Zoosphaerium villosum, Wesener & Sierwald, 2005

Wesener, Thomas & Sierwald, Petra, 2005, New giant pill-millipede species from the littoral forest of Madagascar (Diplopoda, Sphaerotheriida, Zoosphaerium), Zootaxa 1097 (1), pp. 1-60 : 8

Zoosphaerium alluaudi species­group

A group of Malagasy pill­millipede species shares a number of characters, identifying them as a species­group. These species are Zoosphaerium alluaudi ( DeSaussure & Zehntner, 1897) , Z. coquerelianum ( DeSaussure & Zehntner, 1897) , Z. globulus ( DeSaussure & Zehntner, 1897) , Z. imbecillum ( DeSaussure & Zehntner, 1897) , Z. voeltzkowianum ( DeSaussure & Zehntner, 1897) and Z. villosum sp. nov. Furthermore, at least three more species awaiting description. Species of this group can be identified by a striking similarity of the shape of posterior telopods ( Figs 3e , 12e ). The movable finger (2 nd joint) of the posterior telopods is very broad (at least 2 times longer than broad) and the concavity inside of movable finger reaches only half the length of the finger ( Figs 3f , 12e ). Additional shared characters are found in the endotergum (underside of the tergites) and the locking carinae of the anal shield, which are very similar in all these species ( Figs 7b , 14d ). Nevertheless, the species are clearly distinguishable by numerous characters: shape of anterior pair of telopods, number of sensory cones on antennae, sensory cones on gnathochilarium, shape of operculum of female vulva, body size, bristle patterns on collum and different structures on the surface of tergites (see table 1 for a summary of similar and distinctive characters). A phylogenetic analysis will be necessary to confirm if the alluaudi ­group represents a monophyletic group among Malagasy sphaerotheriids, which will may deserve genus status. Such phylogenetic analysis is not part of this revision of species.

Figures

FIGURES 7 A–C: Z. alluaudi, female FMNH, SEM. a: epipharynx, distal; b: endotergum, (1) = marginal ridge with external row of marginal bristles, (2) = band of flattened nodules, (3) = internal area; c: marginal bristle of endotergum.

FIGURES 12 A–F: Z. villosum sp. nov., male holotype. a: anterior telopods, anterior view; b: inner view of 2–3 joint of right anterior telopod; c: detail of tip of process of 2nd joint of right anterior telopod, inner view; d: right anterior telopod, posterior view; e: posterior pair of telopods, anterior view; f: right posterior telopod, posterior view. IH = inner horns. Scale bars = 1 mm

FIGURES 14 A–D: Z. villosum sp. nov., male paratype, SEM. a: lateral view on antennae; b: lateral view on antennae joints 1–3; c: apical view on sensorial cones of antennae; d: endotergum, (1) = marginal ridge with external row of marginal bristles, (2) = band of flattened nodules, (3) = internal area.

FIGURES3 A–F: Z. alluaudi, male FMNH. a: left anterior telopod, anterior view; b: right anterior telopod, 3rd joint, inner view; c: right anterior telopod, joint 1–3, posterior view; d: right anterior telopod, joint 2–3, inner view from above; e: left posterior telopod, anterior view; f: left posterior telopod joint 1–3 with left inner horn and inner lobe, posterior view. IH = inner horn. Scale bars = 1 mm