''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

. Some species within this genus express

island gigantism Island gigantism, or insular gigantism, is a biological phenomenon in which the size of an animal species isolated on an island increases dramatically in comparison to its mainland relatives. Island gigantism is one aspect of the more general Fos ...

. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''

Zoosphaerium neptunus ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', also known as the giant emerald pill millipede, is a species of millipede within the family Arthrosphaeridae. It is the largest known pill-millipede in the world, with some individuals reaching lengths of 90 mm (3.5 in ...

'', which is capable of growing to lengths of 90 mm (3.5 in).

Distribution and habitat

''Zoosphaerium'' is restricted to the island of Madagascar. Madagascar is a hotspot for

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic ('' genetic variability''), species ('' species diversity''), and ecosystem ('' ecosystem diversity' ...

and localized

endemism Endemism is the state of a species being found 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 found els ...

, as a result some species occur

sympatrically In biology, two related species or populations are considered sympatric when they exist in the same geographic area and thus frequently encounter one another. An initially interbreeding population that splits into two or more distinct species s ...

as microendemics. Species within the genus ''Zoosphaerium'' can be found living amongst damp leaf litter in forest and jungle habitats.

Species List

Below is a list of all 74 known species: '' Zoosphaerium actaeon'' (White, 1859) '' Zoosphaerium album'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium alluaudi'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1902) ''

Zoosphaerium amabile ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium ambatovaky'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021 ''

Zoosphaerium ambrense ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable of ...

'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium analavelona'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium anale'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) '' Zoosphaerium anomalum'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1902) '' Zoosphaerium arborealis'' Wesener & Sierwald, 2005 ''

Zoosphaerium aureum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium bambusoides'' Wesener & Bespalova, 2010 '' Zoosphaerium bemanevika'' Sagorny & Wesener, 2017 '' Zoosphaerium bilobum'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium blandum'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1902) '' Zoosphaerium broelemanni'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium campanulatum'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1902) '' Zoosphaerium coquerelianum'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1902) '' Zoosphaerium corystoides'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium crassum'' (Butler, 1878) ''

Zoosphaerium darthvaderi ''Zoosphaerium darthvaderi'', also known as the Darth Vader giant pill millipede, is a species of giant pill millipede endemic to the island state of Madagascar. It is named after the ''Star Wars'' character Darth Vader. The millipede is restrict ...

'' Wesener & Bespalova, 2010 ''

Zoosphaerium denticulatum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium discolor ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable of ...

'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium elegans ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' (Lenz, 1881) '' Zoosphaerium endemicum'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium fisheri ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium fraternarium ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Jeekel, 1999 '' Zoosphaerium glabrum'' (Butler, 1873) '' Zoosphaerium haackeri'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium heleios ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener & Bespalova, 2010 ''

Zoosphaerium hippocastanum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' (Gervais, 1847) '' Zoosphaerium ignotum'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium immane'' (Karsch, 1881) ''

Zoosphaerium isalo ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium lambertoni'' (Brolemann, 1922) ''

Zoosphaerium lamprinum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' (Butler, 1878) ''

Zoosphaerium latum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' (Butler, 1872) '' Zoosphaerium libidinosum'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) '' Zoosphaerium masoala'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021 ''

Zoosphaerium micropilligerum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium minutus'' Sagorny & Wesener, 2017 ''

Zoosphaerium mitoho ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium muscorum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable of g ...

'' Wesener & Bespalova, 2010 ''

'' (Butler, 1872) ''

Zoosphaerium nigrum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021 ''

Zoosphaerium piligerum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) '' Zoosphaerium platylabum'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) ''

Zoosphaerium priapus ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1897) '' Zoosphaerium pseudoblandum'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium pseudopiligerum'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium pseudoplatylabum'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium pseudopriapus ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium pulchellum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium pygidiale ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1902) '' Zoosphaerium reflexum'' (Brolemann, 1922) ''

Zoosphaerium reticulatum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' (Butler, 1878) '' Zoosphaerium sakanum'' (Attems, 1910) ''

Zoosphaerium silens ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable of g ...

'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021 '' Zoosphaerium smaragdinum'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium solitarium'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium spinopiligerum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021 ''

Zoosphaerium stigmaticum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' (Butler, 1873) '' Zoosphaerium subreflexum'' Jeekel, 1999 '' Zoosphaerium tainkintana'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium tampolo ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable of ...

'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium testaceum'' (Olivier, 1792) '' Zoosphaerium tigrioculatum'' Wesener & Bespalova, 2010 '' Zoosphaerium trichordum'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium tsingy ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener, 2009 ''

Zoosphaerium villosum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener & Sierwald, 2005 '' Zoosphaerium viridissimum'' Wesener, 2009 '' Zoosphaerium voahangy'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021 '' Zoosphaerium voeltzkowianum'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1901) ''

Zoosphaerium xerophilum ''Zoosphaerium'' is a genus of giant pill millipedes endemic to Madagascar. Some species within this genus express island gigantism. The largest of the known species of giant pill millipede known is ''Zoosphaerium neptunus'', which is capable o ...

'' Wesener, 2009

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q21231861 Millipedes of Africa Sphaerotheriida Millipede genera Endemic fauna of Madagascar Arthropods of Madagascar