Glomeris klugii

Glomeris klugii is a species of pill millipede within the genus Glomeris and family Glomeridae.[1] The species is highly variable in colouration, with more than 40 varieties and subspecies identified, each displaying unique colour patterns.[2] The diverse colour patterns of G. klugii can be visually striking, and certain patterns are geographically restricted, leading to the species being associated with numerous taxonomic synonyms.[2]

Glomeris klugii
Glomeris klugii morph conspersa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Diplopoda
Order:
Glomerida
Family:
Glomeridae
Genus:
Glomeris
Species:
G. klugii
Binomial name
Glomeris klugii
Brandt, 1833
Synonyms
  • Glomeris conspersa C.L. Koch, 1847
  • Glomeris undulata C.L. Koch, 1844

Description

Glomeris klugii exhibits a wide range of colour variation. Many colour morphs and subspecies exist, each displaying unique colour patterns.[2] The base colour of the species typically ranges from light brown to red,[2] with many possessing vividly coloured chitin and a distinct marbled pattern.[3] However, the presence of black freckles on their bodies varies, with some individuals having freckles that fuse into larger spots, while others are fully black in colour.[2] G. klugii can reach a length of about 13.5 mm (0.53 inches) and a width of up to 6.25 mm (0.24 inches).[3] Telopods exhibit syncoxite with slight variations in the central lobe shape and delicately bifurcated coxal horns.[3] G. klugii also lacks a main stria on the thoracic shield.[2]

Distribution

Glomeris klugii can be found throughout Europe and North Africa. Within Europe it has been recorded to live within the countries of Austria, Croatia, Germany and Italy.[2] Within North Africa the species can be found in the countries of Algeria and Tunisia.[3]

Habitat

Glomeris klugii inhabits sloped forest habitats where it has a preference for calcareous soils.[2] Individuals can be found on the forest floor among leaf litter and under stones.[2] Forest habitats are known to consist of trees within the genera Acer, Castanea, Fraxinus.[2]

Polymorphism
A darker colour variant.

Glomeris klugii possesses a high rate of polymorphism within the species due to exhibiting remarkable phenotypic plasticity, resulting in a wide range of colour variations. More than 40 subspecies and morphs have been identified, each displaying unique colour patterns. Some colour morphs currently known include the 'undulata' morph and the 'conspersa' morph. Although similar colour morphs of G. klugii can be found throughout their natural range, those morphs do not imply populations are closely related or from the same phylogenetically related group. G. klugii of the morph 'conspersa' and 'undulata' for instance are more closely related to each other within the same locality, than with those of the same morph in a different locality.[2]

Subspecies
  • Glomeris klugii porphyrea Koch,1847 - from the Balkan Peninsula and Croatia.[2]

References
  1. "Glomeris klugii Brandt, 1833". Millibase. 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  2. Wesener, Thomas & Conrad, Cathrin. (2016). Local Hotspots of Endemism or Artifacts of Incorrect Taxonomy? The Status of Microendemic Pill Millipede Species of the Genus Glomeris in Northern Italy (Diplopoda, Glomerida). PLoS ONE. 11. 10.1371/journal.pone.0162284.
  3. Sergei I. Golovatch; Jean-Paul Mauriès; Nesrine Akkari; Pavel Stoev; Jean-Jacques Geoffroy (2009). "The millipede genus Glomeris Latreille, 1802 (Diplopoda, Glomerida, Glomeridae) in North Africa". ZooKeys (12): 47–86. doi:10.3897/zookeys.12.179.
  • Golovatch, Sergei Ilyich; Hoffman, Richard Lawrence (2000) On the diplopod taxa and type material of J. F. Brandt, with some new descriptions and identities (Diplopoda), Fragmenta faunistica, Supplement, 43: 229-249: 229-249.
  • SysMyr: Systematic Myriapod Database. Spelda J.,


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