Ostinobolus rufus Wesener, 2009

Wesener, Thomas, Enghoff, Henrik & Sierwald, Petra, 2009, Review of the Spirobolida on Madagascar, with descriptions of twelve new genera, including three genera of ' fire millipedes' (Diplopoda), ZooKeys 19 (19), pp. 1-128 : 90-92

Ostinobolus rufus Wesener , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4F757E14-FDBD-424D-AC84-F845D06D5C46

Material examined: 47 ♂, 71 ♀, 112 imm. Holotype: 1 ♂ (50 mm long, dissected), FMMC W042 A, Madagascar, Andohahela , Malio, rainforest, 24°55.810’ S, 46°46.343’ E, leg. Wesener et al., 30.V.2007 . Paratypes: 6 ♂, 8 ♀, 13 imm., FMMC W042 A, same data as holotype ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 imm., CAS W042 A, same data as holotype ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 imm., ZMH W042 A, same data as holotype .

Other material examined: 6 ♂, 10 ♀, 18 imm., W042A, same data as type material, University Antananarivo ; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, 2 imm., FMMC W009 A, Ambatotsirongorongo Mountain, Petit Lavasoa , 668 m, rainforest, 25°05.021’ S, 46°46.110’ E, leg. Wesener et al., 21.V.2007 ; 3 ♀, 2 imm., W009A, same data as previous, University Antananarivo ; 2 ♂, 2 ♀, 6 imm., FMMC W028 A, Sainte Luce , S9, 12 m, littoral forest on sand, 24°46.769’ S, 47°10.288’ E, leg. Wesener et al., 01.VI.2007 ; 2 ♂, 2 ♀, 6 imm., W028A, same data as previous, University Antananarivo ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, 14 imm., FMMC W050 A, Andohahela, Isaka-Ivondro Sud , 46 m, rainforest, 24°49.690’ S, 46°51.971’ E, leg. Wesener et al., 08.VI.2007 ; 2 ♀, 14 imm., W050A, same data as previous, University Antananarivo ; 4 ♂, 5 ♀, 5 imm., FMMC W080 , Manantantely , rainforest, 24°59’17.14” S, 46°55’27.95” E, leg. Wesener et al., 06.VI.2007 ; 4 ♂, 4 ♀, 6 imm., W080, same data as previous, University Antananarivo ; 4 ♂, 3 ♀, 8 imm., FMMC W086 , Ivorona , 114 m, rainforest, 24°50.026’ S, 46°56.943’ E, leg. Wesener et al., 23.V.2007 ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, ZMUC W086 , same data as previous ; 5 ♂, 3 ♀, 7 imm., W086, same data as previous, University Antananarivo ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, 5 imm., FMMC W100 , Ambatotsirongorongo Mountain, Grand Lavasoa , rainforest, 25°5’10.23” S, 46°44’55.93” E, leg. Wesener et al., 14.VI.2007 ; 2 ♀, 8 imm., W100, same data as previous, University Antananarivo ; 1 ♂, 4 W, FMMC, Sainte Luce , littoral forest on sandy soil, 24°47’ S, 47°10’E, leg. T. Wesener, 06.IV.2003, ex wet leaf litter ; 1 ♂, FMMC 6 B TIM, Vohimena Mountains, Mt. Illapiry , 500 m, station 6, on ridge w/20° slope, E of summit, some granite outcrops, 24°51’33” S, 47°00’27” E, leg. K. Emberton, 31.I.1995 ; 3 ♂, 1 ♀, FMMC 13602 , Andohahela, Vasiha , slope 15°E, 24°55’19’’ S, 46°44’45’’ E, leg. K. Emberton, 6.II.1995 ; 1 ♂, FMMC 13607 , Vohimena Mountains, Mt. Illapiry , 400 m, station 7, on 45° slope, SSE of summit, many granite outcrops, 24°51’27” S, 47°00’38” E, leg. K. Emberton, 31.I.1995 ; 1 ♀, FMMC 13606 , same data as previous ; 1 ♂, FMMC 13608 , Esetra, Mt. Mahermana , 340 m, station 1, summit, 0° slope, frequent granite outcrops, 24°26’12” S, 47°13’13” E, leg. K. Emberton, 25.I.1995 ; 1 ♀, FMMC 13605 , same data as previous .

Differential diagnosis: Ostinobolus rufus shares the star-like tip of the posterior gonopod ( Fig. 48J ) only with O. stellaris sp. n. The former differs from the latter in the higher number of body rings, differences in the anterior and posterior gonopods including a conspicuous longer posterior gonopod in O. rufus than in O. stellaris sp. n.

Description. Measurements: males with 46–49 rings, 43–53 mm long, 3.8–4.4 mm wide. Females with 46–48 rings, 56–65 mm long, 5.5–6.3 mm wide.

Coloration red ( Figs 48 A–D). Rings dorsally with an irregular yellow stripe. Mesozonites and part of metazonites between stripe and opening of ozopores darker blackish ( Fig. 48C ).

Eyes with circa 25 ocelli arranged in five rows ( Fig. 48A ). Antennae protruding back to ring 5 ( Fig. 48A ). Male coxal processes only on coxae 3 and 4, short and conical. Prefemur 3–5 with hollow invaginations ( Fig. 48B ). Preanal process absent ( Fig. 48D ).

Anterior gonopod sternite basally wide, apically elevated into a lobe with a slender, rectangular tip ( Fig. 48G ). Sternite tip almost as high as telopodite. Coxite not extending beyond sternite, inconspicuous ( Fig. 48H ). Telopodite on posterior side apically with a small, erect process. Process not projecting above telopodite margins ( Fig. 48H ).

Posterior gonopods: basal stem of telopodite 3.6 times longer than wide ( Fig. 48J ). Apical part of telopodite star-shaped ( Fig. 48I ). At mesal margin with three star arms (x, y, z in Fig. 48J ). Telopodite apically with a small membranous process (x in Fig. 48I ) and a well-developed membranous fringe (w).

Intraspecific variation: although specimens were collected from no less than nine localities, spread over rainforest in the whole southeastern region of Madagascar ( Fig. 49 ), no intraspecific variation was observed. The numbers of rings varied within the same population as much as between populations. Females are always larger and thicker than males.

Distribution and ecology: this species could be recorded from each single inventoried rainforest south of the Andohahela Isaka-Ivondro corridor ( Fig. 49 ). It was not found (yet?) in the highly endangered ( Vincelette et al. 2003) littoral forest of Mandena.

Etymology: rufus , adjective, refers to the characteristic red colour pattern.

Figures

Figure 48. Ostinobolus rufus sp. n., A, B, D, G–J male holotype; C, E, F male paratype. A head, lateral view B legs 1–7, ventral view C living specimen D telson E gnathochilarium F midbody ring with leg G anterior gonopod, anterior view H anterior gonopod, posterior view I left posterior gonopod, anterior view Į left posterior gonopod, posterior view. Apo = apodeme; av = anal valves; Co = collum; Cx = coxite; Gn = gnathochilarium; L = ledge; Md = mandible; Pre = preanal ring; St = sternite; sub = subanal scale; T = telopodite. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figure 49. Distribution map of the genus Ostinobolus gen. n..