Colossobolus aculeatus 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 : 35-37

Colossobolus aculeatus Wesener , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FA93B3D8-7AD7-4E8F-93E9-CA4B329D4BB9

Material examined: 2 ♂ Holotype: 1 ♂ (122 mm long), CAS BLF 9555, Madagascar, Province Antsiranana, Forêt de Binara , 7.5 km 230° SW Daraina, 375 m, tropical dry forest, 13°15’18”S, 049°37’00”E, leg. B. L. Fisher, 1.XII.2003 . Paratype: 1 ♂, same data as holotype .

Similar species: the special U-shaped posterior gonopods are unique for Colossobolus except for C. pseudoaculeatus sp. n. C. aculeatus differs from the latter in the presence of a sharp-ending preanal process, which is well-rounded in C. pseudoaculeatus sp. n. (compare Fig. 20C with Fig. 21B ). The lateral branch of the posterior gonopod telopodite is of equal width all along in C. aculeatus while it is basally slen- der with a swollen tip in C. pseudoaculeatus sp. n. (compare Fig. 20E with Fig. 21E ).

Description. Measurements: males with 51 body rings, circa 122 mm long, 9.5 mm wide. Female unknown.

Coloration affected by alcohol. Head, antennae, legs and telson red ( Figs 20 A–C). Median part of collum dark, margins red ( Fig. 20A ). Pro- and anterior part of mesozonites dark brown, posterior part of meso- and metazonites red. Antennae protruding back to ring 3. Male coxal processes on coxae 3 and 4 barely visible, on coxae 5–7 absent ( Fig. 20B ). Preanal process sharp-edged, but not projecting over anal valves ( Fig. 20C ).

Anterior gonopod sternite elongated into a wide, broadly rounded lobe ( Fig. 20D ). Mesal process of coxite weakly developed, protruding into a very short wide lobe with

a well-rounded tip. Lobe only slightly longer than sternite ( Fig. 20D ). Telopodite process long, becoming apically thicker than basally. Mesal margin laterally sharp, not projecting ( Fig. 20F ).

Posterior gonopods telopodites positioned parallel to one another, generally Ushaped ( Figs 20E, G ). Coxite branch absent ( Fig. 20E ). Lateral branch of regular width, tip wide, well-rounded, not thicker than median or basal parts ( Fig. 20E ). Central membranous area present as a wide, well-rounded knob ( Fig. 20G ). Main branch slightly longer than lateral branch, latero-apically towards lateral branch with a large membranous area (Fig, 20G).

Distribution and ecology: C. aculeatus is only known from the Forêt Binara ( Fig. 10 ) where it occurs in close proximity to C. semicyclus .

Etymology: aculeatus , adjective, refers to the sharp-edged preanal process, unique for Colossobolus .

Figures

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

Figure 20. Colossobolus aculeatus sp. n., male holotype. A head, lateral B legs 1–7, ventral view C telson D anterior gonopods, anterior view E right posterior gonopod, anterior view F anterior gonopods, posterior view G right posterior gonopod, posterior view. av = anal valves; Co = collum; Cx = coxite; IL = incisura lateralis; LL = lamella lingualis; ma = membranous area; Md = mandible; Pre = preanal ring; St = sternite; ST = stipites; sub = subanal scale; T = telopodite; T-Lbr = telopodite lateral branch; T-mbr = telopodite main branch; Tp = telopodite process. Not to same scale.

Figure 21. Colossobolus pseudoaculeatus sp. n., male holotype. A head, lateral B telson C anterior gonopods, posterior view D anterior gonopods, anterior view E right posterior gonopod, posterior view F right posterior gonopod, anterior view. Apo = apodeme; av = anal valves; Co = collum; Cx = coxite; ma = membranous area; Md = mandible; Pre = preanal ring; St = sternite; sub = subanal scale; T = telopodite; T-Lbr = telopodite lateral branch; T-mbr = telopodite main branch; Tp = telopodite process. Not to same scale.