Ostinobolus montanus 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 : 93-94

Ostinobolus montanus Wesener , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C67BDE0C-0745-470A-8A2B-01D63253BCC5

Material examined: 6 ♂, 2 ♀ Holotype: 1 ♂ (50 mm long), FMMC 8201 , Province Toliara, RNI Andohahela , parcel I, 1875 m, 24°33.7’ S, 46°43.3’ E, camp 5, leg. S. Goodman, 27.XI– 5.12.1995 . Paratypes: 1 ♂, 2 ♀, FMMC 7971 , RNI Andohahela , parcel I, camp 4, 1500 m, 24°32.2’ S, 46°43.9’ E, leg. S. Goodman, 17–27.XI.1995 ; 1 ♂, FMMC 13610 , RNI Andohahela , parcel I, camp 3, 1200 m, 24°35.0’ S, 46°44.1’ E, leg. S. Goodman, 7–17.XI.1995, pitfall traps .

Other material examined: 3 ♂, CAS BLF 5015 (fm057), RNI Andohahela, Col du Sedro, 3.8 km 113° ESE Mahamavo, montane rainforest, 900 m, 24°45’50’’ S, 46°45’6’’ E, leg. B. L. Fisher et al., 21–25.I.2002.

Differential diagnosis: the posterior gonopods of O. montanus sp. n. are unique within the Malagasy Spirobolida ( Figs 51E, G ). For a comparison of O. stellaris and O. montanus , see above.

Description. Measurements: males with 39 or 40 rings, circa 46–52 mm long (broken), 3.8 mm wide. Females (probably immature) with 40 rings, 4.1 mm wide.

Coloration faded in alcohol. Antennae, legs and body rings ventral of ozopore opening reddish ( Figs 51 A–C). Head greyish ( Fig. 51A ). Specimens dorsally with a wide, orange stripe flanked by a wide black area extending up to opening of ozopores. Eyes with circa 25 ocelli arranged in five rows ( Fig. 51A ). Antennae protruding back to ring 5 ( Fig. 51A ). Male coxal processes only on coxae 3 and 4, short and conical ( Fig. 51B ). Preanal process absent ( Fig. 51C ).

Anterior gonopod sternite with extraordinarily wide shoulders. Lobe triangular, broadly rounded ( Fig. 51D ). Sternite tip longer than coxite. Coxite and telopodite inconspicuous, processes absent ( Fig. 51F ).

Posterior gonopods: basal stem slender and elongated, 5.8 times longer than wide ( Fig. 51G ). Apical part of telopodite oval ( Fig. 51E ). Inner margin consisting of a thin membranous area; arm-like projections absent (x, y in Fig. 51E ). Telopodite apically with a large, swollen membranous area. Sperm canal slightly projecting above telopodite margin ( Fig. 51G ).

Intraspecific variation: too few specimens are known to evaluate the intraspecific variation. The sexual dimorphism in size seems to be less well-developed than in O. rufus .

Distribution and ecology: only known from the Andohahela rainforest north of the Isaka-Ivondro corridor ( Fig. 49 ). Specimens were collected from 900–1850 m.

Etymology: montanus , adjective, refers to the montane rainforest where this species was collected.

Figures

Figure 49. Distribution map of the genus Ostinobolus gen. n..

Figure 51. Ostinobolus montanus sp. n., male holotype. A head, lateral view B legs 1–7, ventral view C telson D anterior gonopod, anterior view E right posterior gonopod, anterior view F anterior gonopod, posterior view G right posterior gonopod, posterior view. av = anal valves Co = collum; Cx = coxite; Gn = gnathochilarium; Md = mandible; Pre = preanal ring; St = sternite; T = telopodite. Scale bars = 1 mm.