| Arthrosphaera | |
|---|---|
 | |
| An Arthrosphaera fumosa from India. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Diplopoda |
| Order: | Sphaerotheriida |
| Family: | Arthrosphaeridae |
| Genus: | Arthrosphaera Pocock, 1895 [1] |
Arthrosphaera is a genus of pill millipedes in the family Arthrosphaeridae, found in Africa, Madagascar, the Western Ghats of India, and Sri Lanka. [2] [3] [4]
Sphaerotheriida is an order of millipedes in the infraclass Pentazonia, sometimes known as giant pill millipedes. They inhabit Southern Africa, Madagascar, South and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Like the Northern Hemisphere pill millipedes of the order Glomerida, these millipedes can roll into a ball when disturbed. When they are rolled-up, most sphaerotheriidans reach a maximum size of a cherry or golf ball, but some species from Madagascar can even reach the size of an orange. When rolled-up, predators are unable to unravel giant pill millipedes since the margins of their second and last dorsal plates fit perfectly into one another, creating a sealed ball. A few giant pill millipede species are able to produce sound, the only millipedes known to do this. This order of millipedes is also unique in that some African species are used for medicinal purposes.
Sphaeromimus, or the chirping giant pill millipedes, is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to southeastern Madagascar. Though described in 1902, the genus was up to 2005 known from a single male specimen, whose appearance was so unusual that the authors suspected a mislabeled giant pill-millipede from India. Their unusual and distinct morphology includes well-developed stridulation organs, probably as devices for courtship. These are the male ‘harp’ and the female ‘washboard’, which contain more stridulation ribs than in other members of the order Sphaerotheriida. They have a closer affinity with the Indian genus Arthrosphaera than to other Malagasy genera, though all belong to the Arthrosphaeridae.
Arthrosphaeridae is a family of giant pill millipedes that are found in Madagascar, the Western Ghats of India, and Sri Lanka. The largest pill-millipede in the world, Zoosphaerium neptunus belongs to this family and is known to swarm at certain times of the year.
Cingalosoma anderssoni is a species of millipedes in the family Lankasomatidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. It is a monotypic species.
Lankasoma brincki is a species of millipedes in the family Lankasomatidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Termitodesmus ceylonicus is a species of millipede in the family Glomeridesmidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Anoplodesmus saussurii is a species of millipedes in the family Paradoxosomatidae. It was once thought endemic to Sri Lanka, but it was later found in Fiji and Mauritius.
Arthrosphaera attemsi, is a species of pill millipedes in the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is native to India and Sri Lanka.
Arthrosphaera brandtii, the Tanzanian pill bug millipede, is a species of pill millipede in the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is found in many African and Asian countries including India and Sri Lanka. Mature individuals of the species reach 3–4 cm in length. Adults are pale brown in colour with black lines in between the segments, whereas juveniles are dark brown. The species is one of the most commonly kept giant pill millipede species within the exotic pet keeping hobby. An introduced population of Arthrosphaera brandtii exists on the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania.
Arthrosphaera corrugata, is a species of pill millipede in the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka
Arthrosphaera dentigera, is a species of pill millipede in the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Arthrosphaera inermis, is a species of pill millipede in the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is native to India and Sri Lanka.
Arthrosphaera leopardina, is a species of pill millipedes in the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Arthrosphaera noticeps, is a species of pill millipedes in the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Arthrosphaera pilifera, is a species of pill millipede in the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Arthrosphaera ruginosa, is a species of pill millipede in the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Arthrosphaera rugosa, is a species of pill millipede in the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Arthrosphaera versicolor, is a species of pill millipede in the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Carlogonus robustior, is a species of round-backed millipede in the family Harpagophoridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
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