Zephronia golovatchi Srisonchai, Sutcharit & Likhitrakarn, 2021

Bhansali, Sneha & Wesener, Thomas, 2022, New Thai giant pill-millipede species, with new genetic barcoding data (Diplopoda Sphaerotheriida, Zephroniidae), Zootaxa 5105 (3), pp. 357-380 : 376-377

Zephronia golovatchi Srisonchai, Sutcharit & Likhitrakarn, 2021

New locality data: 1 ♂, ZFMK MYR6262 , Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Pak Ching District, near Highway 3052, 14°30'59.2''N, 101°23'52.9''E, 10.VI.2017 ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, ZFMK MYR6779 , same data as previous ; 1 ♂, ZFMK MYR7236 , same data as previous ; 2 ♀♀, NHMD K53, Nakhon Nayok Province, Khao Yai National Park , 700 m, leg. 29.IX–6.X.1984, leg. Karsholt, Lomholdt & Nielsen.

Remarks. Both localities lie close to the type locality ( Fig. 2A ). However, specimens from both localities differ significantly genetically and might represent two different species.

Updated key to confirmed species of Zephronia in Thailand

1: Tarsi of leg pair 4–21 with single apical spine, third leg pair without apical spine. Male antennae, antennomere 6 swollen, not axe-shaped...................................... .. Z. viridisoma Rosenmejer & Wesener in Rosenmejer et al. 2021

- Tarsi of leg pair 4–21 with 3 apical spines, third leg pair with apical spine. Male antennae, antennomere 6 axe-shaped...... 2

2: Conspicuous colour pattern with a vivid green, glabrous or dull, not golden setae. Palpi of gnathochilarium, sensilla in clusters............................................................................................. 3

- Brown, grey, or brown-greenish color pattern with dense coat of 'golden' setae. Palpi of gnathochilarium, sensilla in single field................................................................................................ 4

3: Small bodied, around 20 mm. Unique color pattern, green-whitish with red on the anal shield. Tergites setose, dull. Anterior telopod, podomere 3 with up to 7 crenulated teeth. Antennae, antennomere 6 with 50–60 cones.... Z. siamensis Hirst, 1907

- Large, around 40 mm. Unique color pattern, with a vivid green-lightbrownish stripes. Tergite glabrous, shiny. Anterior telopod variable, without or only very few sclerotized teeth. Antennae, antennomere 6 with 70–90 cones........................................................................ Z. phrain Likhitrakarn & Golovatch in Likhitrakarn et al. 2021

4: Male second leg, mesal margin extended in short membranous process........................................... 5

- Male second leg, mesal margin not extended................................................................ 7

5: Endotergum, two rows of marginal bristles which project beyond tergite margin.................................. ... 6

- Endotergum, two rows of marginal bristles which end clearly before the tergite margin................ Z. erawani sp. nov.

6: Female vulval operculum margin straight and wide.Antennae, antennomere 6 with 90–100 cones. Male anal shield bell-shaped....................................................................... ... Z. golovatchi Srisonchai et al., 2021

- Female vulval operculum narrow in posterior view. Antennae, antennomere 6 with around 75 cones. Male anal shield rectangular............................................................... .. Z. enghoffi Srisonchai et al. 2021

7: Brown. Inner area of endotergum without setae......... Z. lannaensis Likhitrakarn & Golovatch in Likhitrakarn et al. 2021

- Greyish. Inner area of endotergum with setae............................................................... 8

8: Small, 20–22 mm long. Legs with 7–9 ventral spines. Male antennae, antennomere 6 with ca. 50 cones. Pleurite 1 extended into long, sharp tip. Endotergum with two rows of marginal bristles........................ Z. panhai Srisonchai et al. 2021

- Medium, 40 mm long. Legs with 10–12 ventral spines. Male antennae, antennomere 6 with 78–88 apical cones. Pleurite 1 weakly extended, well-rounded. Endotergum with three rows of marginal bristles............... Z. chrysomallos sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Map of Thailand with known distribution of Sphaerobelum spp. and Zephronia spp. Star represents new species. Diamonds represent new localities. Fluorescent Green = S. meridionalis Bhansali & Wesener sp. nov.; Pink = S. aesculus; Brown = S. truncatum; Chrome yellow = Z. chrysomallos Bhansali & Wesener sp. nov.; White = Z. erawani Bhansali & Wesener sp. nov.; Black = Z. viridisoma; Red = Z. panhai; Dark green = Z. golovatchi; Purple = Z. siamensis; Orange = Z. enghoffi; Yellow = Z. lannaensis; Blue = Z. phrain. B. Habitus photograph of Z. chrysomallos Bhansali & Wesener sp. nov., holotype ♀ (ZFMK MYR8826).