Ammodesmidae

Ammodesmidae is a family of small millipedes endemic to Africa, containing seven species in two genera. Ammodesmids range from 1.4 to 5.0 mm (0.055 to 0.197 in) long with 18 or 19 body segments in both sexes, and are capable of rolling into a tight sphere.[1]

Ammodesmidae
Ammodesmus granum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Myriapoda
Class:
Diplopoda
Order:
Polydesmida
Family:
Ammodesmidae

Cook, 1896
Genera
  • Ammodesmus
  • Elassystremma
Distribution of the Ammodesmidae

Ammodesmidae contains two genera: Ammodesmus, with three species known from West Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Elassystremma, with four species known from East Africa. Adult Ammodesmus range from 1.4–2 mm in length, and adult males possess a last pair of legs strongly modified: bearing long whip-like bristles (setae) and with vestigial claws. Males of the genus Elassystremma lack the modified rear legs, and are larger, from 3.3–5 mm.[1][2]

Ammodesmus

The genus Ammodesmus was named in 1896 by Orator F. Cook in the description of Ammodesmus granum. The genus was thought restricted to West Africa (Guinea, Liberia and Ivory Coast) until the 2015 description of A. congoensis from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A. congoensis differs from the other two speciesin lacking ozopores (defensive glands), and has conspicuous sexual dimorphism, with females bearing sparse, long setae.[3]

  • Ammodesmus congoensis VandenSpiegel & Golovatch, 2015
  • Ammodesmus granum Cook, 1896
  • Ammodesmus nimba VandenSpiegel & Golovatch, 2012
  • Ammodesmus nimba
  • Modified hind legs of Ammodesmus nimba
  • Ammodesmus congoensis male
  • Ammodesmus congoensis female

Elassystremma

The genus Elassystremma was established in 1981 by Richard L. Hoffman and K. M. Howell. Four species are known, occurring in Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi.[2]

  • Elassystremma laeve VandenSpiegel & Golovatch, 2004
  • Elassystremma michielsi VandenSpiegel & Golovatch, 2004
  • Elassystremma pongwe Hoffman & Howell, 1981
  • Elassystremma prolaeve VandenSpiegel & Golovatch, 2004
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References
  1. VandenSpiegel, Didier; Golovatch, Sergei (2012). "The millipede family Ammodesmidae (Diplopoda, Polydesmida) in western Africa". ZooKeys. 221: 1–17. doi:10.3897/zookeys.221.3739. PMC 3487632.
  2. VandenSpiegel, Didier; Golovatch, Sergei (2004). "Review of the East African millipede genus Elassystremma Hoffman & Howell, 1981 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Ammodesmidae), with descriptions of three new species" (PDF). Arthropoda Selecta. 12 (3–4): 183–191.
  3. VandenSpiegel, Didier; Golovatch, Sergei I. (2015). "A new millipede of the family Ammodesmidae found in central Africa (Diplopoda, Polydesmida)". ZooKeys. 483: 1–7. doi:10.3897/zookeys.483.9150. PMC 4351444. PMID 25755621.
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