Choneiulus
Brölemann, 1921
Species Guides
1- Choneiulus palmatus(Palm Millipede)
Choneiulus is a of millipedes in the Blaniulidae, order Julida. The genus includes the well-documented Choneiulus palmatus, a small greyish-brown native to the Atlantic zone of northwest Europe that has become and introduced to multiple continents. Members of this genus are characterized by a single row of ocelli paralleling the margin of the capsule and specific . The genus has been subject to genomic study, with a -level assembly published for C. palmatus.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Choneiulus: //kəˈnaɪjələs//
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Identification
Distinguished from other Blaniulidae by ocelli arranged in a single row paralleling the margin of the capsule (not clustered or multiple rows). terminate in a funnel with fringed margins. Metazonites bear 14-20 long setae on and dorsolateral margins. In C. palmatus, males reach 15 mm and females 12 mm, with up to 58 body rings; body greyish-brown with dark spots along the sides.
Images
Habitat
Native occur in soil or above ground under bark or in dead wood of old trees, often on basic and calcareous bedrock; also recorded from caves, nests, and mole nests. In Britain and Ireland, strongly associated with buildings and urban sites in northern England and Scotland; in more southerly areas found in buildings, waste ground, churchyards, , leaf litter, and under bark in deciduous woodland.
Distribution
Native to the Atlantic zone of northwest Europe, ranging from southern France to northern Sweden, with altitudinal records to 1230 m in the Alps. Northern and eastern European records represent . Introduced to Madeira, the Azores, North America, and Tasmania. Widespread but uncommon in Britain and Ireland. GBIF records indicate presence in Germany, Italy, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Seasonality
collected February–June and September–November in the British and Irish Isles.
Life Cycle
Postembryonic development has been described from a Finnish studied over multiple years.
Behavior
Occasionally an agricultural pest, particularly in .
Human Relevance
have extended the range northward and eastward in Europe and achieved introductions to multiple continents including North America and Tasmania. Occasionally an agricultural pest.
Similar Taxa
- Other Blaniulidae generaChoneiulus is distinguished by the single row of ocelli paralleling the margin, versus clustered or multiple-row ocellar arrangements in related .
More Details
Genomic resources
A -level assembly of 626.52 Mb has been generated for Choneiulus palmatus from an female specimen collected in Oxfordshire, England.