Aprosphylosoma
Aprosphylosoma darceneae is a species of cylindrical julidan millipede found only in the U.S. state of Oregon and comprising the sole species of the family Aprosphylosomatidae. It is known from only a single known specimen collected from Oregon Caves National Monument in 1956 that measures approximately 16 mm (0.63 in) long and 1 mm wide, possessing 59 body segments. The first pair of legs are extremely reduced into non-jointed, peg-like structures. The body color is yellowish brown with darker brown mottling on the dorsal surface, and the legs are white.[1][2]
| Aprosphylosoma | |
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| Family: | Aprosphylosomatidae Hoffman, 1961 |
| Genus: | Aprosphylosoma Hoffman, 1961 |
| Species: | A. darceneae |
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| Aprosphylosoma darceneae Hoffman, 1961 | |
Aprosphylosoma was originally classified as a new distinct subfamily ("Aprosphylosomatinae") of the family Nemasomatidae.[1] Subsequent cladistic analysis placed Aprosphylosoma into the family Paeromopodidae. Further taxonomic study elevated the genus to its own distinct family, Aprosphylosomatidae, which together with Paeromopodidae constitutes the superfamily Paeromopodoidea.[2]
References
- Hoffman, Richard L. (1961). "A new genus and subfamily of the diplopod family Nemasomatidae from the Pacific northwest". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 63: 58–64.
- Shelley, Rowland M. (1994). "Revision of the milliped family Paeromopodidae, and elevation of the Aprosphylosomatinae to family status (Julida: Paeromopodoidea)". Entomologica Scandinavica. 25 (2): 169–214. doi:10.1163/187631294X00298.