Revival of forgotten characters and modern imaging techniques help to produce a robust phylogeny of the Diplopoda (Arthropoda, Myriapoda)

Blanke, Alexander; Wesener‍, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.asd.2013.10.003

Cited by 59 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…It can be used to visualize and infer internal morphological characters, which can be exploited not only for the species description itself, but also for subsequent morphological phylogenetic reconstruction as demonstrated by Blanke & Wesener (2014). Here, we show that micro-CT is not only a useful tool to examine hard sclerotized structures like the head capsule, the gnathal lobe sclerite and the tentorium (Fig.…”

Section: Micro-ct In Taxonomy and Phylogenymentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Millipedes play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems as detritivores (Cárcamo et al 2000) and were among the first terrestrial animals, with fossils dating back to the middle Silurian (Shear & Edgecombe 2010). Sixteen extant orders of Diplopoda are known (Blanke & Wesener 2014), of which eight occur naturally on Madagascar (Shelley & Golovatch 2011), with two of them, Polyzoniida (Wesener 2014a) and Siphonophorida (Wesener 2014b), being only recently recorded from the island. Madagascar is host to some of the most spectacular millipedes: different genera of large-bodied pitchblack/bloodred so called "Fire-Millipedes" of the order Spirobolida (Wesener et al 2009a(Wesener et al , 2009b(Wesener et al , 2011, as well as the world's largest giant pill-millipedes, order Sphaerotheriida (see Wesener & Wägele 2008;Wesener 2009), showing island gigantism.…”

Section: R E S E a R C H A R T I C L Ementioning

confidence: 99%

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Integrative description of two new species of Malagasy chirping giant pill-millipedes, genus Sphaeromimus (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida: Arthrosphaeridae)

Moritz‍

Wesener‍

2017

EJT

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773

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Abstract. The species-rich giant pill-millipedes (Sphaerotheriida) often represent a microendemic component of Madagascar's mega-invertebrate fauna. Of the chirping genus Sphaeromimus de Saussure & Zehntner, 1902, ten species have been described. Here, we describe two new species of Sphaeromimus integratively, combining light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, DNA barcoding and micro-CT technology for the first time in a taxonomic description of a giant pillmillipede. S. kalambatritra sp. nov. and S. midongy sp. nov. are the first giant pill-millipedes collected and described from the mountainous rainforests of Kalambatritra and Midongy. Both species show island gigantism compared to their congeners. Our analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene shows that the two species are related to one another with a moderate genetic distance (9.4%), while they are more closely related to an undetermined specimen from the forest of Vevembe (6.3% and 8.4%). They stand in a basal position with S. ivohibe S. musicus (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897). The four aforementioned species share a high number of stridulation ribs on the male harp. Our micro-CT analysis provides a look into the head of S. kalambatritra sp. nov. and shows that non-destructive CT methods are a useful tool for studying the inner morphology of giant pill-millipedes.

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Section: Micro-ct In Taxonomy and Phylogenymentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: R E S E a R C H A R T I C L Ementioning

confidence: 99%

Integrative description of two new species of Malagasy chirping giant pill-millipedes, genus Sphaeromimus (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida: Arthrosphaeridae)

Moritz‍

Wesener‍

2017

EJT

Self Cite

773

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“…This is not the venue for evaluating arguments about the classification or the phylogenetics of millipedes, so without further discussion, the paragraphs that follow will use the classification of Shear (2011) and the phylogenetic tree of Blanke and Wesener (2013), developed from the morphological tree of Sierwald et al (2003). For an alternative but less complete phylogeny based on genetic evidence, see Brewer and Bond (2013).…”

Section: Speculations In Systematics and Phylogenymentioning

confidence: 99%

The chemical defenses of millipedes (diplopoda): Biochemistry, physiology and ecology

Shear

2015

Biochemical Systematics and Ecology

113

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a b s t r a c tMillipedes are some of the earliest examples of terrestrial animals, and fossils from the early Carboniferous Period indicate they were also some of the earliest prey. These fossils record ozopores, the openings of chemical defense glands, occurring along the length of the body. The secretions of these glands may consist of topical irritants, repellents, antifeedants, or, in the case of the large and widespread Order Polydesmida, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) gas that can be fatal to other arthropods or even small vertebrates in a confined environment. Müllerian mimicry rings may develop in which unrelated species of millipedes that co-occur closely resemble one another, while participating in a completely differently patterned ring in another part of their geographic range. Chemistry is not the only defense of millipedes. Polyxenids carry tufts of entangling setae, many species rely on crypsis and the ability to roll into a smooth, resistant sphere or coil, and still others have spikey projections that may deter soft-mouthed predators. Nevertheless, chemical defense has been of significance in helminthomorph millipedes at least since the Lower Carboniferous. The distribution of classes of chemical defense compounds follows major phylogenetic groupings. Evidence suggests that the defensive glands of Glomerida arose independently of those of the Helminthomorpha.

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“…Nevertheless, there seems to be a consensus at higher levels, corresponding to the simplifi ed tree represented in Fig. 6.1 (see, e.g., Sierwald and Bond 2007 ;Shear and Edgecombe 2010 ;Blanke and Wesener 2014 ). These major clades somehow represent -or at least include -the four major (eco)morphologies of millipedes: the tiny bristly millipedes (Penicillata), the compact pill millipedes (Pentazonia), the worm-like fl at millipedes (Colobognatha), and the elongated Eugnatha which includes the fl at-backed Polydesmida and the archetypal, tubular millipedes, the Juliformia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Myriapoda

Brena

2015

Evolutionary Developmental Biology of Invertebrates 3

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Revival of forgotten characters and modern imaging techniques help to produce a robust phylogeny of the Diplopoda (Arthropoda, Myriapoda)

Cited by 59 publications

References 52 publications

Integrative description of two new species of Malagasy chirping giant pill-millipedes, genus Sphaeromimus (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida: Arthrosphaeridae)

Integrative description of two new species of Malagasy chirping giant pill-millipedes, genus Sphaeromimus (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida: Arthrosphaeridae)

The chemical defenses of millipedes (diplopoda): Biochemistry, physiology and ecology

Myriapoda

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