Spirobolida
Iron Millipedes
Family Guides
5- Allopocockiidae
- Atopetholidae
- Rhinocricidae
- Spirobolidae(Spirobolid Millipedes)
- Trigoniulidae(round-backed millipedes)
Spirobolida is an order of round-backed millipedes (Diplopoda) comprising approximately 500 across 12 . Members are distinguished by a pronounced vertical running down the front of the . Most species inhabit tropical regions, and many exhibit bright coloration. Mature males possess two pairs of modified legs () on the 8th and 9th body segments, with the pair used for sperm transfer.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Spirobolida: /ˌspɪroʊˈbɒlɪdə/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Distinguished from other orders by the pronounced vertical on the surface. Mature males can be identified by the presence of two pairs of (modified legs on segments 8 and 9), with the pair functioning in sperm transfer. Body form is round-backed rather than flattened.
Images
Habitat
Primarily tropical; occupies open land rich in organic matter. distribution is patchy, influenced by food availability, soil moisture, and sexual .
Distribution
Tropical regions worldwide. Documented from Africa (Cameroon, Ghana, Tanzania/Zanzibar), South Asia, New Caledonia, South America (Colombia), Micronesia (Chuuk Islands), and North America (Wisconsin, Vermont). Also recorded from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Host Associations
- Schizogyniidae mites - Three of parasitic mites (Terrogynium, Xenogynium, Zygogynium) described from spirobolid millipedes in New Caledonia
Life Cycle
Development involves successive stadia with progression factors: length 1.11–1.98 (mean 1.43), width 1.10–1.56 (mean 1.31). In at least one , and late stadia are abundant in June, October, and November; all stadia present in August. Female weight progression exceeds male, attributed to -forming tissue accumulation.
Behavior
Aggregated distribution during peak abundance periods, driven by patchy food resources, soil moisture patterns, and sexual attraction.
Ecological Role
Decomposer in organic-rich . and correlate significantly with minimum temperature and rainfall.
Similar Taxa
- SpirostreptidaBoth are large, round-backed orders; distinguished by and structure
- PolydesmidaFlat-backed millipedes with lateral keels (paranota); Spirobolida has rounded profile without keels
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Behavioral ecology of Centrobolus (Diplopoda, Spirobolida, Pachybolidae) in Southern Africa
- Population ecology of Trigoniulus corallinus (Gervais) (Diplopoda: Spirobolida)
- Three new genera of Schizogyniidae (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata) from a New Caledonian millipede (Spirobolida)
- A giant African millipede re-discovered, re-located and re-classified after 120 years (Diplopoda, Spirobolida, Pachybolidae)
- Colombocricus gen. nov., a new genus of millipede from Colombia (Diplopoda: Spirobolida: Rhinocricidae)
- A redescription and a synonym in the South Asian millipede genus Xenobolus Carl, 1919 (Spirobolida, Pachybolidae)
- Distribution of the Milliped <i>Narceus Americanus Annularis</i> (Spirobolida: Spirobolidae) in Wisconsin
- Rhinocricidae Systematics II: A species catalog of the Rhinocricidae (Diplopoda: Spirobolida) with synonymies
- Distribution of the Chuuk Islands Giant Millipede, Acladocricus setigerus (Spirobolida: Rhinocricidae), and Identification of Its Defensive Compounds
- GC-MS Analysis and Antimicrobial Properties of Defensive Secretions from the Millipede Coxobolellus saratani (Diplopoda: Spirobolida: Pseudospirobolellidae).
- Mitochondrial Genomes of Four Millipedes (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida and Spirobolida) Unveil Phylogenetic Novelty and Gene Rearrangement Patterns.
- Structural characteristics of mitochondrial genome of Spirobo-lus walkeri (Spirobolida: Spirobolidae), and phylogenetic analysis of Diplopoda.