Microsphaerotherium anjozorobe, 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 : 9-14

Microsphaerotherium anjozorobe , new species

Derivatio nominis: anjozorobe , noun in apposition, refers to the type locality.

Studied material: Holotype: 1 M (15 mm long), CAS BLF 2370 , Madagascar: Province d'Antananarivo, 3 km 41° NE Andranomay , 11.5 km 147°SSE Anjozorobe, montane rainforest, 1300 m, 18°28'24"S, 47°57'36"E, coll. Fisher, Griswold et al. 5-13.xii.2000, pitfall traps.

Paratype: 1 M, CAS BLF 2371 , same data as holotype .

Distribution: This species is only known from the Andranomay highlands (Fig. 5).

Diagnosis: Small, minute, up to 15 mm long. Color shiny brownish (Fig. 1A). Legs, antenna and head castaneous-brown. Texture of tergites polished and shiny. First antennomere with groove, antennomeres 1–3 with sclerotized teeth (Fig. 3A). Disc with 7–9 apical cones (Fig. 3A). Movable finger of posterior telopods slender, conical and elongated, weakly curved, posterior side with circa four large crenulated, sclerotized teeth and three thin spines (Fig. 2E). Fixed finger basally with single spine, at mid-length strongly curved towards movable finger. Male harp with single, weakly developed stridulation rib (Fig. 2A). Third podomere of anterior telopods shorter than first podomere (Fig. 2A). Single, very long locking carina on the anal shield, suture marking borders of two fused carinae still visible (Fig. 1B). Anal shield of slightly rectangular shape, completely covered with dense field of short (sensory?) hair and few very long hairs.

FIGURE 001. A: Microsphaerotherium anjozorobe n. sp., paratype, photograph; B: M. anjozorobe n. sp., paratype, left locking carina of anal shield; C: Zoosphaerium album n. sp., photograph of living specimens from Zombitse, photo taken by Peter Oxford, all rights reserved. Abbreviations: 12T = 12th tergite; 13T+ AS = 13th tergite fused with anal shield; AS = Anal shield; c = collum (modified first tergite); h = head; LC = locking carina; pt = paratergite; s = suture between 13th tergite fused with anal shield; th-s = thoracic shield; th-s gr = lateral depression (groove) of thoracic shield. Photographs not to scale.

Similar species: The shape and position of the locking carinae and the special-shaped setae on the anal shield marks M. anjozorobe as a member of Microsphaerotherium Wesener & van den Spiegel, 2007 . M.

anjozorobe differs from M. ivohibiense in the total absence of pits or hair on the tergites and in the absence of a sclerotized crest.

FIGURE 002. Microsphaerotherium anjozorobe n. sp., holotype, roman numbers refer to number of podomere, A–C anterior telopods, A: anterior view; B: last two podomeres, posterior view; C: last two podomeres, lateral view; D, E posterior telopods, D: anterior view; E: posterior view. Abbreviations: cav = cavity; cr-t = crenulated teeth; m-f = movable finger; ml = membranous lobe; imm-f = fixed finger; proc = 2nd podomere process; SR = stridulation rib. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 003. Microsphaerotherium anjozorobe n. sp., holotype, SEM, A: antenna, lateral view; B: antennomeres 1–2, lateral view; C: right mandible, mesal view. Abbreviations: 3iT = 3 inner teeth; Co = condylus; Gr = groove; eT = external tooth; mp = molar plate; pL = pectinate lamella; scl-t = sclerotized teeth.

FIGURE 004. Microsphaerotherium anjozorobe n. sp., holotype, SEM, underside of midbody left paratergite. Abbreviations: Lock = locking carina of tergite; Endo = endotergum.

Description: Body length: Length 15 mm, width of thoracic shield 5.9 mm, height 3.9 mm.

Coloration: Legs, antenna, head, collum and tergites shiny castaneous brown (Fig. 1A). Natural coloration influenced by alcohol.

Head: Eyes with less than 28–32 ocelli.

Antennae: Length of antennomeres: 1>2=3>4=5<<6, sixth antennomere cylindrical, on tip bearing disc with 7–9 apical cones (Fig. 3A). First antennomere of greatest width and with groove (Fig. 3B). Sclerotized teeth at base of antennomeres 1–3 (Fig. 3A).

Mandible: Five rows of pectinate lamellae, number of teeth declining apically to proximally (Fig. 3C). Molar plate with deep groove, condylus well-rounded (Fig. 3C).

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

Collum: Median part of collum glabrous.

Thoracic shield: Surface similar to other tergites (Fig. 1A).

Tergites: Texture glabrous and shiny. Paratergites projecting posteriorly (Figs 1A; 4).

Endotergum: Inner area with small conical spines and long hair. Single row of large, circular cuticular impressions (Fig. 23A). Single row of marginal bristles, standing closely to one another, not reaching tergite margin (Figs 4, 23A).

Anal shield: Well-rounded, neither bell-shaped nor tapered, in ventral view of rectangular shape. At least in the male completely covered by dense field of short and stout setae, each placed inside pit. Between those setae stand few, isolated, very long hairs which reach above anal shield margin. Ventral side of anal shield with single, long locking carina (Fig. 1B).

Legs: Tarsi of first pair of legs with three or four, second with four or five and third with seven ventral spines. First two leg pairs with only weakly curved claws and without apical spine. Tarsi of legs 4–21 with curved claws, 9 or 10 ventral spines and single apical spine. Femur 2.5 and tarsi 4.8 times longer than wide.

Stigmatic plates: First lobe long, with well-rounded tip.

Female unknown

Male sexual characters: Male gonopore covered by large, sclerotized, undivided and rounded plate. Apical part of plate membranous.

Anterior telopods (Figs 2A–C): Syncoxite glabrous, covered anteriorly with a few minute spines. Harp with single, long, but weakly developed stridulation rib. Second podomere process lobe-like and little curved with rounded edges, reaching up to half of third podomere's height; process with sclerotized spots on surface facing third podomere. Third podomere short, covered with numerous isolated hairs on both sides. Mesal margin towards cavity with circa four thin, sclerotized spines and in basal half covered with numerous small sclerotized spots. Lateral margin towards cavity with circa four crenulated, sclerotized teeth. Third podomere apically at mesal margin with larger, sclerotized spot.

Posterior telopods (Figs 2D, E): Movable finger covered on both sides with few, long hairs. Finger weakly curved, more slender and cylindrical, length circa 3.3 times width. Inner margin of movable finger only at apical half hollowed-out, with three small, sclerotized spines and weakly developed membranous lobe; posterior aspect with single row of circa four large, crenulated sclerotized teeth. Fixed finger basally with short, sclerotized spine. Finger long, ending slightly before tip of movable finger. Finger at mid-point strongly curved towards movable finger. Margin juxtaposed to movable finger covered apically with few minute sclerotized spots. First and second podomere glabrous. Inner horns of syncoxite with pointed, slender tip.