''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
''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 and localized
endemism, 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'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium ambatovaky'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021
''
Zoosphaerium ambrense'' 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'' 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'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium elegans'' (Lenz, 1881)
''
Zoosphaerium endemicum'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium fisheri'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium fraternarium'' Jeekel, 1999
''
Zoosphaerium glabrum'' (Butler, 1873)
''
Zoosphaerium haackeri'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium heleios'' Wesener & Bespalova, 2010
''
Zoosphaerium hippocastanum'' (Gervais, 1847)
''
Zoosphaerium ignotum'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium immane'' (Karsch, 1881)
''
Zoosphaerium isalo'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium lambertoni'' (Brolemann, 1922)
''
Zoosphaerium lamprinum'' (Butler, 1878)
''
Zoosphaerium latum'' (Butler, 1872)
''
Zoosphaerium libidinosum'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1897)
''
Zoosphaerium masoala'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021
''
Zoosphaerium micropilligerum'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium minutus'' Sagorny & Wesener, 2017
''
Zoosphaerium mitoho'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium muscorum'' Wesener & Bespalova, 2010
''
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 ...
'' (Butler, 1872)
''
Zoosphaerium nigrum'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021
''
Zoosphaerium piligerum'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1897)
''
Zoosphaerium platylabum'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1897)
''
Zoosphaerium priapus'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1897)
''
Zoosphaerium pseudoblandum'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium pseudopiligerum'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium pseudoplatylabum'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium pseudopriapus'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium pulchellum'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium pygidiale'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1902)
''
Zoosphaerium reflexum'' (Brolemann, 1922)
''
Zoosphaerium reticulatum'' (Butler, 1878)
''
Zoosphaerium sakanum'' (Attems, 1910)
''
Zoosphaerium silens'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021
''
Zoosphaerium smaragdinum'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium solitarium'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium spinopiligerum'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021
''
Zoosphaerium stigmaticum'' (Butler, 1873)
''
Zoosphaerium subreflexum'' Jeekel, 1999
''
Zoosphaerium tainkintana'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium tampolo'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium testaceum'' (Olivier, 1792)
''
Zoosphaerium tigrioculatum'' Wesener & Bespalova, 2010
''
Zoosphaerium trichordum'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium tsingy'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium villosum'' Wesener & Sierwald, 2005
''
Zoosphaerium viridissimum'' Wesener, 2009
''
Zoosphaerium voahangy'' Wesener & Sagorny, 2021
''
Zoosphaerium voeltzkowianum'' (De Saussure & Zehntner, 1901)
''
Zoosphaerium xerophilum'' Wesener, 2009
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q21231861
Millipedes of Africa
Sphaerotheriida
Millipede genera
Endemic fauna of Madagascar
Arthropods of Madagascar