Psammodesmus bryophorus

The moss millipede (Psammodesmus bryophorus) is a keeled millipede of the family Platyrhacidae native to Colombia. It was described in 2011, and with several species of symbiotic moss found growing on its dorsal surface, it is the first millipede known with epizoic plants.[1][2][3]

Three species of moss on P. bryophorus

Psammodesmus bryophorus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Myriapoda
Class:
Diplopoda
Order:
Polydesmida
Family:
Platyrhacidae
Genus:
Psammodesmus
Species:
Psammodesmus bryophorus
Binomial name
Psammodesmus bryophorus
Hoffman, Martínez & Flórez, 2011

At least 10 species of bryophytes belonging to families Pilotrichaceae, Lejeuneaceae, Fissidentaceae, Metzgeriaceae and Leucomiaceae have been found to grow on the millipede's dorsum;[2] these plants are believed to camouflage the millipede as its cuticle provides a stable substrate.

Description

Adult moss millipedes have 19 body segments, each with a pair of wide keels; the coloration of their dorsum ranges from dark brown to black, having two light-colored stripes on the prozonites and metatergites of segments 2-19.[4] The edges of the paranota are white and the legs, antennae and ventral surface of the trunk are reddish brown.

Habitat

P. bryophorus is found in Río Ñambí Natural Reserve, a transitional Andean-Pacific forest in South West Colombia,[4] preferring tree trunks and leaves, about 1m above the ground; however, they can also be found between the leaf litter and the soil surface.[2]

References
  1. Hoffman, Richard; Martínez, Daniela; Flórez, Eduardo (2011). "A new Colombian species in the millipede genus Psammodesmus, symbiotic host for bryophytes (Polydesmida: Platyrhacidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3015: 52–60. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3015.1.5.
  2. Martínez-Torres, Shirley Daniella; Flórez-Daza, Álvaro Eduardo; Linares-Castillo, Édgar Leonardo (2011). "Meeting between kingdoms: discovery of a close association between Diplopoda and Bryophyta in a transitional Andean-Pacific forest in Colombia". International Journal of Myriapodology. 6: 29–36. doi:10.3897/ijm.6.2187.
  3. Marshall, Michael (22 September 2011). "Zoologger: Stealth millipede wears living camouflage". New Scientist.
  4. Martínez-Torres, Shirley Daniela (2016). Revisión taxonómica y distribución geográfica de los milpiés del género Psammodesmus Cook, 1896 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Platyrhacidae). Bogotá, CO: Universidad Nacional de Colombia.


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