Hylekobolus analavelona 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 : 112-114

Hylekobolus analavelona Wesener , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:769102C4-C297-4628-85AA-B87EEB70DF3E

Material examined: 4 ♂, 6 ♀, 3 imm. Holotype: 1 ♂ (56 mm long), FMMC 5429, Province Toliara, Forêt de Analavelona, near spring of Manasay River , undisturbed mid-elevation forest with dry and humid elements, 1250 m, 22°38.6’ S, 44°10.3’ E, leg. S. Goodman, 2–8.XI.2000, pitfall trap . Paratypes: 4 ♀, 2 imm., FMMC 5429, same data as holotype .

Other material examined: 3 ♂, 2 ♀, 1 imm., CAS BLF 7819 (kmp-fm-068), Province Toliara, Forêt de Analavelona , montane rainforest, 1100 m, 22°40’30’’ S, 44°11’24’’ E, leg. Griswold, Fisher et al., 18–22.XI.2003 .

Differential diagnosis: H. analavelona has a unique green/brown colour pattern ( Figs 62A, B ). The colour pattern and gonopods clearly identify this species. The gonopods feature a unique combination of characters: the anterior gonopods carry a short

mesal coxite process ( Fig. 62D ), the retrorse telopodite process is wide and projecting ( Fig. 62F ), the apical process (x) of the posterior gonopods is 4–5 times wider than the sperm canal ( Fig. 62E ).

Description. Measurements: male holotype with 45 rings, 56 mm long, 3.6 mm wide. Females with 45 rings, 49–56mm long, 4.65–5.1 mm wide.

Coloration: collum and posterior half of body rings light brown ( Fig. 62A ). Body rings in anterior half only laterally with dark green colour, dorsally light brown. Each body ring dorsally with an isolated dark green spot. Legs and antennae light brown ( Fig. 62B ). Eyes with 32–34 ocelli ( Fig. 62A ).

Anterior gonopod sternite basally wide, apically elevated into a wide, well-rounded rectangular process ( Fig. 62D ). Mesal process of coxite wide and only slightly protruding ( Fig. 62D ). Apical telopodite process large and well-rounded. Retrorse margin wide, projecting above telopodite margin ( Fig. 62F ); margin basally of apical process not projecting ( Fig. 62F ).

Posterior gonopods telopodite bent 90° ( Fig. 62G ). Projection absent from lateral margin (w, Fig. 62E ). Tip of apical process (x) sharp-edged, basally slender, 4–5 times as wide as sperm canal ( Fig. 62E ). Membranous lobe (y) large and well-rounded ( Fig. 62E ). Projection of sperm canal (z) long and slender, running parallel to apical process ( Fig. 62E ).

Distribution and ecology: only known from the Analavelona Mountain ( Fig. 54 ), an isolated hilltop with rainforest in the otherwise dry southwestern region of Madagascar (DuPuy and Moat 2007).

Etymology: analavelona , noun in apposition, after the only place where this species can be found, the Analavelona Mountain ( Fig. 54 ).

Figures

Figure 54. Distribution map of the genus Hylekobolus gen. n.

Figure 62. Hylekobolus analavelona sp. n., male holotype. A head, lateral view B legs 1–7, ventral view C telson D anterior gonopod, anterior view E left posterior gonopod, anterior view F anterior gonopod, posterior view G left posterior gonopod, posterior view. Apo = apodeme; av = anal valves; Co = collum; Cx = coxite; Gn = gnathochilarium; Md = mandible; Pre = preanal ring; St = sternite; sub = subanal scale; T = telopodite. Scale bars = 1 mm.