Colossobolus oblongopedus 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 : 26-28

Colossobolus oblongopedus Wesener , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:50DBF062-18CB-4A0A-AD61-10066B0A8604

Material examined: 9 ♂, 3 ♀ Holotype: 1 ♂ (126 mm long), CAS BLF 9429 B, Madagascar, Province Antsiranana, Forêt d’Analabe, 30.0 km 72°ENE Daraina , 30 m, littoral rainforest, 13°05’00” S, 049°54’30” E, leg. B. L. Fisher, 27.XI.2003 . Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, CAS BLF 9429 B, same data as holotype ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, CAS BLF 10114, Province Antsiranana, Forêt d’Antsahabe , 11.4 km 275°W Daraina, 550 m, tropical dry forest, 13°12’42” S, 049°33’24” E, leg. B. L.Fisher, 12.XII.2003, general collecting .

Other material examined: 4 ♂, 1 imm., FMMC, Madagascar, Prov. Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale de Manongarivo , camp 1, 785 m, 13°58‘38“ S, 48°25‘22“ E, leg. S. M. Goodman, 28.II–6.III.1999 ; 1 ♀, FMMC, same data as previous ; 2 ♂, FMMC, same data as previous .

Differential diagnosis: the general shape of the posterior gonopods of Colossobolus oblongopedus is similar to those of C. giganteus sp. n. The coxite branch is far shorter in C. oblongopedus than in C. giganteus sp. n. (compare Fig. 14A with Fig. 15E ), while the telopodite main branch is more regularly shaped in the latter than in C. oblongopedus (compare Fig. 14B with Fig. 15F ). The telopodite process of the anterior gonopod features a short, pointed, retrorse process in C. giganteus sp. n., which is entirely absent in C. oblongopedus (compare Fig. 13D with Fig. 15D ). The collum is completely red in C. oblongopedus ( Fig. 13A ), while it is centrally dark in C. giganteus sp. n. ( Fig. 15A ).

Description. Measurements: males with 50–52 body rings, 120–148 mm long, 10.5–11.4 mm wide. Females with 50–52 body rings, 122–125 mm long, 10.5–12.6 mm wide.

Coloration affected by alcohol. Head, collum, antennae and telson red ( Fig. 13A ). Legs also red, but tarsi whitish ( Fig. 13B ). Meso- and metazonites of body rings reddish, posterior margin with a thin, dark brown line. Antennae protruding back to ring

4. Male coxal processes on coxae 3 and 4 weakly developed, on coxae 5–7 barely visible ( Fig. 13B ). Preanal process well-rounded, not projecting.

Anterior gonopod sternite elongated into a wide, broadly rounded lobe ( Fig. 13C ). Mesal process of coxite weakly developed, protruding into a short, wide lobe with a pointed tip ( Fig. 13C ). Telopodite on posterior side basally with a circular groove ( Fig. 13D ). Telopodite process long and well-rounded ( Fig. 13D ), mesal margin laterally sharp, slightly protruding in basal half ( Fig. 13D ).

Posterior gonopods telopodites positioned parallel to one another. Coxite branch relatively short, wide, stout, less than half as long as lateral branch of telopodite ( Figs 14A, B ). Latter slightly curved, basally wide, at midpoint tapering, tip again wide and swollen ( Fig. 14A ). Central membranous area developed as a short, wide, well-rounded lobe ( Fig. 14A ). Mesal main branch short, basal part running parallel to lateral branch. Apical part of main branch extending towards and touching lateral branch ( Fig. 14B ). Mesal margin of main branch with two tiny, well-rounded, overlapping membranous folds ( Fig. 14A ). Main branch laterally with a very large, irregular-shaped membrane ( Figs 14A, B ).

Intraspecific variation: the specimens from the dry forest Antsahabe (52 body rings) and Manangarivo (53 body rings) are slightly larger and more voluminous than the type series specimens from the littoral forest of Analabe, which possess 50 or 51 body rings. The gonopods from both populations are almost identical.

Distribution and ecology: C. oblongopedus occurs in the dry forest of Manangarivo, around Daraina and the tiny littoral forest fragment of Analabe ( Fig. 10 ). Both areas are now isolated from one another by vast areas of pseudosteppe ( Moat and Smith 2007). C. oblongopedus occurs in Analabe sympatric with C. minor sp. n., in Antsahabe together with C. semicyclus sp. n.

Etymology: oblongopedus , adjective, refers to the extraordinary long legs.

Figures

Figure 10. Distribution of the genus Colossobolus gen. n.

Figure 13. Colossobolus oblongopedus sp. n., male holotype. A head, lateral B legs 1–7, ventral view C anterior gonopods, anterior view D anterior gonopods, posterior view. Co = collum; Cx = coxite; Gr = groove on anterior gonopod; IL = incisura lateralis; LL = lamella lingualis; Md = mandible; ms = marginal setae; sf = setiferous foveolae; St = sternite; ST = stipites;T = telopodite;Tp = telopodite process.Not to same scale.

Figure 14. Colossobolus oblongopedus sp. n., male holotype, right posterior gonopod. A anterior view B posterior view. Cx = coxite; Cx-br = coxite branch; ma = membranous area; S-Gr = spermatic groove; T = telopodite; T-Lbr = telopodite lateral branch; T-mbr = telopodite main branch.

Figure 15. Colossobolus giganteus sp. n., male holotype. A head, lateral B legs 1–7, ventral view C anterior gonopods, anterior view D anterior gonopods, posterior view E left posterior gonopod, anterior view F left posterior gonopod, posterior view. Apo = apodeme; Co = collum; Cx = coxite; Cx-br = coxite branch; IL = incisura lateralis; LL = lamella lingualis; ma = membranous area; Md = mandible; St = sternite; ST = stipites; T = telopodite; T-Lbr = telopodite lateral branch; T-mbr = telopodite main branch; Tp = telopodite process. Not to same scale.