Ammodesmidae
Sign in to saveAmmodesmidae is a family of small millipedes endemic to Africa, containing seven species in two genera. Ammodesmids range from long with 18 or 19 body segments (including the telson) in both sexes, and are capable of rolling into a tight sphere.
Taxonomy · GBIF
FAMILY
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumArthropoda
- ClassDiplopoda
- OrderPolydesmida
- FamilyAmmodesmidae
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Article
3 sectionsContents
- ''Ammodesmus''
- ''Elassystremma''
- References
Ammodesmidae is a family of small millipedes endemic to Africa, containing seven species in two genera. Ammodesmids range from long with 18 or 19 body segments (including the telson) in both sexes, and are capable of rolling into a tight sphere.
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.