Colossobolus litoralis 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 : 32-35

Colossobolus litoralis Wesener , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A031F0AE-D22A-42D8-BFDF-A34F137425AA

Material examined: 4 ♂, 1 ♀ Holotype: 1 ♂ (132 mm long), ZSM FGZC 1705, Madagascar, Province Antsiranana, Forêt d’Orangea , 10 m, littoral rainforest, 12°15’ S, 49°22’ E, leg. S. Megson, 20.II.2008, pitfall trap . Paratypes: 3 ♂, 1 ♀, FMMC 3919, Forêt d’Orangea , 90 m, littoral rainforest, 12°15’32’’ S, 49°22’29’’ E, leg. Fisher, Griswold et al., 22–28.II.2001 .

Differential diagnosis: the special-shaped anterior and posterior gonopods of C. litoralis are a unique character.

Description. Measurements: males with 51 body rings, 132–138 mm long, 11.0– 11.6 mm wide. Female with 51 body rings, 128 mm long, 12.9 mm wide.

Coloration affected by alcohol. Head, antennae, legs and telson red ( Fig. 17 ). Pro- and anterior part of mesozona dark brown, posterior part of meso- and metazonites red.

Antennae protruding back to ring 3 ( Fig. 18A ). Male coxal processes on coxae 3 and 4 weakly developed, on coxae 5–7 barely visible ( Fig. 18C ). Preanal process wellrounded, not projecting ( Fig. 18B ).

Anterior gonopod sternite elongated into a wide, broadly rounded lobe ( Fig. 18E ). Mesal process of coxite prominent, protruding into a long wide lobe with a wellrounded tip, lobe only slightly shorter than telopodite process ( Fig. 18E ). Telopodite process long and well-rounded. Mesal margin laterally sharp, at mid-length conspicuously protruding into a long and well-rounded process ( Fig. 18F ).

Posterior gonopod telopodites positioned parallel to one another. Coxite branch absent ( Fig. 19A ). Telopodite lateral branch very slender, straight, tapering towards pointed tip ( Fig. 18A ). Central membranous area present as a short, wide, well-round- ed knob ( Fig. 19B ). Main branch much longer than lateral branch, basally divided into two parts. Inner part developed as a short, slender, sclerotized process, apically tapering, with a pointed tip. Lateral part prominently elongated into large, flag-like membranous areas, extending beyond telopodite ( Figs 19A, B ).

Distribution and ecology: C. litoralis is only known from the littoral forest of Forêt d’Orangea ( Fig. 10 ).

Etymology: litoralis , adjective, refers to the only known site were this species occurs, the littoral forest of Forêt d’Orangea.

Figures

Figure 10. Distribution of the genus Colossobolus gen. n.

Figure 17. Colossobolus litoralis sp. n., living specimen, photographed by Angelika Knoll, February 2007 at Forêt Orangea (all rights reserved).

Figure 18. Colossobolus litoralis sp. n., male holotype.A head, lateral B telson C legs 1–7, ventral view D coxae of midbody leg, posterior view E anterior gonopods, anterior view F anterior gonopods, posterior view. av = anal valves; Co = collum; Cx = coxite; LL = lamella lingualis; Md = mandible; Pre = preanal ring; St = sternite; ST = stipites; sub = subanal scale;T = telopodite; Tp = telopodite process. Not to same scale.

Figure 19. Colossobolus litoralis sp. n., male holotype, posterior gonopods. A anterior view B posterior view. Cx = coxite; ma = membranous area; S = sternite; T = telopodite; T-Lbr = telopodite lateral branch; T-mbr = telopodite main branch.