Procyliosoma tuberculatum - Uwe Schneehagen - 440764126

''Procyliosoma tuberculatum'' is a giant pill millipede of the family Procyliosomatidae,

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

. Two subspecies are recognised – ''P. t. tuberculatum'' and ''P. t. westlandicum''. ''Procyliosoma tuberculatum'' can grow up to 5 centimetres long and 2.5 centimetres wide. They eat decaying vegetation, and are found throughout the

North Island The North Island ( , 'the fish of Māui', historically New Ulster) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of , it is the List ...

and northern

South Island The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...

of New Zealand. ''Procyliosoma tuberculatum'' has hard, shiny body plates that allow it roll into a circular shape protecting its head, legs and rear from predators. The giant pill millipede is very active at night, and by day is found curled up under logs and rocks. Female millipedes can lay up to six eggs under logs and moist soil.

References

Millipedes of Oceania Arthropods of New Zealand Animals described in 1917 Taxa named by Filippo Silvestri Endemic fauna of New Zealand Endemic insects of New Zealand {{Millipede-stub