Spatial distribution and faunal composition of millipedes of the family Spirostreptidae Brandt, 1833 in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Diplopoda, Juliformia, Spirostreptida).

The Atlantic Forest is known for its richness and diversity of species. Nonetheless, the diversity of millipedes in the biome is still poorly known. In this work, the distribution and the faunal composition of millipedes of the family Spirostreptidae Brandt, 1833 (order Spirostreptida) from the Atlantic Forest are provided. A total of 159 occurrence points were compiled, and 59 species in 17 genera were listed. Gymnostreptus Brölemann, 1902 was recovered as the richest genus in the Atlantic Forest with 14 species and one subspecies. The species Plusioporus setiger (Brölemann, 1902) presented the highest number of records, with 22 occurrence points in at least 20 municipalities. A total of 35 species were recorded from only one municipality. Considering all the threats on the biome, this paper is important for our understanding of the Brazilian millipede fauna and can be useful to determine places that require valuations for collecting efforts and conservation policies.

A case of mass occurrence of Sandalodesmus araujoi () in a municipality of São Paulo, Brazil and description of the heretofore unknown female (Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae) / Um caso de ocorrência em massa de Sandalodesmus araujoi () em um município de São Paulo, Brasil e descrição da fêmea até então desconhecida (Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae)

Abstract Somatic characters are shared by many Chelodesmidae groups, and generic placement and species identifications traditionally have been based on gonopodal morphology. Female genitalic characters have been largely neglected and are rarely photographed or illustrated. This is rather unfortunate as the morphology of female genitalia presents important characters and may be decisive for developing a more robust family classification. We describe the heretofore unknown female of Sandalodesmus araujoi (Schubart, 1946), previously known only from the male holotype collected in São Paulo, Brazil in December 1943; discuss the utility of female genitalic characters for species delineation in Sandalodesmus; and report the first case of a mass occurrence in the Chelodesmidae. While an attempt at a formal diagnosis of Sandalodesmus females based on genitalic characters is premature, the vulvar morphology of the three taxa examined in this study suggests that female genitalia are species-specific. Some characters (i.e., asymmetric valves, presence of digitiform projections and reduction of setae on the internal basal portion of the valves) are constant between the species, suggesting utility for generic-level delineation. Mass occurrences of millipedes are typically unpredictable and likely related to variations in environmental conditions and/or anthropogenic modifications of natural habitats. Although the mass occurrence of S. araujoi reported herein was only observed once, the event coincides with the mating period of millipedes during the rainy season in Brazil. On the other hand, the region where the species was found has been the target of intense urban development, including replacement of natural habitats with residential areas, which may have influenced its population dynamics.

Resumo Os caracteres somáticos são compartilhados por muitos grupos de Chelodesmidae, e o posicionamento genérico e as identificações de espécies tradicionalmente têm sido baseadas na morfologia do gonópodo. Carateres genitais das fêmeas foram amplamente negligenciados e raramente são fotografados ou ilustrados. Isso é lamentável, pois a morfologia da genitália feminina apresenta características importantes e pode ser decisiva para o desenvolvimento de uma classificação mais robusta. Neste trabalho, descrevemos a até então desconhecida fêmea de Sandalodesmus araujoi (Schubart, 1946), anteriormente conhecida apenas pelo holótipo macho coletado em São Paulo, Brasil, em dezembro de 1943; discutimos a utilidade de caracteres genitais femininos para delineamento de espécies em Sandalodesmus; e relatamos o primeiro caso de ocorrência em massa para Chelodesmidae. Embora uma tentativa de diagnose formal para fêmeas de Sandalodesmus com base em caracteres genitais seja prematura, a morfologia vulvar dos três táxons examinados neste estudo, sugere que a genitália feminina é espécie-específica. Alguns caracteres (e.g. válvulas assimétricas, presença de projeções digitiformes e redução de cerdas na margem interna das válvas) são constantes entre as espécies do gênero, sugerindo utilidade para delineamento em nível genérico. Ocorrências em massa de milípedes são tipicamente imprevisíveis e provavelmente relacionadas a variações nas condições ambientais e/ou modificações antropogênicas de habitats naturais. Embora a ocorrência em massa de S. araujoi aqui relatada tenha sido observada apenas uma vez, o evento coincide com o período de reprodução dos milípedes durante a estação chuvosa no Brasil. Por outro lado, a região onde a espécie foi encontrada tem sido alvo de intenso desenvolvimento urbano, incluindo substituição de habitats naturais por áreas residenciais, o que pode ter influenciado sua dinâmica populacional.

A case of mass occurrence of Sandalodesmus araujoi (Schubart, 1946) in a municipality of São Paulo, Brazil and description of the heretofore unknown female (Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae)

Somatic characters are shared by many Chelodesmidae groups, and generic placement and species identifications traditionally have been based on gonopodal morphology. Female genitalic characters have been largely neglected and are rarely photographed or illustrated. This is rather unfortunate as the morphology of female genitalia presents important characters and may be decisive for developing a more robust family classification. We describe the heretofore unknown female of Sandalodesmus araujoi (Schubart, 1946), previously known only from the male holotype collected in São Paulo, Brazil in December 1943; discuss the utility of female genitalic characters for species delineation in Sandalodesmus; and report the first case of a mass occurrence in the Chelodesmidae. While an attempt at a formal diagnosis of Sandalodesmus females based on genitalic characters is premature, the vulvar morphology of the three taxa examined in this study suggests that female genitalia are species-specific. Some characters (i.e., asymmetric valves, presence of digitiform projections and reduction of setae on the internal basal portion of the valves) are constant between the species, suggesting utility for generic-level delineation. Mass occurrences of millipedes are typically unpredictable and likely related to variations in environmental conditions and/or anthropogenic modifications of natural habitats. Although the mass occurrence of S. araujoi reported herein was only observed once, the event coincides with the mating period of millipedes during the rainy season in Brazil. On the other hand, the region where the species was found has been the target of intense urban development, including replacement of natural habitats with residential areas, which may have influenced its population dynamics.

Os caracteres somáticos são compartilhados por muitos grupos de Chelodesmidae, e o posicionamento genérico e as identificações de espécies tradicionalmente têm sido baseadas na morfologia do gonópodo. Carateres genitais das fêmeas foram amplamente negligenciados e raramente são fotografados ou ilustrados. Isso é lamentável, pois a morfologia da genitália feminina apresenta características importantes e pode ser decisiva para o desenvolvimento de uma classificação mais robusta. Neste trabalho, descrevemos a até então desconhecida fêmea de Sandalodesmus araujoi (Schubart, 1946)

Additions to the millipede fauna of an Amazonian ferruginous landscape: a new species of Pseudoporatia widespread in rock outcrops (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Pyrgodesmidae)

Here we describe the new species Pseudoporatia kananciue Iniesta, Bouzan, Souza & Brescovit, n. sp., widespread in the Amazonian ferruginous landscape of the state of Pará, Brazil. The species differs from its only congener P. perplexa Golovatch, 1999 by the presence of 19 body rings in adults (vs 20 body rings), the position of the porosteles on the paraterga, and the morphology of the gonopods. Notes on its ecology and comments on the diversity of millipedes in the region of Serra dos Carajás, state of Pará, Brazil, are also provided. Ajouts à la faune de mille-pattes d'un paysage ferrugineux amazonien: une nouvelle espèce de Pseudoporatia Golovatch, 1999 répandue dans les affleurements rocheux (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Pyrgodesmidae). Nous décrivons ici la nouvelle espèce Pseudoporatia kananciue Iniesta, Bouzan, Souza & Brescovit, n. sp., répandue dans le paysage ferrugineux amazonien de l'État de Pará, Brésil. L'espèce diffère de son seul congénère P. perplexa Golovatch, 1999 par la présence de 19 anneaux corporels chez les adultes (contre 20 anneaux corporels), la position des porostèles sur les paraterga et la morphologie des gonopodes. Des notes sur son écologie et des commentaires sur la diversité des mille-pattes dans la région de Serra dos Carajás, État de Pará, Brésil, sont également fournis.