Alluviobolus antanosy 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 : 85-86

Alluviobolus antanosy Wesener , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1AAC85EB-6256-450E-B461-707D235E61BA

Material examined: 5 ♂, 7 ♀, 4 imm Holotype: 1 ♂ (45 mm long), FMMC W100 A, Madagascar, Province Toliara, Ambatotsirongorongo Mountain, Grand Lavasoa , 25°5’10.23” S, 46°44’55.93” E, rainforest, leg. T. Wesener et al., 14.IV.2007. Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 F., FMMC W100 A, same data as previous ; 1 ♂, FMMC, Province Toliara, Sainte Luce, S 9, littoral forest on sand, 24°47’ S, 47°10’ E, leg. T. Wesener, 06.IV.2003 ; 1 ♂, FMMC 13608 , Province Toliara, Esetra, Mt. Mahermana , 340 m, station 1, summit, 0° slope, frequent granite outcrops, 24°26’12” S, 47°13’13” E, leg. K. Emberton, 25.I.1995 ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, FMMC W049 A, Andohahela I, Isaka-Ivondro Sud , rainforest, 24°49.690’ S, 46°51.971’ E, leg. T. Wesener et al., 08.VI.2007 ; 1 ♀, ZMH W049 A ; same data as previous ; 1 ♀, ZMUC W049 A, same data as previous .

Other material examined: 2 ♀, 4 imm., W049A, same data as previous, but stored as vouchers at University Antananarivo.

Differential diagnosis: A. antanosy differs from all congeners in the absence of male coxal processes ( Fig. 47B ). While the anterior gonopods are very similar in all species of the Alluviobolus ( Figs 47D, F ), are the posterior gonopods in A. antanosy rectangular apically ( Fig. 47G ), compared with acute telopodite tips in A. laticlavius ( Fig. 44H ) and in A. tsimelahy ( Fig. 46L ).

Description. Measurements: males with 42–44 body rings, circa 43–47 mm long, 3.2–3.8 mm wide. Females with 43 or 44 body rings, 54–62 mm long, 5.0– 5.5 mm wide.

Coloration on mesozonites dark grey, metazonites red ( Fig. 47C ). Rings dorsally with a slender orange stripe. Head, legs, and posterior part of telson red ( Figs 47 A–C). Antennae and anterior part of telson dark grey ( Figs 47A, C ). Eyes with 22–25 ocelli arranged in 4 or 5 rows ( Fig. 47A ). Antennae protruding back to ring 5 ( Fig. 47A ). Male coxal processes absent, coxa 3 of slightly conical shape ( Fig. 47B ). Preanal process absent ( Fig. 47C )

Anterior gonopod sternite elevated into a broad triangular lobe. Tip well-rounded ( Fig. 47D ). Coxite and telopodite inconspicuous ( Fig. 47F ).

Posterior gonopods: telopodite membranous fringe absent ( Fig. 47E ). Apical sclerite (x in Fig. 47G ) wide, rectangular. Tip broadly rounded, basally elongated to a thin spine ( Fig. 47E ).

Distribution and ecology: widely distributed in rainforests of Southeastern Madagascar. A. antanosy was collected in the Andohahela and Vohimena mountain chain as well as in the lowland littoral rainforest of Sainte Luce and the isolated Ambatotsirongorongo Mountain ( Fig. 43 ). All specimens were found on the soil surface.

Etymology: antanosy , noun in apposition, after the Malagasy Antanosy people, who live around Tolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) where this species was collected.

Figures

Figure 43. Distribution map of the genus Alluviobolus gen. n.

Figure 44. Alluviobolus laticlavius sp. n. male holotype. A head, lateral view B legs 1–7, ventral view C telson D gnathochilarium, ventral view E anterior gonopod, anterior view F right posterior gonopod, anterior view G anterior gonopod, posterior view H right posterior gonopod, telopodite, posterior view I posterior gonopods, coxite and sternite, posterior view. Apo = apodeme; av = anal valves; Co = collum; Cx = coxite; Gn = gnathochilarium; L = ledge; Md = mandible; Me = mentum; Pre = preanal ring; St = sternite; ST = stipites; sub = subanal scale; T = telopodite. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figure 46. Alluviobolus tsimelahy sp. n. specimens from Ebosika, A–G, I–M male, H female. A head, lateral view B legs 1–7, ventral view C telson D gnathochilarium, ventral view E gnathochilarium, mentum F gnathochilarium, dorsal view on endochilarium G, H left midbody legs I anterior gonopod, anterior view Į right posterior gonopod, anterior view K anterior gonopod, posterior view L right posterior gonopod, telopodite, posterior view M right posterior gonopods, coxite and sternite, posterior view. Apo = apodeme; av = anal valves; Co = collum; cp = central pads; Cx = coxite; Endo = endochilarium; Gn = gnathochilarium; L = ledge; Md = mandible; Me = mentum; Pre = preanal ring; St = sternite; ST = stipites; sub = subanal scale; T = telopodite. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figure 47. Alluviobolus antanosy sp. n., male holotype. A head, lateral view B legs 1–7, ventral view C telson D anterior gonopod, anterior view E left posterior gonopod, anterior view F anterior gonopod, posterior view G left posterior gonopod, posterior view. Apo = apodeme; av = anal valves; Co = collum; Cx = coxite; IL = incisura lateralis; Md = mandible; Pre = preanal ring; St = sternite; sub = subanal scale; T = telopodite. Scale bars = 1 mm.