Psammodesmus bryophorus
Species of millipede
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Psammodesmus bryophorus, the moss millipede, 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]
| Psammodesmus bryophorus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Diplopoda |
| Order: | Polydesmida |
| Family: | Platyrhacidae |
| Genus: | Psammodesmus |
| Species: | P. 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.
