Otostigmus foveolatus Verhoeff, 1937

Lewis, John G. E., 2014, A review of the orientalis group of the Otostigmus subgenus Otostigmus Porat, 1876 (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae), Zootaxa 3889 (3), pp. 388-413 : 393-395

Otostigmus foveolatus Verhoeff, 1937

(Figs 21–26)

Otostigmus (Otostigmus) foveolatus Verhoeff, 1937 , 217, Pl. 13, Fig. 11. Malacca [ Melaka] Malaysia. Otostigmus foveolatus: Verhoeff, 1942 , 185 (in key).

Diagnosis. Length 37 mm. Antennae with 17 articles, the basal 2.5 glabrous. Forcipular coxosternal tooth-plates with 4+4 small teeth. Tergites without paramedian sutures, marginate from 10. Sternites also without paramedian sutures. Coxopleuron with a single apical spine, no lateral or dorsal spine. Legs 1 to 3 with two tarsal spurs. Ultimate legs lacking tarsal spur. Ultimate leg prefemur with VL 2, VM 1 in proximal half and a corner spine.

Material examined. ZSM. Presumed holotype. Two slides, the first with head, antennae, mandibles and maxillae and first four segments, the second with segments 20 and 21 and two detached ultimate legs. Trunk segments 7 to 19 missing. Each slide labelled Otostigmus foveolatus Verh. [Penang Hill] Perak, Malacca.

Description. (Verhoeff’s (1937) data in parentheses where relevant). (Length 37 mm). Antennae of 17 articles, the basal 2.5 glabrous dorsally and ventrally (Fig. 21, 22). Pretarsus of second maxilla without accessory spines (Figs 23), a poorly sclerotised spur on article 2. Forcipular coxosternal tooth-plates with 4+4 teeth, the inner and outer two on each side well separated (Fig. 24), the dorsal surface with several setae. Trochanteroprefemoral process with three small denticles.

(Tergites weakly marginate from 10, lacking [paramedian] sutures but with a median ridge delineated by two shallow sulci, otherwise smooth). Most sternites with a posterior deep rounded depression, with a very weak depression on each side, also a weak longitudinal groove in the middle but sutures absent. Sternite of ultimate legbearing segment posteriorly attenuated and broadly emarginate). Coxopleural process short, with a single apical spine, no lateral or dorsal spines (Fig. 25).

(Leg 1 with one tibial spur, two tarsal spurs only on legs 1–3). One tarsal spur on legs 19 and 20, 21 without. Ultimate leg prefemoral spines VL 2, VM 1 in proximal half, the spines on swollen bases (Fig. 26).

Remarks. Verhoeff (1937) commented that this species comes near to oatesi Kraepelin , adding, perhaps the forms should be joined as races. However, it may be differentiated from O. oatesi by its lack of tergite and sternite paramedian sutures, the short coxopleural process with a single apical spine and ultimate prefemoral spines on swollen bases.