Termitodesmidae is a family of millipedes belonging to the order Glomeridesmida.[1] These millipedes are found in India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The five known species in this family are notable in that they are found only in termite mounds.[2] Termitodesmidae is the only myriapod family known to depend on insects in such a commensal relationship.[2][3]

Termitodesmidae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Diplopoda
Order: Glomeridesmida
Family: Termitodesmidae

Description

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In millipedes in this family, the head is not visible from above, and the antennae are shorter than the head is wide. The first tergite (the collum) is larger than the tergites that follow. The legs are densely covered with long spines. The female gonopore is a simple vulva without an elongated ovipositor. Males are unknown in this family.[4]

Genus and species

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This family includes only one genus:[5]

This genus contains five species:[6]

References

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  1. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Termitodesmidae Silvestri, 1911". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b Enghoff, Henrik; Golovatch, Sergei; Short, Megan; Stoev, Pavel; Wesener, Thomas (2015-01-01). "Diplopoda — taxonomic overview". Treatise on Zoology - Anatomy, Taxonomy, Biology. The Myriapoda, Volume 2: 363–453. doi:10.1163/9789004188273_017. ISBN 9789004188273.
  3. ^ Iniesta, Luiz Felipe Moretti; Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes; Wesener, Thomas (2012-11-15). "The first troglobitic Glomeridesmus from Brazil, and a template for a modern taxonomic description of Glomeridesmida (Diplopoda)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3550 (1): 26–42. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3550.1.2. ISSN 1175-5334.
  4. ^ Enghoff, Henrik; Golovatch, Sergei; Short, Megan; Stoev, Pavel; Wesener, Thomas (2015-01-01). "Diplopoda — taxonomic overview". Treatise on Zoology - Anatomy, Taxonomy, Biology. The Myriapoda, Volume 2: 363–453. doi:10.1163/9789004188273_017. ISBN 9789004188273.
  5. ^ "MilliBase - Termitodesmidae Silvestri, 1911". www.millibase.org. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  6. ^ "MilliBase - Termitodesmus Silvestri, 1911". www.millibase.org. Retrieved 2024-06-22.