Otostigmus feae Pocock, 1891

Lewis, John G. E., 2010, A revision of the rugulosus group of Otostigmus subgenus Otostigmus Porat, 1876 (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae), Zootaxa 2579, pp. 1-29 : 14

Otostigmus feae Pocock, 1891

Figs 27–30

Otostigma feae Pocock, 1891: 416 . Burma.

Otostigmus feae: Kraepelin, 1903: 116 .

? Otostigmus feae: Chamberlin, 1922: 178 . Hawaii from Java. Otostigmus ( O.) feae: Attems, 1930a: 144 .

Diagnosis. Antennomeres 18, the basal 2.5 to 2.66 glabrous dorsally. Forcipular coxosternal teeth 3+3, the inner two on each side partially fused the outer separate. Tergites without keels or spines. Sternites without paramedian sutures but with four weak depressions in mid trunk region. Coxopleuron with two apical spines, with or without a subapical, two lateral and one dorsal. Ultimate leg prefemur with four rows of spines. Legs 1 to 3 with two tarsal spurs, 4 to 20 with one, 21 without.

Type material examined. MCSNG. Holotype labelled Otostigmus feae Poc. Type. Birmania, Meteleo. leg. L. Fea. Pocock gives: Burma, Carin Mts., Cheba district, village of Meteleo 900–1200m.

Description. (Pocock’s data in parentheses where appropriate). Length 28 mm, antennomeres 18, the basal 2.5 to 2.66 glabrous dorsally, 2.25 ventrally (basal two bare, rest pubescent). Forcipular coxosternal teeth 3+3, the two inner partially fused, the right outer with a trace of a subsidiary tooth (fig. 27).

Tergite with short posterior paramedian sutures on 4 and 5, sutures complete from 6 (from 4), marginate from 11. Without keels or spines but with weak corrugations laterally from 8 (in posterior half slightly wrinkled). Tergite 21 with shallow median depression occupying posterior 40% (fig. 29).

Sternites without paramedian sutures, with small median posterior depression from 4 to 18 and three weak transverse depressions in the middle of sternites 9 to about 14 (fig. 28). Sternite 21 with sides converging posteriorly ( Fig. 30 ).

Coxopleural process moderately long, with two apical, two lateral and one small dorsal spine and in addition a subapical spine on the right (fig. 29).

Ultimate legs now missing (femur armed with thirteen or fourteen spines, arranged as follows: three, one apical, on the upper inner edge, six set in two sub–parallel series on the inner surface and five arranged in a longitudinal series on the under outer surface; tarsus not spurred).

Leg 1 with a tibial spur, legs 1 to 3 with two tarsal spurs, legs 4 to 20 with one (legs with claws spined and tarsi (except the anal) spurred, the first pair being furnished in addition with an anterior tibial and tarsal spine).

Remarks. The specimen is very similar to Otostigmus astenus from which it is differentiated primarily by the lack of sternite paramedian sutures. Pocock (1891) stated that it was “undoubtedly distinct from all other species here considered.” However, there being only one specimen of this species known for certain (Chamberlin’s (1922) record from Java requires confirmation) no information is available on variation. It may prove to be a population of O. astenus , in which case it would be the most westerly record for that species, but with the present state of our knowledge is best regarded as a distinct species. It is not listed in Minelli (2006). Distribution. Burma.

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 30. Otostigmus feae. Holotype. Fig. 27. Forcipular coxosternal toothplates and right trochanteroprefemoral process. Fig. 28. Sternite 10. Fig. 29. Tergite 21 and coxopleural processes. Fig. 30. Sternite 21. Scale line = 0.5 mm.