Zoosphaerium pseudoblandum, Wesener, 2009

Wesener, Thomas, 2009, Unexplored richness: discovery of 31 new species of Giant Pill-Millipedes endemic to Madagascar, with a special emphasis on microendemism (Diplopoda, Sphaerotheriida), Zootaxa 2097 (1), pp. 1-134 : 110-114

Zoosphaerium pseudoblandum , new species

Derivatio nominis: pseudoblandum , adjective, refers to the great similarity in the telopods of this species to Z. blandum .

Studied material: Holotype: 1 M (25 mm long), FMMC W107 . Locus typicus: Madagascar, Province Toliara, Andohahela Mountain Chain , Ebosika , 24°56'48.24"S, 046°40'31.84"E, rainforest, coll. T. Wesener , 15.vi.2007.

Paratypes: 3 M, 3 F, FMMC W107 , same collection data as holotype .

Other material: 4 M, 1 F, 1 imm., same data as holotype, sent as vouchers to the University

Antananarivo. 1 M, 1 F, 1 imm., FMMC W045 B, Province Toliara, PN Andohahela, Forêt Malio, 24°55.810'S, 046°46.343'E, rainforest, coll . T. Wesener, 30.v.2007 . 1 M, FMMC W003 , Andrahomana Plateau, close to Akapaky, 24°51.006'S, 046°55.907'E, dry forest plateau, coll . T. Wesener, 20.v.2007 .

Diagnosis: Up to 41 mm long. Females slightly larger and more bulky than males. Color light green with dark green marks laterally on paratergites (Fig. 75B). Texture of tergites smooth and glabrous. Anal shield weakly rounded, posteriorly elongated. Tarsi of legs 3–21 paddle-like, 3 times longer than wide. First antennomere with large groove. Antennomeres 1–3 with sclerotized teeth, disc with four sensory cones. Movable finger of posterior telopods of unusual shape, with single, small lobe and up to three sclerotized spines (Fig. 76E); posterior side with up to 18 sclerotized nubs (Fig. 76F). Fixed finger broad and strongly curved, basally in some specimens with large membranous lobe and single spine (Fig. 76E). Two stridulation ribs on each male harp (Fig. 76B). Anterior telopod second podomere process visible in anterior view (Fig. 76B). Anal shield in adults without visible locking carinae, in juveniles, two small, same-sized carinae are visible. Inner area of endotergum with numerous broad spines and hair, marginal bristles arranged in 1 or 2 dense rows, slightly protruding above tergite margin. Female with 2 or 3 short stridulation ribs on each side of washboard. Operculum of female vulva large, apical margin elongated into two well-rounded lobes. Lateral lobe protruding twice as high as inner lobe (Fig. 76A)

FIGURE 075. Digital photographs of living specimens, A: numerous Zoosphaerium blandum ( de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) and in the middle a single Sphaeromimus musicus ( de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) , the S. musicus has a glossy sheen. Photo taken at Tsimelahy, spiny forest; B: Zoosphaerium pseudoblandum n. sp., individual from Ebosika, Andohahela mountain chain, rainforest.

Distribution: Known only from transitional forests between spiny forests and rainforests in South- Eastern Madagascar. On the Andrahomana Plateau, Z. pseudoblandum occurs sympatrically with Z. blandum , Z. libidinosum and Sphaeromimus musicus (Fig. 77).

Similar species: Z. pseudoblandum , n. sp. differs from Z. blandum (the only other member of the speciesgroup) in the coloration pattern (green versus brown in Z. blandum ), and the height of the operculum (large with two lobes versus very narrow in Z. blandum ).

Description: Body length: Males (8 specimens): length up to 26 mm, width of thoracic shield up to 11.7 mm, height of thoracic shield up to 6.4 mm and of 10th tergite up to 7.1 mm. Females (4 specimens): length up to 31 mm, width up to 15.3 mm, height of thoracic shield up to 8.6 mm, of 10th tergite up to 10.6 mm.

FIGURE 076. Zoosphaerium pseudoblandum n. sp., A female paratype, B–F holotype, A: second left coxa with vulva, posterior view; B: left half of anterior telopods, anterior view; C: last two podomeres of anterior telopod, lateral view; D: last two podomeres of anterior telopod, posterior view; E: posterior telopod, anterior view; F: posterior telopod, posterior view. Abbreviations: cav = cavity; cr-t = crenulated teeth; Cx = coxa; EP = external plate of vulva; IP = mesal plate of vulva; ml = membranous lobe; O = operculum; Pre = prefemur; s-p = sclerotized spot; scl-t = sclerotized teeth; SR = stridulation ribs. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 077. Distribution map 04.

Habitus: Male general appearance elongated, females of greater height and more bulky.

Coloration: Tergites light green, posterior of tergites with thin brown margin (Fig. 75A). Laterally and close to paratergite tip with two areas of dark green coloration. Median part of anal shield dark green. Head, collum, antennae and tips of legs green.

Head: Eyes with more than 75 ocelli.

Antennae: Length of antennomeres: 1=2=3=4=5=6, all antennomeres of equal length and cylindrical, on tip bearing disc with four sensory cones. Antenna short and slender, reaching up to second tergite. First antennomere short and with large groove. Sclerotized teeth at base of antennomeres 1–4. First antennomere apically on one side with short sensilla basiconica.

Mouthparts not dissected

Collum: Anterior margin with 10–20 long hairs, arranged in single row. Posterior margin and edges with 12–15 five long hairs. Remaining parts of collum glabrous.

Thoracic shield inconspicuous.

Tergites: Tips of posterior paratergite margins not projecting posteriorly. Tergite texture smooth and glabrous, at high magnification (>40x) weak, leather-like texture becomes visible.

Endotergum: Inner section with numerous large spines and bristles. Between marginal ridge and inner area with single row of weak cuticular impressions. Impressions circular and in irregular distance. Marginal ridge strong and straight. Externally 1 or 2 dense rows of marginal bristles. Bristles of medium length, slightly surmounting tergite.

Anal shield: Weakly rounded, not bell-shaped but posterior margin projecting into short process. Shield reaching hindmost point on small process of its lower side. Surface sexually dimorphic, in females glabrous and surface similar to those of the tergites. Underside without carinae (see intraspecific variation).

Legs: Tarsi of first pair of legs with two or three, second with three or four, third with seven or eight ventral spines. First three leg pairs with only weakly curved claws and without apical spine. Tarsi of legs 4–21 with curved claws, 10 ventral spines and an apical spine. Femur 1.65 times, tarsi 3.0 times longer than wide.

Stigmatic plates: First plate lobe short and triangular.

Female sexual characters: Subanal plate with washboard, consisting of short, but broad and well developed stridulation ribs, with 2 or 3 ribs on each half. Vulva small, covering 1/2 of coxa surface. Operculum large, ending before apical coxa margin. Apical margin of operculum medially notched (Fig. 76A), lateral tip twice as long as inner tip. Both tips well-rounded. Mesal plate long, extending beyond operculum (Fig. 76A).

Male sexual characters: Anal shield covered with numerous pits, single small seta standing in each.

Anterior telopods (Figs 76B–D): Harp with two stridulation ribs, both straight and of equal length. Second podomere process lobe-like and little curved with rounded edges, point of process visible in anterior view, protruding up to half of third podomere height; basally with single spine, apically with sclerotized spots. Third podomere cavity mesally with numerous sclerotized spots and two small spines, two additional short spines arising inside of cavity. Tip of third podomere with large sclerotized spot.

Posterior telopods (Figs 76E, F): Movable finger curved, at inner margin with large, rounded indentation; hollowed-out inner margin with single, minute lobe and three sclerotized spines; posterior aspect with circa 18 crenulated teeth, half of teeth located basally of indentation, second half of teeth located isolated around tip. Fixed finger as wide as movable finger. Fixed finger tip strongly arched tip, anterior side basally with single, sclerotized spine, margin apically with small, sclerotized spots. Fixed and movable fingers except for apex on both sides with long hairs. Inner horns wide, with pointed tips.