Otostigmus species

Lewis, J. G. E., 2002, A re-examination of 11 species of Otostigmus from the Indo- Australian region described by R. V. Chamberlin based on type specimens in the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard (Chilopoda; Scolopendromorpha; Scolopendridae), Journal of Natural History 36 (14), pp. 1687-1706 : 1699-1700

Otostigmus species of R. V. Chamberlin 1699

Sternites with very short anterior paramedian sutures (in a paratype on some plates of the posterior region the sulci extend well toward the middle). With tubercles from 9 to 19 (gure 37). Last sternite narrowed posteriorly with posterior border incurved (gure 38).

Coxopleural process long, with two end spines, two lateral and one dorsal spine (gure 38). End legs regenerated, with small, rather irregularly arranged spines. Five or three ventrolaterals, three ventromedials, ve or six medials and one or two dorsomedials, one corner spine on each (gure 39).

Leg 1 with a femoral spine, one tibial spine on legs 1–5, two tarsal spines, the anterior one being very short, on legs 1–7. Legs 8–20 with one tarsal spine.

Description of paratype

Body length about 50 mm. Antennomeres 22 (regenerated) and 21, the basal two and a half glabrous. Coxosternal teeth 31 3. Tergite paramedian sutures complete from 5, marginate from 8. Very slight lateral corrugations from 10 to 18. Without keels. Very ne spines from 10 to 18.

1700 J. G. E. Lewis

Sternite paramedian sutures occupying anterior half of posterior sternites. Without depressions or tubercles. Sternite 21 with sides converging posteriorly, hind border incurved.

Coxopleural process with two end spines, one subapical, two lateral and two dorsal spines. End leg prefemur with four ventrolateral, two or three ventromedial, three medial and one dorsomedial spines and a corner spine. Legs 1–7 or 8 with two tarsal spines, legs 8 or 9–21 with one.

This specimen is a typical O. astenus .

Remarks

Of the ve Otostigmus species characterized by the possession of tuberculate sternites, three, namely O. proponens , O. asper and O. amballae , have spined tergites. Otostigmus amballae has spined ridges on the tergites, the other two do not and are very similar. Otostigmus asper has 19 or 20 antennomeres, sternites 15–20 tuberculate and four terminal, two lateral and two dorsal coxopleural spines and O. proponens 22 antennomeres (possibly), sternites 9–19 tuberculate and two terminal, two lateral and one dorsal coxopleural spine. With the current state of our knowledge of these tuberculate species O. proponens is best retained. As noted above the paratype of O. proponens is an O. astenus .