 64C). Third podomere of anterior telopod laterally with circa five large, sclerotized teeth (Fig. 64E). Sensilla basiconica on first antennomere absent (Fig. 65B). Posterior locking carina of anal shield two times as long as anterior carina. Endotergum marginal bristles protruding up to tergite margin (Fig. 74A). Movable finger of posterior telopods thick, 1.85 times longer than wide (Fig. 64G). ................................................ Z. tampolo , n. sp.

- Operculum of vulva ending before coxal margin, elongated into single median lobe, lobe only shallowly notched at tip (Fig. 66C). Third podomere of anterior telopod without any large, sclerotized teeth (Fig. 66E). Sensilla basiconica on first antennomere present (Fig. 67A). Locking carinae of anal shield of equal length. Endotergum marginal bristles very short, ending far before tergite margin (Fig. 74B). Movable finger of posterior telopods thick, 2.1 times longer than wide (Fig. 66G). ............................................................................................. Z. ignotum , n. sp.

12. Tergite texture orange-peel like. Collum covered with isolated, long hair. Body size of adult female> 50 mm. Endotergum with two rows of marginal bristles and single row of large circular cuticular impressions (Fig. 74C). ... .................................................................................................................................................................................... 13

- Tergite texture glossy or smooth. Collum glabrous. Body size of adults <35 mm. Endotergum with single row of marginal bristles and either without or with two rows of cuticular impressions. ..................................................... 14

13. Posterior locking carina on anal shield 2.5 times longer than anterior carina. Third podomere of anterior telopods without large, sclerotized teeth. Anal shield glabrous. Endotergum marginal bristles short, not protruding up to tergite margin. ................................................................................ Z. coquerelianum ( de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897)

- Posterior locking carina on anal shield 4.5 times longer than anterior carina. Third podomere of anterior telopods with circa seven large, sclerotized teeth (Fig. 68C). Anal shield covered with short hair. Endotergum marginal bristles protruding up to tergite margin (Fig. 74C).. ..................................................................... Z. tainkintana , n. sp.

14. Tergites glossy. Female anal shield bell-shaped, male with steep slope. Posterior telopods fixed finger wide, only slightly curved towards movable finger (Fig. 70C). Movable finger 1.8 times longer than wide, on posterior side with ten small sclerotized teeth (Fig. 70D). Sclerotized teeth on antenna only present on first antennomere (Fig. 71B). Endotergum without cuticular impressions (Fig. 74D). .................................................... Z. viridissimum , n. sp.

- Tergites matte. Anal shield well-rounded. Fixed finger slender, strongly curved towards movable finger (Fig. 72D). Movable finger 2.4 times longer than wide, on posterior side with circa 25 small sclerotized teeth (Fig. 72E). Sclerotized teeth only present on antennomeres 1–3 (Fig. 73C). Endotergum with single row of large and second row of smaller circular cuticular impressions (Fig. 74E). .................................................................. Z. denticulatum , n. sp.