Sphaeromimus vatovavy Wesener

Wesener, Thomas, Le, Daniel Minh-Tu & Loria, Stephanie F., 2014, Integrative revision of the giant pill-millipede genus Sphaeromimus from Madagascar, with the description of seven new species (Diplopoda, Sphaerotheriida, Arthrosphaeridae), ZooKeys 414, pp. 67-107 : 78-79

Sphaeromimus vatovavy Wesener sp. n. Figures 5B, 6, 7, 8, 9

Material examined.

Type material. Holotype: 1 ♂, MNHN ‘39’, Madagascar, Province Fianarantsoa, Forêt primitive de Tsianovoha (=Vatovavy-Fitovinany, Fort Carnot), rainforest, coll. Mission Heim á Madagascar, 1934-35, fin Sept. 34.

Paratype. 1 ♀, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis.

Five stridulation ribs on the male harp, a character only shared with the spiny forest species Sphaeromimus musicus . Shape of female operculum unique, apically recessed. Endotergum with two rows of deeply impressed cuticular patterns and two dense, irregular rows of marginal bristles that protrude above tergite margin.

Description.

Measurements: Female paratype: 21.1 mm long, 10.2 mm wide (2nd), 5.8 mm height (2nd), male broken, not measured but slightly smaller.

Colouration influenced by 70 years in preservative, faded dark brown without any discernable pattern (Fig. 6A). Antennae, legs and pleurites faded olive green, eyes green (Fig. 6 A–D).

Head: Eyes with>60 ocelli (Fig. 6A). Posterior margin of head towards collum glabrous (Fig. 6A). Antennae short, protruding laterally slightly past margins of thoracic shield (Fig. 6A). Antennomeres 1-5 with few longer setae, only antennomere 6 densely pubescent (Fig. 7A). Antennomere 6 towards disc with single row of sensilla basiconica (Fig. 7A). Female with 63/65 (Fig. 7B), male with>90 apical cones. Gnathochilarium typical for the order (Fig. 7C), central pads mainly with single type of sensilla (Fig. 7D), rudimentary lateral palpi consisting of three sensilla (Fig. 7E). Mandible with the typical shape of the order, inner tooth 3-combed, with six long pectinate lamellae, condylus with a sharp groove at its apex (Fig. 8).

Collum glabrous, with few setiferous points at its margin (Fig. 6A). Thoracic shield smooth and glabrous, except for margin and lateral grooves (Fig. 6A). Grooves deep, anterior brim swollen. Tergites 3-12 smooth, paratergite tips of midbody tergites slightly projecting posteriorly. Anal shield massive, well-rounded, with single locking carinae, as typical for Sphaeromimus (Fig. 6C).

Endotergum inner section with numerous short triangular spines and long setae (Fig. 5B). Between ridge and inner area two rows of strongly impressed, circular cuticular impressions. Externally two dense but irregular rows of marginal bristles (Fig. 5B). Bristles long, protruding beyond tergite margin.

First stigma-carrying plate with a well-rounded apex.

Leg 1 with 2-4, 2 with 3-5, 3 with 8 ventral spines. Leg pairs 4-21 with 10-12 ventral spines. Coxa process of midbody legs weakly developed. Femur 1.8, tarsus 3.3 times longer than wide (Fig. 6D).

Male gonopore inconspicuous.

Anterior telopod (Fig. 9 A–C): Harp carrying five stridulation ribs (Fig. 9A). Shape usual for the genus, telopoditomere 4 massive, larger than two preceding joints, with one large triangular spine and 3 or 4 smaller ones (Fig. 9B, C).

Posterior telopod (Fig. 9D, E): Podomere 3 strongly curved, 3.1 times longer than wide, slightly longer than immovable finger (Fig. 9D). Hollowed-out inner margin with one lobe and four sclerotized spines, posterior aspect with ca. 26 small crenulated teeth (Fig. 9E). Immovable finger only slightly tapering apically, ca. 3 times longer than wide, apically strongly hooked towards podomere 3. Podomere 1 with few setae (Fig. 9D), podomere 2 and 3 glabrous.

Female sexual characters: Coxa process on leg 2 well-developed. Vulva massive. Operculum apically emarginate, protruding up to basal half of prefemur (Fig. 9F). Subanal partly reduced, with shallow invagination at apical margin. Washboard with 10 stridulation ribs on each side.

Etymology.

‘vatovavy’, noun in apposition, referring to the type locality, located in the area of Vatovavy-Fitovinany (Fort Carnot).

Distribution.

Only known from the eastern lowland rainforest of Tsianovoha. Satellite images do not show much remaining natural vegetation in the area.