Zoosphaerium pseudoplatylabum, 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 : 54-58

Zoosphaerium pseudoplatylabum , new species

Derivatio nominis: pseudoplatylabum refers to the similarity in the posterior telopods to Z. platylabum ( de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) .

Studied material: 4 M.

Holotype: 1 M (52 mm long), FMMC 5425 . Locus typicus: Madagascar, Province Fianarantsoa, Forêt de Vinatelo , at foot of Ambodivohita , 15.5 km SE Vohitarafeno, 21°46.6'S, 47°20.8'E, 1100 m, coll. S. Goodman, 21–29.xi.2000, pitfall trap.

Paratypes: 1 M, FMMC 5425 , same data as holotype ; 1 M, FMMC 5421 , same collection data as holotype ; 1 M, FMMC, Province Fianarantsoa, Andringitra Reserve, ca. 45 km S Ambalavao, east bank of Lantara River , along Ambalamanenjana-Ambatomboay trail, edge of Andringitra Reserve , 22°13'20''S, 47°01'29''E, 720 m, coll. S. Goodman, 19–20.xi.1993 .

Distribution: Rainforests in South-Eastern Madagascar (Fig. 38).

FIGURE 036. Zoosphaerium pseudoplatylabum n. sp., holotype, A: right half of anterior telopod, anterior view; B: last two podomeres of anterior telopod, lateral view; C: posterior telopod, anterior view; D: chela of posterior telopod, posterior view. Abbreviations: cav = cavity; scl-t = sclerotized teeth; s-p = sclerotized spot; SR = stridulation rib. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Diagnosis: Large, up to 55 mm long. Color unique, tergites anteriorly beige-brown, medially different shades of green, at posterior margin blackish. Texture of tergites smooth, medial part dorsally with patch of short hairs. First antennomere with groove, antennomeres 1–5 with sclerotized teeth (Fig. 37B), disc with 23–35 apical cones (Fig. 37A). Movable finger of posterior telopods not curved, greatly enlarged (1.6 times longer than wide) and pointed, posterior side with circa 22 minute sclerotized teeth and circa five thin spines (Fig. 36C), anterior side additionally with row of small, sclerotized spots. One stridulation ribs on each male harp (Fig. 36A). Third podomere of anterior telopods large, elongated (Fig. 36B). Two locking carinae on anal shield, anterior carina short, posterior one straight and of medium length.

Similar species: Z. pseudoplatylabum , n. sp. telopods are quite similar to those of Z. platylabum ( de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) . The third podomere of posterior telopods is however more acute in Z. pseudoplatylabum , n. sp. than in Z. platylabum . The two species can be separated furthermore by differences in the shape of the first stigma-carrying plates.

Description: Body length: Males (4 specimens): length up to circa 55 mm, width of thoracic shield 26.2 mm.

Coloration: Unique in Sphaerotheriida . Most parts of thoracic shield, anterior margins of tergites and anal shield beige-brown, medial part of tergites and anal shield with mixture of different green colors, becoming darker green more posteriorly. Posterior part of thoracic shield, tergites and anal shield, head and collum blackish. Eyes, antenna and legs olive-green.

Head: Eyes with>75 ocelli.

Antennae: Length of antennomeres: 1<2>3>4=5<<6, sixth antennomere as large as fourth and fifth combined (Fig. 37B), disc with 23–35 apical cones (Fig. 37A). First antennomere of greatest width, short and cylindrical, with groove but without sensilla basiconica (Fig. 37B). Sclerotized teeth at base of antennomeres 1–5 (Fig. 37B).

Mandible: Seven rows of pectinate lamellae, number of teeth declining from apical to proximal (Fig. 37C). Condylus with two strongly developed steps (Fig. 37C).

Gnathochilarium: Lateral of palpi four sensory cones located together. Depression on posterior side of palpi without sensory cones.

Collum: Some hairs distributed on medial part.

Thoracic shield: Concave lateral extension not deeply hollowed-out.

Tergites: Smooth and mostly glabrous. At high magnification (90x) leather-like texture visible. Paratergites projecting slightly posteriorly.

Endotergum: Inner section with numerous thin spines and isolated bristles (Fig. 47A). Single row of cuticular impressions between marginal ridge and inner area. Impressions large, of elliptical shape and standing close to one another. Externally single, dense row of marginal bristles. Bristles scaly and of medium length, reaching up to 2/3 towards tergite margin (Fig. 47A).

Anal shield: Rounded, neither bell-shaped nor tapered. Ventral side with two black locking carinae, located closely to laterotergites. Anterior carina short, posterior carina twice as long as first.

Legs: Tarsi of first pair of legs with two or three, second with four or five and third with six to eight ventral spines. First two leg pairs with only weakly curved claws and without apical spine. Tarsi of legs 3–21 with curved claws, 9–11 ventral spines and one apical spine. Femur 2.0 and tarsi 4.9 times longer than wide.

Stigmatic plates: First lobe very long and broadly rounded towards its tip.

Female unknown.

Male sexual characters: Anal shield of regular shape, covered with dense field of very short hair.

Anterior telopods (Figs 36A, B): Syncoxite of anterior telopods almost completely fused, on anterior side covered with few, short isolated hairs. Podomeres 1–3 covered on both sides with numerous long, isolated hairs. First podomere harp with one long and strongly developed stridulation rib. Second podomere process lobe-like and little curved with rounded edges, reaching half of third podomeres height, apically with sclerotized spots. Third podomere long, as long as first podomere, cavity mesally with numerous sclerotized spots and three sclerotized spines. Margin lateral to cavity standing on lower level than rest of podomere. Tip of third podomere with single, circular, narrow sclerotized spot.

FIGURE 037. Zoosphaerium pseudoplatylabum n. sp., paratype, SEM, A: antenna, apical view on disc; B: antenna, lateral view; C: right mandible, mesal view. Abbreviations: 3iT = 3 inner teeth; Co = condylus; eT = external tooth; mp = molar plate; pL = pectinate lamella.

FIGURE 038. Distribution map 01.

FIGURE 039. Digital photographs, A: Zoosphaerium tsingy n. sp.; B: Z. solitarium n. sp., photograph taken by Jörn Köhler, all rights reserved. Abbreviations: 12T = 12th tergite; 13T+ AS = 13th tergite fused with anal shield; AS = Anal shield; c = collum; h = head; th-s = thoracic shield; th-s gr = lateral depression (groove) of thoracic shield. Photos not to scale.

Posterior telopods (Figs 36C, D): Movable finger thick, 1.6 times longer than wide weakly curved, with stout tip. Hollowed-out inner margin with five sclerotized spines, posterior aspect with circa 22 minute, sclerotized teeth. Fixed finger slender and shorter than movable finger; tip strongly arched. Anterior side with some sclerotized spots juxtaposed. First podomere on both sides hairless, second and third podomere covered on both sides with numerous long, isolated hairs.