MYRIAPODOLOGICA Virginia Museum of Natural History Vol. 7, No. 8 ISSN 0163-5395 15 December 2001 Synopsis of Zodesmus^ a genus of Papuan millipeds (Polydesmida: Platyrhacidae: Psaphodesmini) by Richard L. Hoffman ABSTRACT Zodesmus is redefined on the basis of several gonopod characters, and eight species listed fi-om the generic range in the Papuan region. The synonymy of this name and Eutrachyrhachis is discussed; several species are illustrated, and the new species Z astromontis is described trom the Finim tel region of Papua New Guinea. The present part of an ongoing treatment of the platyrhacid tribe Psaphodesmini is devoted to a brief overview of the genus Zodesmus, set up by Cook in 1 896 and thus one of the oldest named groups within the tribe. The original generic concept was based on the single species Stenonia tuberosa Pocock (1893), and justified by a succinct verbal diagnosis, one half of a key couplet: “Copulatoty legs with three prongs; sterna not spined, lateral margins of carina with 4-6 rounded tubercles; posterior corner of carinae not produced into a sharp spur; anterior and posterior margins of carinae smooth; Genus Zodesmus, type Z. iiiberosiis (Poc.), Ki Islands.” Without illustrations, any generic name proposed with such a diagnosis was considered to be essentially a nomen nudum by Graf Attems, at whose hands the family Platyrhacidae experienced virtually most of its subsequent development. His definitive monograph in 1938 referred 90% of the known species to a single genus, cleft into five subgenera, and Zodesmus remained an obscure synonym until 1962 when, after having studied several relevant species, I proposed to revive it as a valid taxon. My 1980 “Classification” again listed Zodesmus, this time with Pocock’s genus Eutrachyrhachis entered as a junior synonym but without a word of Scanned with permission by Virginia Tech Insect Systematics Group 2014 (www.jointedlegs.org) 60 Myriapodologica explanation. Having the opportunity to renew a long dormant interest in the tribe Psapliodesmini, as expressed in the form of short generic revisions, 1 belatedly take the opportuity to document my current perception of Zodesmus as another increment on tlie way to an eventual treatment of the entire family Platyrhacidae. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS For the loan of, or access to, relevant material consulted during the preparation of this review, 1 am indebted to Keith Hyatt, The Natural History Museum, London (BMNH), Dr. Bernd Hauser, Museum d’Histoiie Naturelle, Geneve (MLING) and Dr. Gerhard Pretzmann, Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna (NMW). Mr. Phillip J. Chapman generously presented me with numerous specimens collected by him during the 1975 British Speleological Expedition to Papua New Guinea. TAXONOMY Family Platyrhacidae Tribe Psaphodesmini This taxon was proposed as a subfamily by Cook (1 896) for the reception of the three new genera Psaphodesmus, Zodesmus, and Derodesmus. It was not sub- sequently recognized until 1980, when 1 assigned it tribal rank, adding the later- proposed genera Fleorhacus^ Parazodesmus, Ozorhacus, and ETythrhacus, and removing Derodesmus to the category of “uncertain status”. All of these nominal taxa are confined to the Papuan Region, that is, the islands east of Wallace's Line. Many species were added during the period 1899-1945, largely by Attems and Cliamberlin, and mostly under tlie name Platyrhacus. In 1938 Psaphodesmus resurfaced as a subgenus of that all-embracing name, in a general way correspond- ing to tlie content of Psaphodesmini as I now define it. The platyrhacid fauna of New Guinea is extensive and diverse, and application of a fairly inclusive generic concept based on gonopod characters shows promise in the direction of an adequate synthesis. TTie inaugural stage of a tribal reclassification appeared in 1997, as a revision of the genus Parazodesmus, in which a proposed symbolic nomenclature for the various elements of the gonopod telopoditc was outlined. The point was made, that even with a stringent generic concept, species could be distinguished by variations in body form as well as within the context of gonopod fonn. Extension of the basic premise into related species has pennilted recognition of numerous nominal genera, although in many cases restudy of type material has been a prerequisite, and continues to impede a desired rate of progress. Synopses of Ozorhacus, Psaphodesmus, and several other genera are currently in Hoffman: Zodesmus 61 preparation, in addition to the genus treated herein. Several additional new genera will also be required to accomodate various extremes of psaphodesmid diversity. Genus Zodesmus Cook Zodesmus Cook, 1 896, Brandtia, 1:3. Monobasic. Type species; Stenonia tuberosa Pocock, 1 893, by monotypy and original designation. Zodesmus: Hoffman, 1962, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist; (13) 5: 23; 1980, Classification of the Diplopoda, p. 163. Eutrachyrhachis Pocock, 1897, Ann. & Mag. Nat Hist., (6) 20; 441. Proposed with two new species. Type species: E. victoriae Pocock, by original designation. Synonymized by Hoffman, 1980. Definition: A genus of small to moderate-sized, coarsely tuberculate species in which the gonopod telopodite is not torsate dextrally as in other psaphodesmine taxa, the apical half curved mesad and the entire length of the prostatic groove visible in mesal aspect, Gonopod processes b and e missing, process c larger than a and Fig. 1. Zodesmus astromontis, new species. Distal half of gonopods in natural resting position, ventral aspect. 62 Myriapodologica broadened distally; process d long, slender, and lying parallel to a for most of its length. Gonopod fommia: (a, C) D. Coxae with several dispersed, simple setae only. Gonopods long, in situ extending over sternum of segment 6, the apices overlapping as shown in Figure 1. Distribution: The known members of this genus are restricted to New Guinea, and the Kei and Aru archipelagos, SvNONYMYPocock’s taxoiiomic work was typically so thorough and careful, it is the more remarkable that his 1897 paper on “New Genera and Species of Millipedes of the family Platyrrhachidae. . was largely faithful to the title and referred to only a few species already known from the Indoaustralian Region, As a result a number of species which might have been placed in some of the new genera were passed by in silence, including many named by Pocock himself Although five of the genera proposed by Cook in 1 896 were admitted, Zodesmus was not, nor were the claims of Z tuberosus to be considered taken into account with the proposal of Eutrachyrhachis, for what reason I cannot surmise. In any event, I think that the figures given here for tuberosus and margariiatus support my contention that these species are congeneric. Again, since Pocock departed from his normal procedures by designating E. victoriae - known only from a female specimen - as type species of Eutrachyrhachis^ I am compelled to rely on margariiatus as a de facto re- presentative of that generic name although this attaches an element of doubt to its disposal as a junior subjective synonym oi Zodesmus. Remarks: My present concept of Zodesmus is somewhat different and more exclusive than proposed in my 1962 paper, emphasizing now the presence of simple coxae seta only, the complete lack of torsion in the telopodite and the distinct enlargement of process c. Species: A considerable number of names have been proposed for species having those three characters, I list them below without prejudice concerning their actual taxonomic status. Some undescribed forms are known, but I introduce here only one, which by its geographic location seems unlikely to become a junior synonym. Clearly a revision of Zodesmus is a desideratum for some future investigator, but it is not premature to note that among the nominal species, process c takes two forms: one (Fig. 8) in which it is relatively short and broad {margaritatus, lobophorus), the other (Fig. 3) in which it is long and apically expanded (described by Chamberlin as “malleiform”), which characterizes all of the others. Material examined by me, and inferences from the literature, suggest that differences between species may be more evidently expressed in peripheral details than in gonopod structure, mandating adequate illustration of paranotal shape and of dorsal ornamentation. Hoffman: Zodesmus 63 a. Tuberosus Group Zodesmus tuberosus (Pocock) Figs. 2-4 Stenonia tiiberosa Pocock, 1893, Ann. Mag. Nat Hist., (6) 15: 131, pi. 9, figs. 3-3 b. Male holotype (BMNH) from “Ki-Dulau” [?= Kei Dulah, Kei Archipelago, Indonesia], Zodesmus tuberosus'. Cook, 1896, Brandtia, 1:3. Cyrtorachis trifidus Silvestri, 1897, Abh, Ber. Zool. Anthr.-Ethn. Mus. Dresden, 6(9): 13, fig. 17-19. Male holotype (Mus. Dresden, destroyed) from Aru island, Indonesia. Synonymized by Carl, 1912. Platyrrhacus tuberosus: Attems, 1899, Denks. Akad. Wien, 69: 327. Platyrrhacus tuberosus: Carl, 1912, Abh. Senckenberg. Naturf Ges., 34: 270. Platyrhacus (Pleorhacus) tuberosus: Attems, 1914, Arch. Naturg., 80 (A4): 270. Platyrhacus (Pleorhacus) tuberosus: Attems, 1932, Result sci. Voy. Ind. or. Neerl. 3 (12): Platyrhacus (Psaphodesmus) tuberosus: Attems, 1938, Das Tierreich, 69: 275, fig. 312. Dark brown dorsal ly, antennae, legs, metatergal tubercles, and lateral margin of paranota yellowish. Length to 45 mm, width to 7.5 mm, the females somewhat larger than males. Collum granulate, with a row of enlarged tubercles along anterior and posterior edges; metaterga granular, with three transverse rows of small, equally- sized rounded tubercles, generally 3-3, 5-5, and 6-6. Paranota moderately declivous in males, more so in females, the dorsum thus notably convex. Lateral edges with 4- 7 marginal dentations, without incision near midlength (Fig. 4). Sterna glabrous, with small subcoxal knobs. Gonopods as in Figs. 2 and 3, distal ends of telopodites curved mesad or even sliglitly ventromesad, the prostatic groove visible for its entire length in mesal aspect. Process c elongated, curved, subapically broadened, with acuminate tip. My concept of tuberosus is derived from topotypic materia! (MHNG) labeled only “Kei”, but presumably that from the Merton Expedition which Carl had compared with, and found "Vollkommen identisch” with, the type of C. trifidus. In light of better knowledge of specific differences in platyrhacids, direct comparison of the types of tuberosus, trifidus, and principalis seems necessary to confirm the status of these three nominal species. Although the holotype of trifidus is thought to have been destroyed during World War II, the list of Silvestri types at Portici (Viggiani, 1973) lists a syntype specimen, perhaps a male, in that collection. The species is known to me only from the Kei and Aru archipelagos. 64 Myriapodo I ogica Zodesmiis steniotrichus (Attems), new combination Figs. 5, 6 Platyrhacus (Pleorhacus) sternotrichus Attems, 1932, Result, sci. Voy. Ind. Or. Need., 3 (12): 17, figs. 25-27. Hoiotype (Naturh.Mus.Wien) from Sakoemi, New Guinea. Platyrhacus (Psaphodesmus) sternotrichus: Attems, 1938, Das Tierreicii, 69: 274, fig. 311. Dark reddish brown, lateral half of paranoia yellowish brown. Width 7.5 mm. Lateral ends of collum rounded, directed obliquely ventrad. 2nd segment not wider than 3rd. Paranota set high on sides and almost horizontal, middorsum only slightly convex. Anterior and posterior edges of paranota smooth, lateral edge with 4-7 large tubercular dentations; ozopore peritreme set about its own diameter from the nearest lateral indentation. Metaterga granular, with three transverse rows of tubercles. Epiproct with compound setae. Sterna finely granular and setose, a unique condition in the genus. Gonopods (Figs. 5, 6) similar to those of tuberosus, process c a little longer and more enlarged apically. This species is known to me only from its type locality. Zodesmus principalis (Attems), new combination Platyrhacus (Pleorhacus) principalis Attems, 1932, Result, sci. Voy. Tnd. or. Neerl., 3 (12); 18, figs. 28-31,. 51. Hoiotype (Naturh. Mus. Wien) from Manoembai, Aru Islands, Indonesia.. Platyrhacus (Psaphodesmus) principalis: Attems, 1938, Das Tierreich, 69: 274, fig. 311. Piceus, lateral half of the paranota (or only the larger tubercles) yellowish. Length 40-45 mm, width 6. 7-9.0 mm. Lateral ends of collum rounded and declivent.2nd segment notably broader than the 3rd. Paranota set high on sides, subhorizontal, anterior edge smooth, lateral with 6-8 tubercular dentations, no evident indentation near midlength. Metaterga finely granular, tubercles of the first two rows very inconspicuous and notably smaller than those in the 3rd. Sterna finely and densely granulate, without setae. Gonopod (Attems, 1932, fig. 30) similar to those of (uberosus, but process d shown as widely separated from the common stem (a+c) instead of closely parallel to it. The broad 2nd segment, reduced dorsal tuberculation, and orientation of gonopod process d suggest that principalis is specifically distinct from tuberosus. Hoffman: Zodesmus 65 Zodesmus fratrellus (Chamberlin), new combination Plalyrhacus (Psaphodesmus) fratrellus Chamberlin, 1945, American Mus. Nov., 1282: 19, figs. 87, 88. Male holotype (AMNH) from “North New Guinea: [now Irian Jaya, Indonesia]: Prauenbivak.” Coloration not documented. Width of male 7 mm. Collum convex, discal surface with four transverse rows of uniform-sized tubercles. Dorsum convex, the paranota declivous, metaterga granular with three rows of widely spaced tubercles, those in 3rd row largest. Anterior and posterior edges of paranota finely crenulate- denticulate, posterior corners becoming acute from 5th segment; lateral edge with shallow indentation at midlength. Sterna without subcoxal spines or knobs. Gonopod differing from other species in that the telopodite is notably curved mesad at its midlength, and the common stem (a+c) seems substantially longer than usual, with process d much more widely separated from it.. The curved form of the telopodite suggests that this species may warrant placement in a monotypic group, but as process c appears to resemble that occurring in tuberosus^ provisional location here is justified. b. Margaritatus Group Zodesmus margaritatus (Pocock), new combination Figs. 7-8 Eiitrachyrhachis margaritatus Pocock, 1 897, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., (6) 20: 442, figs. 16- 16a. Two male synypes (BMNH 1896.12.20.12-13) from “Victoria Mountain, New Guinea”; no. 1 896. 1 2.20. 1 2 has been labeled as lectotype. Platyrhacus {Pleorhacus) margaritatus: Attems, 1914, Arch. Naturg. 80(A4): 268). Platyrhacus {Pleorhacus) margaritatus: Attems, 1932, Result, sci. Voy. Ind. or, Neerl., 3(12):4. Platyrhacus {Psaphodesmus) margaritatus: Attems, 1938, Das Tierreich, 69: 276, Color black, the lateral paranotal dentations and metatergal tubercles clear and shiny. Length 43 mm, width of 5th segment 7 mm. Collum convex, disc medially concave, tumid on each side, granulose, with four transverse rows of tubercles. Para- nota of anterior segments declivous, others less so, all coarsely granulate dorsally with intermixed larger tubercles, anterior and posterior edges serrate or denticulate, lateral edges with 2 to 4 large blunt dentations between those on the corners. Metaterga with three rows of tubercles, those of the 3rd row largest Sterna granulate, without setae. 66 Myriapodologica Gonopods (Figs. 1, 8) with telopodite relatively stout, its distal third less turned ventrad than in tuberosus, process c short, broad, not extended beyond curvature of a in dorsal aspect (Fig. 8). If the type locality is taken to be the well-known Mount Victoria in the Owen Stanley range of eastern Papua New Guinea, a generic distribution throughout the length of the island is defined by known localities. Zodesmus lobophorus (Attems), new combination Figs. 9-10 Platyrhacus {Pleorhacus) lobophorus Attems, 1914, Arch. Naturg., 80 (A4): 270, figs. 53-55. Male syntype (NMW), female syntype (ZMB) from “Berg am Sepikstrom, 1570 m, Deutsch Neu Guinea.” Platyrhacus {Psaphodesmus') lobophorus: Attems, 1938, Das Tierreich, 69: 272, figs. 307-308. Uniformly yellowish- to chestnut-brown, paranota somewhat lighter in males, in females only the marginal dentations and tubercles lighter. Length not recorded, width of males 7 mm, of females, 9 mm. Antennae long and slender, extending back to posterior edge of 3rd segment. Collum narrow, lateral ends acute, surface granulate with scattered tubercles, a row of close-set tubercles along anterior margin. Dorsum only slightly convex, paranota of males large and nearly horizontal, slightly more declivous in females. Metaterga granulate, with three transverse rows of tubercles, increasing in size from 1st to 3rd, those of 1 St row indistinct. Paranota posterior to 4th divided into two acute lateral lobes by deep midlength incision, at the base of which the ozopores are located; anterior and posterior edges prominently crenulated . Sterna granulate, without setae or subcoxal spines, Gonopods (Figs. 9, 10) characterized by the large, in dorsal aspect nearly square, distally truncate shape of process c. The exact location of the type locality is uncertain. The Sepik River achieves an elevation of 1570 m fairly near its headwaters in the region between the Thurnwald and Star ranges, in extreme southwestern West Sepik Province.. 1 have material from the same general area (vicinity of Telefomin) that appears to be closely related to, if not conspecific with lobophorus, although the paranota do not agree in detail with Attems’ description. Zodesmus atopogon (Chamberlin), new combination Platyrrhacus atopogon Chamberlin, 1920, Bull. Mus. Comp, Zook, 54: 139. Male holotype (MCZ) from Manokwari, Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Platyrhacus atopogon: Attems, 1938, Das Tierreich, 69: 286 (as “Unsicher Art”). Hoffman: Zodesmus 67 Metaterga uniform light brown, dorsum of prozona deeper blackish brown. Legs and antennae paler, testaceous proximally. Length 37 mm, width 6.5 mm, Collum convex, granulate, with four transverse rows of tubercles, those of the anterior series closely spaced, the others widely separated. Metazona and paranota densely granulate, woith three transverse rows of prominent and widely separated, those of 3rd row largest and projecting beyond caudal edge of segment. Chamberlin’s verbal account of the gonopods clearly depicts the structure typical of this genus: “At the beginning of the distal curve [of the telopodite] a flat, slender acute blade [d] arises which runs mesad and curves but little beyond its base. Dorsad of this the principal strongly curving branch divides near the middle of its length, sending caudad a branch [c] which abruptly expands beyond its base into a plate malleiform in outline, the plate giving rise from its ectocaudal corner to a slender acute style; the process beyond this branch [a] continues as a slenderly pointed style the tip of which curves back ectad. . The occurrence of this species at Manokwari suggests that it is probably not a synonym of the several names proposed by Pocock, Attems, and Chamberlin him- self, from more distant localities in New Guinea.. Zodesmus astromontisy new species Figs. 11-16 Material: Male holotype, male and female paratype (VMNH) from Kumsop tern cave at Finim tel. Western Province, Papua New Guinea; 16 August 1975, P. J. Chapman (British Speleological Expedition), leg.. Name: For the Star Mountain range, immediately southward of the Finim tel valley. Diagnosis: The smallest known member of the genus. Collum with four transverse series of low, flat areas of irregular size and shape; tubercles of 3rd row of metaterga much larger than those of the rows 1 and 2, hemispherical in shape. Sterna with distinct subcoxai spines. Process c of gonopods a large rounded lobe, constricted at base. Holotype: Adult male, length ca. 28 mm (broken), maximum width 5.3 mm at midbody. Color of preserved specimen dorsally light testaceous brown, probably reddish-brown in life, the paranota and epiproct lighter, a pale pinkish-gray; dorsal tubercles testaceous yellow; legs and antennae clear yellow, becoming darker distally. Labrum and clypeus nearly smooth, genal convexities and epicranial surfaces indistinctly granular; antennae moderately stout, reaching back to rear of 2nd paranota. Collum (Fig. 1 1) strongly convex, laterad to tubercles the surface vertical with small declivous lateral lobes; disk with a row of contiguous flatten areas along anterior margin and 4+4 large, elevated subovoid tubercles along posterior; the 68 Myriapodologica surface between with two irregular series of low tubercles of variable shape; all dorsal ornamentation closely spaced, virtually contiguous. Metazona of subsequent segments with paranota initially declivous, b midbody becoming nearly horizontal but set low on sides so dorsum is strongly convex, the surface granular with three rows of large tubercles, those of the first two rows usually 4+4 and subequal in size, those in 3rd row much larger and very high and prominent, typically 3+3, not projecting beyond edge of segment, the latter with a single row of small rounded tubercles. Paranota moderate in size, anterior and posterior edges notably crenulate and ciliate (Fig. 13), lateral edge with large incision at midlength, the ozopore at base of the sinus and facing laterad. Dorsal tubercles of posteriormost metaterga smaller, more irregular, and all about subequal in size. Epiproct of the shape illustrated (Fig. 14), dorsal surface nearly flat and smooth. Setae all simple. Hypoproct trapezoidal, paramedian tubercles conical, the edge between them slightly concave. Sterna granular, narrow, about equal to a coxal length, and produced upward toward coxal bases, produced into a small but distinct projection at each coxal condyle. Sides of metazona and underside of paranota with small acute tubercles, a single row of slightly larger rounded tubercles along the posterior margin. Stigmata unusually large, auriculate, the surface very finely granular, nearly as large as the coxal socket, the edges standing free of metazonal surface, both stigmata subequal in size and shape. Legs long, most of femora visible from above when extended, virtually glabrous except for 10-12 scattered setae dorsally on tarsi. Coxae somewhat incrassate ventrally and extended distad a little beyond prefemoral articulation. Gonopods (Figs, 15, 16) similar to those of margaritatus and lohophorus, but outline of process c and arched curvature of a appear to be characteristic . Paratype: Adult female, length ca 41 mm (broken), width 7.5 mm. Color much more defined than in male, dorsally a rich maroon, antennae and legs light brown, labrum yellow. Generally similar to male in structure but paranota smaller and more declivous, resulting in a more convex body form, dorsal tubercles similar to those of male but not so high. Sterna broader, nearly equal to femoral length and almost flat, without median impression and subcoxal spines smaller. Stigmata smaller than in male, and coxae not modified. R£MARiCS;The sexual dimorphism in size seems noteworthy. Future work with platyrhacids should devote attention to the structure of the stigmata. Although their increased size appears to be a feature for the entire family, it is possible that diagnostic correlations can be identified at lower levels. c. Group position unknown Zodesmus victoriae (Pocock), new combination Eutrachyrhachis victoriae Pocock, 1897, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., 6 (20): 442. Female holotype (BMNH) from Victoria Mountain, New Guinea. Hoffman: Zodesmus 69 Platyrhacus (Psaphodesmus) victoriae: Attems, Das Tierreich, 69: 281 (as “unsicher All”). “ Colour black, apices of keels yellowish red; the tubercles clearer yellowish. Dorsal tubercles clearer than in margaritatm^ margins of keels strongly bidentate, with usually one or more small tubercles betw'een them; the anterior tooth much the largest on the second, third, and fourth segments, the posterior much the largest on the sixteennth, seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth. Caudal process more ovate than in margaritatus, the posteripor border produced some distancebehind the posterior lateral tubercles. “Measurements in millimetres, - Total length 55; width of second segment 7.5, of fifth 9.” Placement of this species in Zodesmus is contingent upon the correctness of Pocock’s belief that it is congeneric with margaritatus. If not, Eutrachyrhachls may need to be revived for at least this one species. REFERENCES Attems, C. 1914. Die indo-australischen Myriopoden. Arch. Naturg., 80 (A4): 1- 398, figs. M24. Attems, C. 1 932. Resultats scientifiques du Voyage aux Indes Orientales Neerland- aises de LL.AA.RJl. le Prince et la Princesse Leopold de Belgique, publics par V. van Straelen. Mem. Mus. Roy. Hist. Natur. Belgique, 3 (12): 3-34, figs. 1-59. Attems, C. 1938. MyriapodaS. Polydesmoidea II. Fam. Leptodesmidae, Platyrhach- idae, Oxydesmidae, Gomphodesmidae. Das Tierreich, 69: 1-487, figs. 1-509. Chamberlin, R. V. 1920. The Myriapoda of the Australian Region. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 54: 1-234. Chamberlin, R, V. 1 945. On some diplopods from the Indo-australian Archipelago. American Mus. Nov., 1282: 1-43, figs. 1-137. Cook, O, F. 1896, A synopsis of Malayan Platyrhacidae. Brandtia, 1 : 1-4. Hoffman, R. L. 1962. On the classification and nomenclature of some Asiatic platyrhacid Diplopoda. Ann. & Mag. Nat, Hist., (13) 5: 17-25, figs, 1-3, Hoffman, R. L. 1980. Classification of the Diplopoda. Museum d’Histoire Naturelle, Geneve, pp. 1-237. Hoffman, R. L. 1997. Synopsis of the milliped genus Parazodesmus (Polydesmida; Platyrhacidae). Steenstrupia, 23: 21-36, figs. 1-24. 70 Myriapodologica Pocock, R. 1. 1893, Report on the Myriapoda of the Challenger Expedition, with remarks upon the fauna of Bermuda. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., (6): 11: 121-142. Pocock, R. I. 1 897. New genera and species of millipedes of the family Platyrhach- idae from the Indo- and Austro-Malayan subregions, contained in the collec tion of the British Museum. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., (6) 20: 427-446, figs. 1-19. Viggiani, G. 1973. Le specie descritte da Filippo Silvestri. Boll. Lab. Entom. Agr. Portici, 30: 351-417. Address of the author: Dr. Richard L. Hoffman Virginia Museum of natural History Martinsville, Virginia 241 12, USA Hoffman: Zodesmus 71 Figs. 2-4. Zodesmus tuberosus (Pocock), topotype male from “Kei” islands. 2. Left gonopod, mesal aspect. 3. Left gonopod, dorsolateral aspect. 4. Left side of segment 10, dorsal aspect. 72 Myriapodologica Figs. 5, 6. Zodesmus stenotrichus (Attems), syntype from Sakoemi, Irian Jaya. 5. Left gonopod, mesal aspect. 6. Left gonopod^ dorsolateral aspect. Hoffman; Zodesmus 73 Figs. 7, 8. Zodesmus margaritatus (Pocock), lectotype. 7. Left gonopod, mesal aspect. 8, Left gonopod, dorsolateral aspect. 74 Myri apodologica Figs. 9, 10. Zodesmus lobophorus (Attems), syntype male from upper Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. 9. Left gonopod, mesal aspect. 1 0. Left gonopod, dorsolateral aspect. Hofftnan: Zodesmus 15 14 Figs. 1 1“14, Zodesmus astromontis, n. sp., holotype. 1 1. Left side of collum, dordsal aspect. 12. Left side of segment 10, dorsal aspect, 13. Left paranotum of segment 10, enlarged to show crenulation of edges. 14. Epiproct and paranotum of 1 9th segment, dorsal aspect. 76 Myriapodologica Figs. 15, 16. Zodesmus astromontis, n. sp., holotype. 15. Left gonopod, mesal aspect. 16. Left gonopod, dorsolateral aspect.