| Blaniulidae | |
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| The spotted snake millipede, Blaniulus guttulatus | |
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| Family: | Blaniulidae C. L. Koch, 1847 |
Blaniulidae is a family of millipedes in the order Julida. Members are long and thin, with a length:width ratio of up to 30:1. Eyes may be present or absent, and members have distinctive spots on each segment: the ozadenes or odiferous glands. [1] The family contains the following genera: [2]
Millipedes are a group of arthropods that are characterised by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments; they are known scientifically as the class Diplopoda, the name being derived from this feature. Each double-legged segment is a result of two single segments fused together. Most millipedes have very elongated cylindrical or flattened bodies with more than 20 segments, while pill millipedes are shorter and can roll into a ball. Although the name "millipede" derives from the Latin for "thousand feet", no known species has 1,000; the record of 750 legs belongs to Illacme plenipes. There are approximately 12,000 named species classified into 16 orders and around 140 families, making Diplopoda the largest class of myriapods, an arthropod group which also includes centipedes and other multi-legged creatures.
Armadillidiidae is a family of woodlice, a terrestrial crustacean group in the order Isopoda. Unlike members of other woodlice families, members of this family can roll into a ball, an ability they share with the outwardly similar but unrelated pill millipedes and other animals. This ability gives woodlice in this family their common names of pill bugs or roly polies. Other common names include slaters and doodle bugs. The best known species in the family is Armadillidium vulgare, the common pill bug. Pill bugs are native to Europe, wherefrom they were introduced to the Americas.
Pill millipedes are any members of two living orders of millipedes, often grouped together into a single superorder, Oniscomorpha. The name Oniscomorpha refers to the millipedes' resemblance to certain woodlice (Oniscidea), also called pillbugs or "roly-polies". However, millipedes and woodlice are not closely related ; rather, this is a case of convergent evolution.
Glomerida is an order of pill-millipedes found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. They superficially resemble pill-bugs or woodlice, and can enroll into a protective ball. They have twelve body segments, 17 to 19 pairs of legs, and males have enlarged rear legs involved in mating. The order includes about 30 genera and at least 280 species, including Glomeris marginata, the common European pill-millipede. The order contains members in Europe, South-east Asia and the Americas from California to Guatemala. Although historically considered closely related with the similar sphaerotheriidans that also enroll, some DNA evidence suggest they may be more closely related to glomeridesmidans, a poorly known order that does not enroll.
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.
Julida is an order of millipedes. Members are mostly small and cylindrical, typically ranging from 10–120 millimetres (0.39–4.72 in) in length. Eyes may be present or absent, and in mature males of many species, the first pair of legs is modified into hook-like structures. Additionally, both pairs of legs on the 7th body segment of males are modified into gonopods.
Proteroiulus fuscus is a species of millipede in the family Blaniulidae which can be found everywhere in Europe except for Albania, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Romania, San Marino, Vatican City, all states of former Yugoslavia and some European islands.
Boreoiulus dollfusi is a species of millipede in the Blaniulidae family that can be found in Belgium, France and Spain.
Blaniulus guttulatus, commonly known as the spotted snake millipede is a species of millipede in the family Blaniulidae that can be found in Central and Western Europe. It has been introduced in North American countries such as the United States, Canada, Saint Helena, and Tristan da Cunha, as well as Tasmania and Norfolk Island, Australia.
Blaniulus lorifer is a species of millipede in the Blaniulidae family that can be found in France and Spain.
Blaniulus mayeti is a species of millipede in the Blaniulidae family that is endemic to France.
Blaniulus orientalis is a species of millipede in the Blaniulidae family that can be found in France and Spain.
Blaniulus troglobius is a species of millipede in the Blaniulidae family that is endemic to France.
Blaniulus troglodites is a species of millipede in the Blaniulidae family that can be found in France, Spain, and on the island of Sardinia.
Blaniulus lichtensteini is a species of millipede in the Blaniulidae family that is endemic to France.
Boreoiulus is a genus of millipedes in the family Blaniulidae, containing the following species:
Proteroiulus is a genus of millipedes in the family Blaniulidae, containing the following species:
Siphoniulus is a poorly known genus of millipede containing only two living species: S. alba from Indonesia, and S. neotropicus from Mexico and Guatemala. An additional two fossil species are known from Cretaceous amber. Siphoniulus species are the only members of the family Siphoniulidae and order Siphoniulida, making Siphoniulida the smallest millipede order. Few specimens are known, and their classification is contentious, although most recent studies place them as basal members of the Helminthomorpha.
Stemmiulida is an order of millipedes consisting of approximately 130 species, reaching up to 50 mm in length. It contains a single family, Stemmiulidae.
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