Sinocallipus

Sinocallipus is a genus of predominantly cave-dwelling millipedes in the order Callipodida. Five of the six known species are found in limestone caves on the Indochinese Peninsula from Vietnam to southern China, and it is the only callipodidan genus entirely confined to the tropics.[1] Individuals range from 40–70 mm (1.6–2.8 in) long and possess 55 to 70 segments. Sinocallipus is the sole taxon of the callipodidan suborder Sinocallipodidea, and thought to be the most primitive and sister group to all other callipodidans.[1] In contrast to many other millipede groups, the gonopods (reproductive legs) of Sinocallipus show little variation between species, while other characters such as color, size, and other body parts differ more noticeably between species.[1]

Sinocallipus
Head and anterior segments of Sinocallipus deharvengi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Subphylum:
Class:
Order:
Suborder:
Sinocallipodidea

Shear, 2000
Family:
Sinocallipodidae

Zhang, 1993
Genus:
Sinocallipus

Zhang, 1993
Type species
Sinocallipus simplipodicus
Zhang, 1993
Species
see text
Distribution of Sinocallipus species
(click to view legend)

Species

All species except S. thai have been collected solely from caves, and show troglomorphic (cave-adapted) traits such as pale coloration, long antennae, and long legs. S. jaegeri and S. simplipodicus show reduced eyes, consisting of only 10 to 16 colorless ocelli each, while the other species have 33 to 50 black ocelli. S. thai is unique for its dark coloration and terrestrial habitat, and correspondingly has the most ocelli and shortest antennae.[1][2]

Species Distribution Notes Image
Sinocallipus catba
Stoev & Enghoff, 2011
Vietnam, Hai Phong Province Pale yellow body with light brown antennae.
Sinocallipus deharvengi
Stoev & Enghoff, 2011
Vietnam, Quảng Bình Province Very long antennae reach past 10th body segment
Sinocallipus jaegeri
Stoev & Enghoff, 2011
Laos, Khammouane Province Eyes inconspicuous and transparent
Sinocallipus simplipodicus Zhang, 1993 China, Yunnan Province Reduced eyes
Sinocallipus steineri
Stoev & Enghoff, 2011
Laos, Luang Prabang Province
Sinocallipus thai
Stoev, Enghoff, Panha & Fuangarworn, 2007
Thailand, Saraburi Province Dark brown body with contrasting white anterior segments and antenna tips

See also

References


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