Zoosphaerium

Wesener, Thomas & Wägele, Johann-Wolfgang, 2008, The giant pill-millipedes of Madagascar: revision of the genus Zoosphaerium (Myriapoda, Diplopoda, Sphaerotheriida), Zoosystema 30 (1), pp. 5-85 : 78

Zoosphaerium ? reticulatum ( Butler, 1878) ( Fig. 47 )

Sphaerotherium reticulatum Butler, 1878: 301 . — de Saussure & Zehntner 1902: 8 (lists species name).

Zoosphaerium reticulatum – Jeekel 1999: 14 (lists species name). — Enghoff 2003: 20 (lists species name).

TYPE MATERIAL. — Two syntypes of unknown sex (second pair of legs and underside of anal shield missing) ( BMNH).

TYPE LOCALITY. — Madagascar.

DIAGNOSIS. — Small individuals, with traces of green. Antenna with 20 sensory cones. Surface of tergites leather-like ( Fig. 47A ). Legs with weakly developed coxal lobe, furthermore inner margin of femur toothed ( Fig. 47B ). Anal shield well-rounded, with 2 locking carinae ( Fig. 47D ).

SIMILAR SPECIES

The toothed femur and the presence of a small coxal lobe separates Z. reticulatum from all other Malagasy Sphaerotheriida .

DESCRIPTION

Body length: small.

Coloration: faded, greenish-brown. Head, antennae and tips of legs brown.

Head: posterior margin of head towards collum without hair.

Antennae: sixth joint of cylindrical shape with 20 sensory cones.

Mouthparts not dissected.

Collum: unknown.

Thoracic shield: Concave lateral extensions broad and deep, with some isolated hairs. Marginal brim anteriorly thicker.

Tergites: anterior paratergite depressions of tergites 3-12 with isolated hairs. Paratergite tips projecting slightly posteriorly.

Endotergum: internal section with short spines and isolated bristles ( Fig. 4 F ). One row of elliptical, deep grooves between marginal ridge and internal area. These grooves standing isolated in a regular distance from one another ( Fig. 4 F ). External 2 rows of marginal bristles, placed close to, but not touching one another. Bristles short, reaching between marginal ridge and posterior tergite margin ( Fig. 4 F ).

Anal shield: well-rounded, glabrous. Underside carrying two well-developed black locking carinae on both sides. Anterior carina small, but well-developed, posterior carina twice as long as first. Locking carinae separated from each other by a distance equal to half of shorter carina length ( Fig. 47D ).

Legs: tarsi 3-21 with small curved claws, 8 or 9 ventral spines and one apical spine. Ninth leg with small coxal lobe, femur 1.9 times longer than wide, tarsi 4. times longer than wide ( Fig. 47B ). Femora with crenulated ridge of medium length ( Fig. 47B ), furthermore inner margin of femur toothed ( Fig. 47B ).

Stigma-carrying plate: first stigma-carrying plate lobe surmounting coxa. Lobe weakly curved towards coxa, with well-rounded tip ( Fig. 47C ).

Female sexual characters: unknown.

Male sexual characters: unknown.

REMARKS

It is unclear whether the type specimens are adults. All characters which would allow a placement of this species in Zoosphaerium are absent. It remains unclear if this species represents a member of Zoosphaerium , furthermore, it remains possible, that Z. reticulatum is no Malagasy giant pill-millipede species. Nevertheless, the endotergum, femur pattern and other characters make an identification of this species possible, so that it is not listed under nomina dubia.

Figures

FIG. 47. — Zoosphaerium? reticulatum (Butler, 1878), lectotype: A, 9th paratergite, detail; B, 9th left leg; C, coxa of 1st left leg with 1st stigma-carrying plate; D, closing ledges of anal shield. Abbreviations: AS, anal shield; Cx, coxa; LT, laterotergite; St, stigma-carrying plate. Scale bars: A, 5 mm; B-D, 1 mm.

FIG. 4. — Zoosphaerium neptunus (Butler, 1872), SEM: A, gnathochilarium, posterior view, arrow marks position of lateral sensory cones (FMMC 5440); B, right mandible,overview (FMMC 5440); C-F, endotergum of midbody tergite; C, holotype of Z.digitale n. syn.; D, lectotype of Z. pygidiale n. syn.; E, FMMC 5440; F, marginal bristle, detail (FMMC 5440). Abbreviations: 1, endotergum, internal section;2, endotergum,medial section;3, endotergum,external section;3iT, 3 internal teeth;C, condylus;cP, central pads;eT, external tooth; mp, molar plate; P, palpus; pT, pectinate lamella. Scale bars: A, 500 μm; B, 1 mm; C, D, 200 μm; E, 400 μm; F, 10 μm.