Integrative description of two new species of Malagasy chirping giant pill-millipedes, genus Sphaeromimus (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida: Arthrosphaeridae) Author Moritz, Leif Author Wesener, Thomas text European Journal of Taxonomy 2017 2017-12-15 381 1 25 journal article 31128 10.5852/ejt.2017.381 4bedeb19-2f4c-4325-9ab4-22eace75b174 1118110 E5C82A60-1F7B-4967-A098-D28D983315CC Sphaeromimus kalambatritra sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:620 CAD 6B-DAB4-4FFC-8556-61357C75AF40 Figs 1–6 , 11 Diagnosis Large, massive, brown Sphaeromimus ,> 50 mm long. Differing from all other species of Sphaeromimus in having five stridulation ribs on the male harp (as in S. musicus (Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) and S. vatovavy Wesener, 2014 ) in the following characters: tarsus of leg 3 without an apical spine, coxal process almost absent, posterior telopod with two membranous lobes.>80 ocelli. Etymology The specific epithet ‘kalambatritra’, noun in apposition, refers to the type-locality, the Réserve Spéciale de Kalambatritra ( Fig. 11 ). Material examined (3 ♂♂, 1 ♀) Holotype MADAGASCAR : ♂ , Toliaria, Réserve Spéciale Kalambatritra, Befarara , BLF21330, 23°25′04″ S , 46°26′52″ E ,alt. 1390m , montane rainforest , 7 Feb.2009 , B.L. Fisher et al. leg., general collecting ( CASENT 9068297-A ). Paratypes MADAGASCAR : 1 ♂ , same collection data as for holotype ( ZFMK MYR06125 ); 1 ♂ , same collection data as for holotype ( CASENT 9068297-C ); 1 ♀ , Toliaria, Réserve Spéciale Kalambatritra, Ampanihy , BLF21565 , 23°27′49″S , 46°27′47″ E ,alt. 1270m , montane rainforest , 9–10 Feb.2009 , B.L. Fisher et al. leg., general collecting ( CASENT 9058301 ). Description MEASUREMENTS. Male holotype ca 51.5 mm long, 24.4 mm (2nd segment) up to 28.2 mm (10th segment = widest) wide, 14 mm (2nd segment) high. Female ca 52 mm long, 24.7 mm (2nd segment) wide, 15.1 mm (2nd segment) high ( Fig. 1A ). COLORATION OF PRESERVED SPECIMEN ( Fig. 1A ). Tergites in anterior half dark brown, posterior half light brown, posterior margin with thin dark brown band. Paratergites light brown with dark brown to blackish tips. Paratergite impressions and groove of thoracic shield light brown. Antennae brown, and legs and pleurites light brown to grey. Head laterally around eyes and at posterior margin dark brown, frontally light brown. Collum dark brown. Eyes green. HEAD. Eyes with>80 ocelli, median ocelli small and increasing in size towards lateral and posterior part of eyes ( Fig. 1A ), several larger ocelli on lateral margin clearly separated from eye. Organ of Tömösváry positioned in antennal-groove ( Fig. 1B ). Antennae short, protruding to coxa of third leg, not reaching margin of thoracic shield. Antennomere 1 as long as 2+3; antennomeres 2–5 of similar length; antennomere 6 as long as 4+5, but shorter than 1. Antennomeres 1–6 and antennal groove densely pubescent ( Fig. 2A ). Antennomere 6 towards disc with single row of sensilla basiconica ( Fig. 2B–C ). Disc in female with 33/31, in male with 53/55 apical cones, as well as several setae shorter, or as long as, apical cones ( Fig. 2B ). Margin of labrum with setae. GNATHOCHILARIUM. Gnathochilarium typical for members of the order Sphaerotheriida , stipes and lamellamentum densely pubescent ( Figs 1B , 3A, E ). Lateral palpi rudimentary, not distinctly projecting over level of surrounding cuticle, consisting of four sensillae ( Fig.3C ). Inner palpi well developed, with field of sensory-cones and scale-like structures ( Fig. 3D ). Central pads (protuberance of endochilarium) with field of sensory-cones and smaller scale-like structures ( Fig.3E ). Endochilarium with deep triangular incision between central pads, central pads projecting lamella-mentum nearly to base of inner palpi. Fig. 1. Sphaeromimus kalambatritra sp. nov. A . Lateral view. B–D . Volume rendering of head based on µCT-images, female paratype (CASENT 9058301). B . Head, outer fronto lateral view. C . Head, inner posterior view of sclerotized structures only. D . Head, inner posterior view of sclerotized structures and soft structures. E . Segmentation of the left tentorium and nebententorium, frontal view. Abbreviations: aD = antennal disc; atm = antennal muscle; C = condylus of mandible gnathal lobe; eb = epipharyngeal bar; G = gula; gls = gnathal lobe sclerite; hb = hypopharyngeal bar; il = incisura lateralis; iP = inner palpi; lab = labium; LL = lamella lingualis; m = mandibular muscle; mdb = mandibular base; Me = mentum; mgl = mandible gnathal lobe; mp = molar plate; nt = nebententorium; oc = ocelli; PM = paramentum; pp = posterior process; St = stipes of gnathochilarium; td = tendon; tm = tentorial muscle; to = Tömösváry organ; tt = tentorium; I–VI = antennomeres. Lateral endochilarium with densely packed median-pointing setae. Hypopharynx with single row of teeth lateral on both sides, anterior distinctly separated row of 8 teeth ( Fig. 3B ). MANDIBLE. Mandible with typical shape of Sphaerotheriida ( Fig. 3F ), inner tooth 3-combed, with 6 long pectinate lamellae ( Fig. 3G ), condylus with a single, lower step at its apex ( Fig. 3F ). Condylus of mandible mounted against cuticular thickening on lateral margin of labrum, anteriorly of antennae ( Fig. 1C ). Tentorium lacking connection to head capsule via transverse bar. Posterior process triangular and plate-like, laying parallel to plate-like gnathal lobe sclerite. Epipharyngeal bar broad and laminar, running within epipahryngeal wall in direction of mandible condylus, broadening distally. Epipharyngeal bar with short lateral offshoot. Hypopharyngeal bar rod-like, curved within hypopharyngeal wall. Distal tip of hypopharyngeal bar reaches plate-like nebententorium. Nebententorium oriented at right angle to hypopharyngeal bar ( Fig. 1E ). COLLUM. Collum glabrous except for few setae at margins. THORACIC SHIELD. Thoracic shield glabrous, with a chagrinated (leather-like) surface, few setae in grooves. Grooves deep ( Fig. 1A ). BODY RINGS. Tergites 3–12 with a chagrinated surface, small hair only present at posterior margin and in grooves, paratergite tips of mid-body tergites strongly projecting posteriorly ( Fig. 1A ). Tergites with single black locking carina. Fig. 2. Sphaeromimus kalambatritra sp. nov. , SEM of left antenna, ♂, holotype (CASENT 9068297- A). A . Overview. B . Antennal disc, detail. C . Margin of antennal disc, detail. Abbreviations: aD = antennal disc; SB = sensilla basiconica; SC = sensory cone; I–VI = antennomeres. Fig. 3. Sphaeromimus kalambatritra sp. nov., SEM of mouthparts, ♂, holotype (CASENT 9068297- A). A . Gnathochilarium overview, ventral. B . Gnathochilarium overview, frontodorsal. C . Lateral palpus, detail. D . Inner palpus, detail. E . Central pad, detail. F . Right mandible, overview. G . Pectinate lamellae, detail. Abbreviations: C = condyles; cP = central pad; eT = exterior teeth; Hyp = hypopharynx; iP = inner palpus; iT = inner teeth; LL = lamella lingualis; LP = lateral palpus; Me = mentum; mp = molar plate; pl = pectinate lamellae; ST = stipes of gnathochilarium. ANAL SHIELD. Anal shield large, with a steep edge, entirely glabrous, with lighter and darker patches ( Fig. 1A ). Underside with single black locking carina, located closer to tergite margins than to pleurite. ENDOTERGUM. Endotergum inner section with loose field of short, cone-shaped spines and long setae ( Fig. 4A ). Externally 2–3 dense rows of long marginal bristles, slightly protruding above margin of tergite. Bristles covered with small, triangular spines, apically increasing in density ( Fig. 4B ). STIGMATIC PLATES. First stigma-carrying plate with a well-rounded projecting apex, apex covered with tiny spines and setae ( Fig. 5A ). Second plate ( Fig. 5B ) without apex and spines. FIRST PLEURITE. First pleurite laterally well-rounded, without extensions. LEGS. Leg 1 with 2, 2 with 4, 3 with 10 ventral spines and no apical spine. Leg pairs 4–21 with 12–16 ventral spines and an apical spine. Small coxa process developed, covered with field of spines ( Fig.5C ). Femur 2.0, tarsus 3.3 times as long as wide. All podomeres with few setae ( Fig. 5C ). Toothed ridge (cleaning comb?) of femur with>40 teeth, reaching ca. 0.8 times length of femur. Coxa in anterior aspect basally with a row of teeth, similar to “cleaning comb” on femur. Pronounced coxal process absent. MALE GONOPORE. Male gonopore typical for genus, plate glabrous, surrounded by relative large membranous area, few small spines basally of gonopore ( Fig. 5B ). Fig. 4. Sphaeromimus kalambatritra sp. nov., SEM of endotergum, ♂, holotype (CASENT 9068297- A). A . Overview, endotergum. B . Margin of endotergum, detail. Abbreviations: (1) = inner part; (2) = middle part; (3) = outer part. ANTERIOR TELOPOD. Harp carrying five well-developed stridulation ribs ( Fig. 5D ). Shape usual for genus, with setae and tiny teeth at apical margin. Telopoditomere 4 with one large, triangular, apically weakly sclerotized spine and 2 smaller ones ( Fig. 5E–F ); basally on its anterior side with several tiny teeth. Telopoditomere 3 with triangular hump laterally, located close to border to telopoditomere 4 and juxtaposed to process of telopoditomere 2 ( Fig. 5E ). Fig. 5. Sphaeromimus kalambatritra sp. nov., schematic drawing, ♂, holotype (CASENT 9068297-A). A . 1 st left coxae and stigma carrying plate. B . 2nd left coxa and stigma carrying plate. C . 9th left leg. D . Left anterior telopod, anterior view. E . Left anterior telopod, posterior view. F . Left anterior telopod, lateral view. G . Left posterior telopod, anterior view. H . Left posterior telopod, posterior view. Abbreviations: as = anterior spine; cl = claw; ct = crenulated teeth; cx = coxa; fe = femur; gp = gonopore; lb = lobe; pof = postfemur; pref = prefemur; sp = spine; sr = stridulation rib; st = stigmatic plate; syn = syncoxite; ta = tarsus; ti = tibia; vs = ventral spine; 1–4 = podomeres. Scale bars = 1 mm. Fig. 6. Sphaeromimus kalambatritra sp. nov., schematic drawing, ♀, paratype (CASENT 9058301). A . Left vulva (2nd coxa). B . Subanal plate. Abbreviations: cx = coxa; ep = exterior plate; ip = interior plate; op = operculum; pref = prefemur; sr = stridulation ribs. Scale bars = 1 mm. POSTERIOR TELOPOD. Podomere 3 slightly curved, 3.3 times as long as wide, slightly longer than immovable finger ( Fig.5G–H ). Hollowed-out inner margin with two lobes and two spines, posterior aspect with ca 30 small crenulated teeth. Immovable finger straight, basally wide, apically tapering, only apical tip strongly curved towards podomere 3. Podomere 1 with few setae on lateral margin ( Fig. 5H ), podomere 2 only with few setae at anterior side, posterior side glabrous ( Fig. 5G–H ). Podomere 3 with only few marginal setae. FEMALE SEXUAL CHARACTERS. Vulva massive. Operculum well-rounded, protruding up to apical third of prefemur, with few marginal setae ( Fig. 6A ). Subanal plate large, with shallow invagination at apical margin (shape typical for genus). Washboard with ten stridulation ribs on each side, median in anterior half with black triangular field ( Fig.6B ). The female carried several hundred eggs with a diameter of 1.5–1.6 mm . Distribution Only known from the type-locality, the Réserve Spéciale de Kalambatritra, which is a mountainous rainforest ( Fig. 11 ). In the same habitat, two undetermined giant pill-millipede species of the genus Zoosphaerium occur sympatrically.