Zoosphaerium platylabum (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897)

Wesener, Thomas & Wägele, Johann-Wolfgang, 2008, The giant pill-millipedes of Madagascar: revision of the genus Zoosphaerium (Myriapoda, Diplopoda, Sphaerotheriida), Zoosystema 30 (1), pp. 5-85 : 0

Zoosphaerium platylabum species-group

SPECIES INCLUDED. — Zoosphaerium platylabum (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) .

DISTRIBUTION. — Unclear, since most species are still undescribed.

DIAGNOSIS. — This species group is still monotypic, but numerous undescribed species close to Z. platylabum were discovered, justifying its establishment. The characters unifying this group are unique in Sphaerotheriida .

All species have 2 locking carinae on the ventral side of the anal shield. The carinae are located more closely to the laterotergites than towards the anal shield margin ( Fig. 30E ). The operculum of female vulva is protruding into 2, sharp edged processes. ( Fig. 30F ). A phylogenetic analysis will be necessary to confirm if the platylabum -group represents a monophyletic group to be kept separately from the other Malagasy sphaerotheriids.

Figures

FIG. 30. — Zoosphaerium platylabum (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897): A-E, K, L, holotype; A, habitus, body length 36 mm; B, C, coxa and prefemur of 1st right leg with 1st stigma-carrying plate; B, posterior view;C, anterior view; D, 9th left leg; E, closing ledges of anal shield, F, coxa of second left leg with vulva, posterior view (♀ MNHG); G, coxa of 2nd left leg with gonopore (BLF 7994); H-J, right anterior telopod (BLF 7994); H, anterior view; I, joints 2 and 3, posterior view; J, joints 2 and 3, inner view; K, L, last two joints of right posterior telopod; K, anterior view; L, posterior view. Abbreviations: 12T, 12th tergite; AS, anal shield; Cx, coxa; LT, laterotergite; St, stigma-carrying plate. Scale bars: B-L, 1 mm.