| Tectosphaera | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Diplopoda |
| Order: | Glomerida |
| Family: | Glomeridae |
| Genus: | Tectosphaera Mauriès, 2005 |
| Species: | T. vicenteae |
| Binomial name | |
| Tectosphaera vicenteae Mauriès, 2005 | |
Tectosphaera is a genus of pill millipede found in Northwestern Iberia. [1] It currently contains only one known species, Tectosphaera vicenteae. [2]
Tectosphaera millipedes are approximately 3-4 mm in length. [1] The thoracic shield has a lateral circular groove to accommodate the lateral tips of the tergites when the millipede is curled up in a defensive posture. The head possesses a Y-shaped crest and antennal grooves.
Like those of other Doderiinae millipedes, male Tectosphaera millipedes have telopods at the 19th pair of legs, the femur of which bears a long, internal distal process on its caudal surface. [3] The 17th pair of legs possesses non-rounded syncoxal lobes and 3-segmented telopodites.
The tergites of Tectosphaera millipedes are smooth, without tranverse ridges. They are densely and strongly punctuated. The penultimate 11th tergite extends into a posterior pseudo-telson. The corselet possesses hollow lateral lobes, similar to those of the Trachysphaera genus.
The name Tectosphaera is derived from the Latin tecto, which means roof, referring to the shape of the penultimate tergite, and sphaera, meaning ball. [3]
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