Otostigmus rugulosus striaturatus Verhoeff, 1937

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 : 22-23

Otostigmus rugulosus striaturatus Verhoeff, 1937

Figs 53–57

Otostigmus (Otostigmus) rugulosus striaturatus Verhoeff, 1937: 216 , Pl. 13, fig. 9.

Diagnosis. Antennomeres 21, coxopleural teeth apparently 4+4, tergites with low keels and spinules. Paramedian sutures occupying anterior half of sternites. Coxopleural process with two apical, one subapical, two lateral and a dorsal spine. Ultimate legs very long (40% of body length).

Preliminary remarks. Two syntypes, one from Berlin and one from Munich have been examined. They are here described separately.

Type material examined. ZMHB. ZMB 13361 labelled 2105 Otostigmus rugulosus striaturatus Ver h. Malacca, syntypus. Verhoeff gives Kuala Legap, Plus Valley, Perak.

Description. (Verhoeff’s data in parentheses where appropriate).Length 52 mm, ultimate legs very long 20mm. Antennomeres 21–16 [r], the basal 2.33 glabrous dorsally (basal 2½ glabrous)

Forcipular coxosternal toothplate with 5+4 main teeth, the right atypical (fig. 53) (Tooth plate divided into a broad inner plate and 1–2 outer teeth). Forcipular trochanteroprefemoral process with three teeth.

Tergites paramedian sutures complete from 6, with low median keel and marginate from 7, with five low ridges from 14–19 (7–19), their appearance depending on illumination, and with a few scattered spinules laterally from 13–20.

Paramedian sutures occupying anterior half of sternites (reaching beyond middle on 16–18, absent 19– 21), each ending in a shallow depression, slight indications of two further lateral depressions and three weak posterior depressions in a transverse row (fig. 54). Sternite 21 narrowed posteriorly with posterior border concave and slight median depression in posterior half (fig. 55).

Coxopleural process with two apical and one subapical spine, two lateral and one dorsal near apex (fig. 56) (with 7 spines, 2 at end, 2 before it, 2 above and 1–2 small below). Ultimate legs very long and slender, equal to 40% the body length. Right ultimate leg prefemur with VL 4, VM/M 3, DM 3, CS 1 (fig. 56), the left which is probably regenerated, with VL 1+4, VM 4, M 3, DM 2+2, CS 1 (VL 4–5, VM 3, DM 3).

Leg 1 with a femoral spur, 1 and 2 with a tibial spur, 1 to 6 with two tarsal spurs, 7 to 18 or 19 with one, 19 or 20 and ultimate without. (Legs 1 to 5 to 10 with two tarsal spurs).

ZSM. On two slides labelled A 20030595 and A 20030596. Otostigmus rugulosus striaturatus Ve rh. Malacca. The first with head plate (damaged), mandibles, maxillae, forcipules and 4 segments, the second with segments 19–21 and legs 19 and 20. Ultimate legs missing.

Description. Antennae missing. Telopodite of second maxillae with spine on article 3, one accessory spur on the right apical claw, two on the left. Forcipular coxopleural toothplate appears to have four teeth, the inner two on each side fused and eroded (fig. 57). Verhoeff’s fig. 9 shows the tooth plates of this specimen. Coxopleural process with two apical and one subapical spine, two lateral and one dorsal.

Remarks. Verhoeff stated that the relationship to rugulosus Por. was not clear due to the uncertainty (Ungewissheit) of the tooth plates, the colour and the distribution of the tarsal spurs, and the ultimate legs which are very long. Colour is not a reliable character but the length of the ultimate legs suggests that this may be, at least, a significantly different population of O. rugulosus (it is at the extreme edge of the range of the species). It is retained as valid but should be reconsidered when further material becomes available.

Distribution. Peninsular Malaysia

Figures

FIGURES 53 – 57. Otostigmus rugulosus striaturatus syntypes. Fig. 53. Forcipular coxosternal toothplates and trochanteroprefemoral processes ZMHB specimen. Fig. 54. Sternite 13 NMHB specimen. Fig. 55. Terminal segments and prefemur of right ultimate leg NMHB specimen (coxopleural pores not shown). Fig. 56. Detail of coxosternal spines NMHB specimen. Fig. 57. Forcipular coxosternal toothplates ZSM specimen. Scale line = 0.1 mm.