Re-discovery after more than a century: a redefinition of the Malagasy endemic millipede genus Zehntnerobolus, with a description of a new species (Diplopoda, Spirobolida, Pachybolidae)
Author
Wesener, Thomas
text
Zootaxa
2011
3018
21
26
journal article
46384
10.5281/zenodo.278635
42311ac7-9128-48bf-9a2d-00da0f36148b
1175-5326
278635
Genus
Zehntnerobolus
Wesener, 2009
Type
species
:
Spirobolus rubripes
de
Saussure & Zehntner, 1897
, monotypic
Other species included
:
Zehntnerobolus hoffmani
n. sp.
Taxonomic position.
The presence of a sclerotized sternite connecting the posterior gonopods (
Fig. 3
E) and the absence of apodemes on the anterior gonopods (
Figs 2
E, 3C) place
Zehntnerobolus
in the family
Pachybolidae
, suborder Trigoniulidea. The closest relative of
Zehntnerobolus
might be found among other small-bodied
Malagasy
Spirobolida
.
Re-diagnosis.
The description of a second species of
Zehntnerobolus
together with a more detailed morphological study allows a re-diagnosis of the genus previously monotypic. Telopodite process of anterior gonopod slender and curved laterally (
Figs 2
E, 3C, D), a unique character of
Zehntnerobolus
. Sperm canal of posterior telopod apically free, protruding above lateral margin (
Figs 3
E–G). Among
Malagasy
Pachybolidae
, a free sperm canal also exists in
Flagellobolus
and
Caprobolus
. Shares a gnathochilarium with a transverse ridge subdividing mentum with the
Malagasy
genera
Flagellobolus
,
Riotintobolus
,
Pseudocentrobolus
,
Granitobolus
,
Caprobolus
,
Alluviobolus
and
Ostinobolus
. Shares a torsion of telopodite of posterior gonopod with discharge opening of efferent duct (sperm canal) turned laterally instead of mesally with
Riotintobolus
and
Alluviobolus
.
FIGURE 1.
Distribution map of
Zehntnerobolus
Wesener, 2009
. Elevation in meters.
Distribution and ecology.
Apparently a rare genus. Recent collection efforts by the California Academy of Sciences and the Field Museum at more than 250 localities throughout
Madagascar
only resulted in the collection of a single sample with two specimens, described below,
385 km
south of the other know historic localities, from Ivohibe (
Fig. 1
). As suggested previously (Wesener
et al.
2009B), and indicated by the collection method of the recent specimens (sifting of leaf litter), this genus probably lives on the surface of (or inside) the leaf litter.