Abstract
Surface structures have rarely been the subject of a comprehensive study in Polydesmida despite their tremendous variety within this order. A number of these peripheral structures are here studied in most families of the suborders Polydesmidea and Dalodesmidea (sensu Hoffman 1980), using scanning electron microscopy. An illustrated description of the surface sculpture of the prozonite, the limbus and the intercalary cuticular micro-scutes on the metazonite is given for the first time for the studied families, together with an account of some other poorly known surface structures. Taken together, these characters allow us to recognize two main groupings of families. The families Ammodesmidae, Cryptodesmidae, Cyrtodesmidae, Haplodesmidae, Oniscodesmidae and Pyrgodesmidae have knobs on the posterior part of the prozonites, a toothed to lobed limbus, and no micro-scutes on the metazonites, wheras the families Fuhrmannodesmidae, Polydesmidae, Dalodesmidae, Macrosternodesmidae, Nearctodesmidae, Opisotretidae and Trichopolydesmidae have no knobs on the posterior part of the prozonites, a spiky or reduced limbus, and intercalary micro-scutes on the metazonites. The results are complemented with literature records and compared with current taxonomic and phylogenetic interpretations of the group.
Highlights
Whereas the gonopods have hitherto been acknowledged to be the most reliable source of characters for millipede identification, the details of external morphology have in most cases remained under-prospected
Rowe and Sierwald (2006) drew attention to the fact that the external morphology has been studied in only a few cases in millipedes, and gave an overview of the major works which dealt with this topic
During the study of a new pyrgodesmid species from Tunisia using scanning electron microscopy (Akkari and Enghoff 2011), we found a number of cuticular structures which have not hitherto been described
Summary
Whereas the gonopods have hitherto been acknowledged to be the most reliable source of characters for millipede identification, the details of external morphology have in most cases remained under-prospected. This is true for the order Polydesmida it is by far the most diverse millipede order in terms of non-gonopodal morphology. The taxonomy of several polydesmidan families, notably Fuhrmannodesmidae and Pyrgodesmidae, is in a deplorable state, and new taxonomic characters are badly needed. During the study of a new pyrgodesmid species from Tunisia using scanning electron microscopy (Akkari and Enghoff 2011), we found a number of cuticular structures which have not hitherto been described. Asphalidesmus golovatchi Mesibov, 2009 Noteremus infimus Mesibov, 2009 N. summus Mesibov, 2009
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