Otostigmus celebensis Attems, 1934

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 : 16-18

Otostigmus celebensis Attems, 1934

Figs 36–39

Otostigmus celebensis Attems, 1934: 50 , fig. 6. Celebes [Sulawesi].

Type material examined. NMB. Holotype labelled 405.a Scolop. Otostigmus celebensis Typus. Leg Drs P & F Sarasin 1895. Tomohon, Celebes.

Description. (Attems’ data in parentheses where appropriate). Length 41 mm (43 mm). Antennomeres 20[r]–19 (20), the basal 2.2 glabrous (2½).The forcipular coxosternal tooth plates appear eroded with eight mostly small irregular teeth on the right, seven on the left (fig. 36). The teeth are not even, as shown in Attems’ (1930a) fig. 6 (fig. 37 here). The appearance of the left tooth plate suggests that there may, initially, have been three main teeth and the presence of many small teeth may be due to wear.

Tergite paramedian sutures complete 6, marginate on 6 (weak) and from 8. With a weak median keel from 5 to 20, but without lateral keels or spines. Slightly corrugated from 5. Tergite 21 with shallow posterior median depression.

Sternites with well-developed paramedian sutures at least from 7, occupying anterior 66% of sternites in mid and hind body (fig. 38). With median longitudinal and posterior round depressions from 3 (anterior sternites with short paramedian sutures, 11–18 reaching beyond middle of sternites, from 4 or 5 two small pits in mid line). Sternite 21 with sides converging posteriorly (with a longitudinal pit).

Coxopleuron long and slender, with two apical, two lateral and one dorsal spine (fig. 39). Ultimate legs now missing (prefemur ventrally with two rows of two (inner) and three (outer) spines: on the median surface three, dorsomedian two spines, a corner spine present). (Legs 1 and 2 with two, 3 to 21 with one tarsal spur).

Remarks. Attems (1934) stated that this species was differentiated from O. astenus , with which in other respects it is fairly similar, by the numerous very small teeth. As noted above, however, the presence of a large number of small teeth may be due to wear. Lewis (2000) figured a specimen of O. astenus from New Britain with 7+7 coxosternal teeth less worn but not dissimilar from the tooth plates of O. celebensis . The sternite paramedian sutures are longer than in most O. astenus and the presence of two, albeit weak, depressions on some sternites is not seen in other populations. Moreover the coxopleural processes are slender and only the first two pairs of legs have two tarsal spines. All these characters are subject to individual variation in Otostigmus ( Lewis, 2000) and none alone clearly distinguish O. celebensis from O. astenus but taken together they may indicate a distinct population. I currently regard O. celebensis as a nomen dubium.

Distribution. Celebes [Sulawesi].