Zoosphaerium amabile, Wesener, 2009

Wesener, Thomas, 2009, Unexplored richness: discovery of 31 new species of Giant Pill-Millipedes endemic to Madagascar, with a special emphasis on microendemism (Diplopoda, Sphaerotheriida), Zootaxa 2097 (1), pp. 1-134 : 74-76

Zoosphaerium amabile , new species

Derivatio nominis: amabile , adjective, refers to the large size and striking light/dark green coloration pattern of the species.

Studied material: 1 M, Holotype: 1 M (51 mm long, head missing), CAS BLF 8254 , Locus typicus: Madagascar, Province Toamasina, Montagne d'Akirindro , 7.6 km 341° NNW Ambinanitelo, 600 m, rainforest, 15°17'18"S, 049°32'54"E, coll. Fisher, Griswold et al. 17–21.iii.2003, pitfall trap.

Distribution & Ecology: Known only from the Mountain of Akirindo (Fig. 50).

FIGURE 049. Zoosphaerium amabile n. sp., holotype, A: anterior telopods, anterior view; B: last two podomeres of anterior telopod, lateral view; C: anterior telopod, posterior view; D: chela of posterior telopod, posterior view; E: posterior telopod, anterior view. Abbreviations: cav = cavity; cr-t = crenulated teeth; Gr = groove on posterior telopod tip; s-p = sclerotized spot; scl-t = sclerotized teeth; SR = stridulation ribs. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Diagnosis: 51 mm long. Color remarkable, anterior part of tergites and legs shiny light green in, posterior part of tergites dark green. Texture of tergites smooth and shiny, glabrous. Anal shield with a steep slope, covered densely with numerous hairs. Tarsi of legs 3–21 with only up to eight ventral spines. Movable finger of posterior telopods thick, almost glabrous, at its tip with remarkable circular groove (Fig. 49E). Posterior side with 10 sclerotized teeth (Fig. 49D). Fixed finger slender, weakly curved, basally with one small spine, distally at inner margin with numerous sclerotized spots (Fig. 49E). Fixed finger reaching 2/3 of movable fingers length. Two stridulation ribs on each male harp, mesal rib barely visible, very weakly developed, lateral rib large (Fig. 49A). Anal shield with two locking carinae, first small, posterior more than 3 times longer than first.

FIGURE 050. Distribution map 03.

Similar species: No other species besides Z. amabile , n. sp. possesses a groove on the tip of the posterior telopod movable finger (Fig. 49E). The coloration pattern of Z. amabile , n. sp. is quite unique for Malagasy giant pill-millipedes. The posterior side of the anterior telopods features a unique, hairless area surrounding its tip (Fig. 49C).

Description: Body length (holotype only): Length (without head and collum) 51 mm, width of thoracic shield 25.4, height of thoracic shield up to 13.5.

Coloration: Possibly faded in alcohol. Anterior part of tergites shiny light green, dark green on posterior part of tergites. Legs light green, head and collum missing.

Head, antennae, mouthparts and collum missing.

Thoracic shield shaped like in other species of the genus.

Tergites: Paratergites projecting posteriorly. Texture of tergites with glossy sheen, at high magnification small pits become visible.

Endotergum: Inner area with broad conical spines and long hair. Single row of small, circular cuticular impression, regularly distributed (Fig. 63A). Two rows of marginal bristles, reaching 1/3–1/2 towards tergite margin (Fig. 63A).

Anal shield: Only known in male. Slope very steep, whole shield completely covered with dense field of short hair. Underside carrying two well-developed black locking carinae, anterior one small, comma-like. Posterior carina>3 times longer than anterior one.

Legs: First pair missing. Second leg pair with only weakly curved claws and without apical spine. Third pair with five or six long ventral spines. Tarsi of legs 4–21 with curved claws, 7 or 8 ventral spines and an apical spine. In 9th leg femur 1.9, tarsi 4.9 times longer than wide.

First stigmatic plate missing.

Female unknown

Male sexual characters:

Anterior telopods (Figs 49A–C): Syncoxite and first podomere almost glabrous. Harp with two stridulation ribs. Lateral rib straight, broad and well developed, mesal rib hard to detect, very narrow, small and weakly developed. Second podomere process lobe-like and little curved with rounded edges, protruding almost as high as 1/3 of third podomeres height, apically with sclerotized spots. Third podomere cavity mesally with several sclerotized spots and three small sclerotized spines, laterally ascending, with four sclerotized, crenulated teeth. Apical margin of third podomere well-rounded, close to tip with large, lightercolored field without any hair or structures except single sclerotized spot. Second and third podomere on both sides with hairs.

Posterior telopods (Figs 49D, E): Movable finger of chela thick, 1.6 times longer than wide, weakly curved, apically strongly tapering. Hollowed-out inner margin with three sclerotized spines, posterior aspect with circa 10 or 11 small, sclerotized teeth. Fixed finger more slender and one third shorter than movable finger, tip of former only weakly curved. Anterior side of fixed finger basally with one short sclerotized spine, on tip with numerous sclerotized spots. Second and third podomere covered on posterior side with few short hairs, anterior side of second podomere with few hairs, first podomere glabrous. Inner horns of syncoxite apically curved. Tips pointed, horns covered with numerous short hairs.