Otostigmus fossuliger 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 : 20-21

Otostigmus fossuliger Verhoeff, 1937

Figs 50–52

Otostigmus (Otostigmus) fossuliger Verhoeff, 1937: 215 .

Diagnosis. Antennomeres 18–19, the basal 2.5 glabrous dorsally. Forcipular coxosternal teeth 3+3. Tergites without keels or spines. Sternites without paramedian sutures but with one median longitudinal and one posterior depression on most sternites. Ultimate leg prefemora with four rows of spines. Legs 1 to 15 with two tarsal spurs.

Type material examined. ZMHB. Syntype on two slides, labelled 4000 & 4001 and Otostigmus fossuliger Verhoeff , Pahang, Malacca 1500 m 3698. Slide 4000 of head capsule and segments 1 to 5, slide 4001 of terminal segments and single ultimate leg. Most trunk segments missing. Listed as a syntype by Moritz & Fischer (1979). Verhoeff gives Kuala Terla, Telom Valley, Pahang, 1500 m.

Description. (Verhoeff’s data in parentheses where appropriate). (Length 44 mm). Antennomeres 19–18 (18), the basal 2.5 glabrous dorsally, 2.23 ventrally (2 ½). (Claw of second maxilla bifurcate at end). Forcipular coxosternal teeth 3+3 the inner two partially fused (fig. 50). Forcipular trochanteroprefemoral process with two low teeth.

Tergites 1 to 5 without paramedian sutures (tergites smooth, without tubercles or longitudinal streaks, the paramedian sutures well developed but the sulci poorly developed. One or two irregular longitudinal furrows present laterally, marginate from 9).

(Sternites without paramedian sutures, 6 to 19 with deep median groove, a round posterior median depression from 7 or 6. Sternite 21 posteriorly truncated).

Coxopleuron (fig. 51) with two apical spines, one lateral, one dorsal on right the dorsal missing on left. Ultimate leg prefemoral spines: VL 4, VM 2, M 3, DM 1, CS1 (fig. 52).

(Legs 1 to 15 with two tarsal spines, a tibial spine only on leg 1). Legs 20 and ultimate with one tarsal spine.

Remarks. Verhoeff (1937) stated that, lacking sternite paramedian sutures, this species was nearest to O. feae . In fact it appears to be more similar to O. olivaceus which also lacks sternite paramedian sutures and has the same arrangement of sternite depressions. It differs in the presence of a lateral coxopleural spine and having two tarsal spines on legs 1 to 15 rather than on 1 and 2 only. The only known specimen is incomplete and further material is required to establish its true relationships but with the present state of our knowledge is best regarded as a distinct species.

Distribution. Peninsular Malaysia.

Figures

FIGURES 50 – 52. Otostigmus fossuliger syntype. Fig. 50. Forcipular coxosternal toothplates. Fig. 51. Terminal segments ventral. Fig. 52. Ultimate leg prefemur median. Scale line = 1 mm except fig. 50 = 0.5 mm.