Analocostreptus servatius

Analocostreptus servatius, the firehead-millipede, is a millipede of the family Spirostreptidae. The species was first described by Carl Attems in his 1914 Afrikanische Spirostreptiden: nebst Ueberblick über die Spirostreptiden orbis terrarum Attems, C. M. T. Graf von. (1914)[2] as Spirostreptus servatius. It was first found in Bibundi, Cameroon. It is distributed over west and central Africa.

Analocostreptus servatius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Diplopoda
Order: Spirostreptida
Family: Spirostreptidae
Genus: Analocostreptus
Species:
A. servatius
Binomial name
Analocostreptus servatius
(Attems, 1914)
Synonyms[1]
  • Spirostreptus servatius Attems, 1914
  • Spirostreptus serratus Attems, 1914

Description

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The body of the millipede is a very dark warm brown with lighter orange brown towards the head and the end. the antennae and legs are also lighter colored. The adults are about 20 cm (7.9 in) long, sometimes reaching 25 or 26 cm (9.8 or 10.2 in). Males are often somewhat duller in coloration and have a thicker seventh segment, where the gonads replace the legs.[citation needed]

Biology

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In captivity, the species is known to live for five to ten years. In the wild they live in moist, shady forests, with temperatures around 25 to 28 °C (77 to 82 °F) and humidity between 70% and 80%. They feed on organic matter like rotting leaves and wood, lichens, and fruits and vegetables.[3]

Taxonomy

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Analocostreptus was first placed in the family Spirostreptus but in 2023 a new study suggested to classify them in the genus Analocostreptus which caused it to be renamed to Analocostreptus servatius.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Analocostreptus servatius". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Afrikanische Spirostreptiden: nebst Ueberblick über die Spirostreptiden orbis terrarum" (PDF). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Spirostreptus servatius "Firehead-Millipede"". Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  4. ^ "A new distinct, disjunct giant millipede of the genus Spirostreptus Brandt, 1833, from Tanzania, and a solution for orphaned Spirostreptus species (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae)". Retrieved 20 October 2024.