Zoosphaerium piligerum (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897)

Wesener, Thomas & Sagorny, Christina, 2021, Seven new giant pill-millipede species and numerous new records of the genus Zoosphaerium from Madagascar (Diplopoda, Sphaerotheriida, Arthrosphaeridae), European Journal of Taxonomy 758 (1), pp. 1-48 : 34

Zoosphaerium piligerum species-group

Remarks

Species can be identified as members of the Z. piligerum species-group based on morphological characters of the posterior telopods ( Wesener & Wägele 2008), which are slender and greatly elongated. The species-group now contains four described species distributed in the eastern rainforests at higher elevations (Wesener 2009).

Key to species of the Zoosphaerium piligerum species-group

1. Antenna with four apical cones. Endotergum without cuticular impressions. Third podomere of anterior telopods lateral of cavity without sclerotized teeth. Body length <20 mm. Movable finger of posterior telopods>4.5 times as long as wide ......... Z. micropiligerum Wesener, 2009

– Antenna with>10 apical cones. Endotergum with a single row of circular cuticular impressions. Third podomere of anterior telopods with at least two large, sclerotized teeth. Body length of mature females> 35 mm. Movable finger of posterior telopods ≤ 3.5 times as long as wide.......2

2. Anal shield bell-shaped. Posterior telopod fixed finger strongly curved, ca 25% shorter than movable finger. Operculum of vulva protruding above coxal margin. Endotergum with two rows of marginal bristles, slightly extending beyond tergite margin ......................................................... ..................................................................................... Z. piligerum (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897)

– Anal shield well rounded. Posterior telopod fixed finger slightly curved, only slightly shorter than movable finger. Operculum of vulva not reaching coxal margin. Endotergum with a single row of marginal bristles, not reaching tergite margin.....................................................................3

3. Tergites matte, covered with short setae, dark brown. Third podomere of anterior telopods laterally with 3 or 4 crenulated teeth. Legs with 10–12 ventral spines ................ Z. spinopiligerum sp. nov.

– Tergites glossy, black. Third podomere of anterior telopods laterally with 1 or 2 crenulated teeth. Legs with 8 or 9 ventral spines ..................................... Z. pseudopiligerum Wesener, 2009