Zoosphaerium viridissimum, 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 : 104-107

Zoosphaerium viridissimum , new species

Derivatio nominis: viridissimum refers to the light green coloration of this species.

Studied material: 3 M, 1 F

Holotype: 1 M (34 mm long), CAS BLF 9244 : Locus typicus: Madagascar, Province Antsiranana, Parc National de Marojejy , 25.7 km 32° NNE Andapa, 14°26'42"S, 049°44'30"E, 1575 m, montane rainforest, coll. B. L. Fisher, 21.xi.2003.

Paratypes: 1 F, CAS BLF 9244 : same data as holotype. 1 M , CAS BLF 9079 : PN de Marojejy, Antranohofa , 26.6 km 31° NNE Andapa, 10.7 km 318° NW Manantenina, 14°26'36"S, 049°44'36"E, 1325 m, montane rainforest, coll. B. L. Fisher, 18.xi.2003 .; 1 M, CAS BLF 9325 : PN de Marojejy , 25.4 km 30° NNE Andapa, 10.9 km 311° NW Manantenina, 14°26'42"S, 049°44'06"E, 2000 m, montane scrubland, coll. B. L. Fisher, 23.xi.2003 .

Distribution: Recorded from the montane rainforest and scrubland of Marojejy from 1325─ 2000 m elevation (Fig. 50).

Diagnosis: Up to 35 mm long. Color faded, in best conserved specimens green; head, legs and antennae also green. Tergites at margins thinly light green. Texture of tergites polished, with glossy sheen. Posterior part of anal shield in one specimen (CAS BLF 9325) remarkably metallic golden. Posterior tergites covered sparsely with isolated long hairs. Anal shield sexually dimorphic, in females glabrous and weakly bell-shaped, in males with steep slope and covered with numerous hairs. Disc of antenna with 15–20 apical cones (Fig. 71A). Femur of legs without crenulated ridge, tarsi with only up to eight ventral spines. Posterior telopods almost glabrous (Figs 70C, D). Movable finger broad, with well-rounded tip, one triangular lobe and five sclerotized spines (Fig. 70C); posterior side with circa 10 sclerotized teeth (Fig. 70D). Fixed finger long and slim, very weakly curved, basally with one small spine, distally at inner margin with numerous sclerotized spots (Fig. 70C). Fixed finger shorter than movable finger, reaching only 2/3 of latter’s length. One weakly developed stridulation rib on each male harp (Fig. 70A). Anal shield with two locking carinae, anterior small, posterior>2.5 times longer than first, both carinae located closely towards laterotergites. Female with one stridulation rib on each side of subanal plate. Operculum of vulva excavated into two well-rounded, samesized tips, greatly exceeding coxal margin.

Similar species: The coloration of Z. viridissimum , n. sp. is unique but shows a significant similarity to that of Z. endemicum , n. sp. of the Z. libidinosum species-group, which differs in most other aspects. Although the posterior telopods clearly mark Z. viridissimum , n. sp. as a member of the Z. coquerelianum species-group, its locking carinae and the female washboard more resemble those of members of the Z. platylabum species-group. The special shape of the weakly developed stridulation rib on the anterior telopods, which almost seem to represent a valley rather than a ridge, is unique among giant pill-millipedes from Madagascar.

Description: Body length: Males (3 specimens): length up to 34 mm, width of thoracic shield up to 17.1 mm, height of thoracic shield up to 9.4 mm. Female (1 specimen): length 34 mm, width 16.1 mm, height 9.4 mm.

Coloration: Faded in alcohol. Head, collum, thoracic shield, tergites and anal shield uniformly shiny greenish, at posterior margin thinly lighter green. Appendages green. The anal shield of one specimen is of golden coloration (influence by alcohol?).

Head: Eyes with>75 ocelli.

Antennae: Length of antennomeres: 1>2=3>4=5<6 (Fig. 71B), sixth antennomere longest, cylindrical, bearing disc with 15–20 sensory cones (Fig. 71A). First antennomere remarkably broader than others, short, with groove and single row of sensilla basiconica. Sclerotized teeth present at base of first antennomere (Fig. 71B).

Mandible: Six rows of pectinate lamellae, number of teeth declining apically to proximally (Fig. 71C). Condylus with weakly developed step near apical margin (Fig. 71C). Molar plate surface unusual (Fig. 71C).

Gnathochilarium: Four sensory cones located together laterally of palpi,. Depression on posterior side of palpi without sensory cones.

Collum: Isolated hairs of medium length only on margins.

Thoracic shield without peculiarities.

Tergites: Glabrous, texture glossy. Paratergites only slightly projecting posteriorly.

Endotergum: Inner area with broad conical spines and long hair. No cuticular impressions (Fig. 74D). Single row of marginal bristles, reaching up to 1/3 towards margin (Fig. 74D).

Anal shield: in females weakly bell-shaped, in males with steep slope. Underside carries two welldeveloped black locking carinae, anterior one small, but well-developed. Posterior carina 2.5 times> first. Carinae located closely towards laterotergites.

FIGURE 070. Zoosphaerium viridissimum n. sp., holotype, A: right half of anterior telopods, anterior view; B: last two podomeres of anterior telopod, lateral view; C: posterior telopod, anterior view; D: posterior telopod, posterior view. Abbreviations: cav = cavity; cr-t = crenulated teeth; IH = inner horns; ml = membranous lobe; s-p = sclerotized spot; scl-t = sclerotized teeth; SR = stridulation rib. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Legs: Tarsi of first pair of legs with three or four, second with five or six and third pair with six ventral spines. First two leg pairs with only weakly curved claws and without apical spine. Tarsi of legs 3–21 with curved claws, only 7 or 8 ventral spines and one apical spine. Ninth leg femur 1.7 times, tarsus 4.7 times longer than wide. Crenulated ridge on femur absent.

Stigmatic plates: First lobe triangular with pointed tip.

Female sexual characters: Subanal plate with washboard, consisting of single well-developed stridulation rib. Vulva large, covering more than 2/3 of coxa. Operculum large, extending beyond coxa, with two strongly elongated, well-rounded, same-sized lobes. Operculum medially strongly notched. Mesal plate long, reaching up to half of operculum height.

Male sexual characters: Anal shield with steep slope, covered with numerous hairs standing in minute pits.

FIGURE 071. Zoosphaerium viridissimum n. sp., paratype, SEM, A: apical view on sixth antennomere with disc; B: antenna, lateral view; C: right mandible, dorsal view. Abbreviations: 3iT = 3 inner teeth; Co = condylus; eT = external tooth; mp = molar plate; pL = pectinate lamella.

Anterior telopods (Figs 70A, B): First podomere width greater than height. Harp with single stridulation rib. Rib straight and weakly developed. Area between rib and mesal margin emarginated, rib forming valley, located basally in mesal part harp. Second podomere process lobe-like and little curved with rounded edges, apically with sclerotized spots. Third podomere elongated, cylindrical, cavity mesally with several sclerotized spots and three sclerotized spines laterally basally ascending, with four small, sclerotized, crenulated teeth. Apical margin with one sclerotized tooth.

Posterior telopods (Figs 70C, D): Movable finger of chela thick, 1.8 times longer than wide, weakly curved, apically slightly tapering. Hollowed-out inner margin with one triangular membranous lobe and five sclerotized spines, posterior aspect with circa 9 or 10 small, sclerotized teeth. Fixed finger more slender and shorter than movable finger. Fixed finger tip almost straight, only weakly curved, anterior side basally with single, short, sclerotized spine, on tip with numerous sclerotized spots. Fixed finger covered on posterior side with numerous, on anterior side with very few long hairs. Movable finger glabrous on both sides. Inner horns of syncoxite apically curved posteriorly.

FIGURE 072. Zoosphaerium denticulatum n. sp., holotype, A: right half of anterior telopods, anterior view; B: last two podomeres of anterior telopod, lateral view; C: last two podomeres of anterior telopods, posterior view; D: posterior telopod, anterior view; E: posterior telopod, posterior view. Abbreviations: cav = cavity; cr-t = crenulated teeth; s-p = sclerotized spot; scl-t = sclerotized teeth; SR = stridulation rib. Scale bars = 1 mm.