Zoosphaerium pulchellum, Wesener, 2009

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 : 33-37

Zoosphaerium pulchellum , new species

Derivatio nominis: pulchellum , adjective, refers to the shiny coloration pattern (Fig. 17B).

Studied material: Holotype: 1 M (30 mm long), FMMC 5388 . Locus typicus: Madagascar, Province Toliara, RNI d'Andohahela , parcel 1, 15 km NW Eminiminy, 24°34.2'S, 46°43.9'E, 1500 m, coll. S. Goodman, camp 4, 17–27.XI.1995.

Paratypes: 1 M, 1 F (with eggs), FMMC 5388 . Same data as holotype

Other material: 1 M, FMMC 5399 ; 1 F, FMMC 5399 ; 1 F, FMMC 5416 , same data as holotype; 1 M, 3 F , FMMC 5456 .

Distribution: This species is known only from the 1500 m montane rainforest range of RNI Andohahela, parcel 1 (Fig. 5).

FIGURE 020. Zoosphaerium mitoho n. sp., SEM, paratype, A: gnathochilarium, left inner palpus with rudimentary lateral palpus; B: right mandible, mesal view. Abbreviations: 3iT = 3 inner teeth; Co = condylus; eT = external tooth; iP = inner palpus; mp = molar plate; pL = pectinate lamella; rlp = rudimentary lateral palpus; v = depression on posterior side of palpus.

Diagnosis: Up to 30.75 mm long. Color remarkable (Fig. 17B): tergites colored with two different kinds of green, one jade-like green and at anterior parts of tergites with darker green. Texture of tergites polished with glossy sheen (Fig. 17B), nevertheless covered with some long, isolated hairs and few minute setae. Disc of antenna with four apical cones (Fig. 22C). Movable finger of posterior telopods weakly curved, with two large, non-sclerotized lobes and three sclerotized spines (Fig. 21E), posterior side with up to 25 sclerotized teeth (Fig. 21F). Tip of fixed finger curved towards movable finger (Fig. 21F). Both fingers on both sides covered completely with numerous small pits, one short hair standing in each (Figs 21E, F). Two stridulation ribs on each male harp, mesal one very weakly developed, difficult to observe (Fig. 21B). Anal shield with two locking carinae, first short, second twice as long as first. Anal shield sexually dimorphic, in males weakly rounded and of rectangular shape, covered with dense field of very short hair, in large females apically excavated and weakly bell-shaped, sensorial hairs absent. Operculum small, ending before coxal margin. Apical margin of operculum not or only weakly notched (Fig. 21A). Washboard on each side with 2 or 3 stridulation ribs.

FIGURE 021. Zoosphaerium pulchellum n. sp., A, female paratype, B–F, male holotype, A: second left coxa with vulva, posterior view; B: right side of anterior telopod, anterior view; C: last three podomeres of anterior telopod, posterior view; D: anterior telopod, last two podomeres, lateral view; E: posterior telopod, anterior view; F: posterior telopod, posterior view. Abbreviations: cr-t = crenulated teeth; Cx = coxa; EP = external plate of vulva; IP = mesal plate of vulva; ml = membranous lobe; O = operculum of vulva; s-p = sclerotized spot; SR = stridulation ribs. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Similar species: This species is probably closely related to Z. anomalum ( de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) , as it shares unique pits and small sensorial hairs on the posterior telopods. Nevertheless does Z. pulchellum n. sp. differ from Z. anomalum in the presence of two stridulation ribs on each male harp (1 in Z. anomalum ), completely differently shaped anterior telopods and a different endotergum pattern.

Description: Body size, males (4 specimens): length up to 31 mm, width of thoracic shield up to 14.7 mm, height of thoracic shield up to 8.7 mm. Females (6 specimens): length up to 31 mm, width up to 12.5 mm, height up to 8.3 mm. Both sexes of similar size.

Habitus: Body short and massive (Fig. 17B).

Coloration: Remarkable. Thoracic shield, paratergites, posterior half of tergites and anal shield with lightgreenish, jade-like coloration (Fig. 17B). Head, antenna and anterior half of tergites dark green. Legs light green with even lighter greenish coloration on tarsi.

FIGURE 022. Zoosphaerium pulchellum n. sp., SEM, antenna, paratype, A: lateral view; B: first antennomere with sensilla basiconica, lateral view; C: apical view on disc. Abbreviation: sb = sensilla basiconica.

Head: Eyes with more than 75 ocelli.

Antennae: Length of antennomeres: 1<2<3>4=5>6 (Fig. 22A), sixth antennomere bearing disc with four apical cones (Fig. 22C). First antennomere broadest, short and cylindrical, with row of sensilla basiconica; without groove (Fig. 22B). Sclerotized teeth at base of antennomeres 1 and 2 (Fig. 22A).

Gnathochilarium: Lateral of palpi four sensory cones, located together. Depression on posterior side of palpi with few sensory cones.

Mandible not dissected.

Collum: Median part of collum glabrous.

Thoracic shield: Surface similar to tergites (Fig. 17B)

Tergites: Paratergites only slightly projecting posteriorly (Fig. 17B). Tergites glossy, covered with few isolated longer hairs and very small setae.

Endotergum: Inner section with short, rounded spines and few, isolated bristles. Between marginal ridge and inner area no cuticular impressions (Fig. 23F). Single row of marginal bristles, regularly distributed. Bristles short, reaching 1/3 up to 1/2 of space between innervating point of bristles and tergite margin (Fig. 23F).

Anal shield: Sexually dimorphic. In females weakly bell-shaped, excavated at hindmost point and covered with some isolated, longer hairs. Underside carrying two black locking carinae, anterior one small, but well developed, posterior twice as long as first.

Legs: Tarsi of first and second pair of legs with four to six, third with six or seven long ventral spines. First two leg pairs with only weakly curved claws and without apical spine. Tarsi of legs 3–21 with curved claws, eight ventral spines and one apical spine. Femur 1.7 and tarsi 4.7 times longer than wide.

Stigmatic plates: First lobe straight, with stout tip and only weakly curved.

Female sexual characters: Washboard with 2 or 3 short, but broad and well-developed stridulation ribs on each half. Vulva large, covering more than 2/3 of coxa surface. Operculum small and low, ending far before apical coxal margin. Apical margin of operculum weakly notched (Fig. 21A). Mesal plate long, reaching up to 2/3 of operculum height.

Male sexual characters: Anal shield without any invagination, almost rectangular with steep slope. Shield covered with dense field of small pits especially around hindmost point, single minute setae standing in each pit.

Anterior telopods (Figs 21B–D): First podomere broad, rectangular, width as large as height. Harp with two stridulation ribs. Mesal rib very weakly developed, hardly visible. Lateral rib short, but well-developed. Second podomere process lobe-like and little curved with rounded edges, reaching almost to half of third podomere height; apically with sclerotized spots. Third podomere cavity mesally with numerous sclerotized spots and three small spines, all of them located closely towards tip. Tip with one crenulated tooth.

Posterior telopods (Figs 21E, F): Movable finger weakly curved; hollowed-out inner margin with two non-sclerotized lobes and circa three smaller, sclerotized spines, posterior aspect with circa 25 crenulated teeth. Fixed finger thinner than movable finger, with slightly curved tip; basally with single membranous lobe, on inner margin covered with numerous sclerotized spots. Second and third podomere without any long hair, but on both sides almost completely covered densely with very small pits, one very small seta standing in each pit. First podomere without those pits but with some isolated, standard longer hairs.