Biology:Spirobolida

From HandWiki
Short description: Order of millipedes

Spirobolida
NarceusAmericanusMillipede.jpg
Narceus americanus
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Diplopoda
Superorder: Juliformia
Order: Spirobolida
Bollman, 1893
Families

12: See text

Synonyms

Anocheta Cook, 1895 Haplogonophora Brolemann, 1931

Spirobolida is an order of "round-backed" millipedes containing approximately 500 species in 12 families.[1] Its members are distinguished by the presence of a "pronounced suture that runs "vertically down the front of the head".[2] Most of the species live in the tropics, and many are brightly coloured.[2] Mature males have two pairs of modified legs, the gonopods, consisting of the 8th and 9th leg pair: the posterior gonopods are used in sperm-transfer while the anterior gonopods are fused into a single plate-like structure.[3]

Front and rear views of the anterior (A, B) and posterior left (C, D) gonopods of a spirobolidan

The families are divided into two suborders:[1]

Suborder Spirobolidea

Suborder Trigoniulidea

Select species

References

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q3720278 entry