| Zephronia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Zephronia siamemsis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Diplopoda |
| Order: | Sphaerotheriida |
| Family: | Zephroniidae |
| Genus: | Zephronia Gray, 1832 [1] |
| Type species | |
| Zephronia ovalis Gray, 1832 [2] | |
Zephronia is a genus of giant pill millipedes in the family Zephroniidae [3] with more than 50 described species [4] native to Myanmar, India, Vietnam, Thailand, [5] Cambodia, and Laos. [4]
It was published by George Robert Gray in 1832. The type species is Zephronia ovalis Gray, 1832. [2] [6]
Species within this genus include: [3] [7] [5]
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.
Sphaerotheriidae is a family of giant pill millipedes of the class Diplopoda. Millipedes of this family are distributed in southern Africa.
Glomerida is an order of pill-millipedes found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. Also known as northern pill millipedes, 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.
Desmoxytes, whose species are commonly known as the dragon millipedes, is a genus of millipedes of the family Paradoxosomatidae found in Southeast Asia. The genus was described by Ralph Vary Chamberlin in 1923, and reviewed by Sergei Golovatch and Henrik Enghoff in 1994. At least 18 species are known from to Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. One species, D. planata, has also been observed in Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands, Seychelles, Java, Great Coco Island, and Fiji; however, this species has expanded its range by being transported through human activity. Several species have only recently been discovered, and some have yet to be officially described.
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.
Zephroniidae is a family of giant pill millipedes in the taxonomic order Sphaerotheriida. They occur in southeast Asia from the Himalayas and China south and east to Sulawesi and to Australia, and also inhabit some Philippine islands.
Orthomorpha is a genus of millipedes in the family Paradoxosomatidae containing approximately 50 species distributed in Southeast Asia.
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.
Hylomus rhinoceros is an aposematic species of dragon millipede in the family Paradoxosomatidae. It is only known from Champasak and Sekong Provinces in southern Laos.
Trachysphaera is a genus of dwarf pill millipedes in the order Glomerida. Just over 30 species are known, making it the third most species-rich genus of Glomerida. Trachysphaera species are patchily distributed throughout Europe and western Asia, extending from Spain to Caucasia. Members of this genus are tiny, with modified appearances resembling that of calcareous stones.
Desmoxytes planata, is a species of millipedes in the family Paradoxosomatidae. It is a pantropical species with a vast distribution due to human interference in transportation. It is native to Andaman Islands and introduced to Thailand, the Seychelles, Java, Sri Lanka, Fiji and probably in Malay Peninsula.
Anoplodesmus is a genus of millipedes. It is one of the most species rich genera in the family Paradoxosomatidae, with over 40 described species distributed from India and Nepal to China and Southeast Asia, as well as the Mascarene Islands and Fiji.
Glyphiulus, is a genus of millipedes belonging to the order Spirostreptida, family Cambalopsidae. It is the largest Southeast Asian millipede genus comprise about 47 to 57 species ranging from southern China, northern Laos, and northern Thailand in the north to southern Vietnam in the south. The type species shows a pantropical distribution. The number of species always changes due to continuous discoveries of new species.
Termitodesmidae is a family of millipedes belonging to the order Glomeridesmida. These millipedes are found in India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The five known species in this family are notable in that they are found only in termite mounds. Termitodesmidae is the only myriapod family known to depend on insects in such a commensal relationship.
Desmoxytes cervina, is a species of millipede in the family Paradoxosomatidae. It is known from Myanmar and Thailand.
Desmoxytes golovatchi, is a species of millipede in the family Paradoxosomatidae, that can be found in Thailand.
Zoosphaerium is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is Zoosphaerium neptunus, which is capable of growing to lengths of 90 mm.
Microsphaerotherium is a genus of pill millipedes in the family Arthrosphaeridae. Only two species are currently known:
Kylindotherium is a monotypic genus of giant Pill millipede, native to South Africa. It was first described in 1926 by Attems. It consists of a single species, Kylindotherium leve.
Cyliosoma is a genus of giant millipedes in the family Cyliosomatidae, found in Australia. It was described by Pocock in 1895.
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