LawnShrimp
Arachnoangel
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2016
- Messages
- 907
The most commonly encountered spirobolids, at least on America's East Coast, all belong to the genus Narceus. For a while, they were split into four species: americanus, annularis,
gordanus, and the elusive, somewhat mythical, but unremarkable woodruffi.
Americanus, in this classification, lived in the southern half of the range, from Florida to Texas and north to the Carolinas. Annularis lived from North Carolina upwards, almost into Canada. The other species (possibly two) is scattered throughout Florida to Tennessee.
However, americanus and annularis were then conglomerated into Narceus americanus, but there still were clear differences between northern and southern varieties. Nowadays, the large, grey and red millipede is known as the N. americanus/annularis species complex. It is unknown if there is only one species or many.
Here are some pictures of my assorted Narceus species. I would love it if those reading this could post pictures if their own Narceus americanus/annularis and the general locality where it came from.
The one curled up is a massive male (a bit shy of 4"), collected in the Delaware Water Gap area on a gravel road. I have four others collected at the same location (Locality A) and exhibit similar coloration. The other millipede was collected under a sheet of plywood in a forest area about three miles east from Locality A.
The top and bottom are the same from the last photo. The middle was collected climbing up a mossy, wet rock face near a small waterfall about 7 miles west from Locality A. Note how she has more of a blue-grey color.
Top, middle, and left are previous three millipedes, right is from North Carolina. Though he is only a baby, he is as thick as the third millipede, yet only his head is buried. The other 4 North Carolina millipedes are in another tank and I haven't seen them in weeks, but they are similarly short and very thick.
N. gordanus. Gordita is a pet store rescue. I found her in the back shelves, lying half-curled on a wet paper towel in a Kritter Keeper labeled "Ivory Millipede". I recognized that she was clearly not an ivory and bought her, so that she could finally eat. (I don't blame the pet store for the bad conditions, they take very good care of the fish and reptiles they are more focused on, and not too many people understand what millis need.)
Gordita and the North Carolina baby. I moved them to a baby bumblebee cup for better photos.
Narceus is probably one of my favorite genera of millipede!
Thoughts, questions, pictures are welcome!
gordanus, and the elusive, somewhat mythical, but unremarkable woodruffi.
Americanus, in this classification, lived in the southern half of the range, from Florida to Texas and north to the Carolinas. Annularis lived from North Carolina upwards, almost into Canada. The other species (possibly two) is scattered throughout Florida to Tennessee.
However, americanus and annularis were then conglomerated into Narceus americanus, but there still were clear differences between northern and southern varieties. Nowadays, the large, grey and red millipede is known as the N. americanus/annularis species complex. It is unknown if there is only one species or many.
Here are some pictures of my assorted Narceus species. I would love it if those reading this could post pictures if their own Narceus americanus/annularis and the general locality where it came from.
Narceus is probably one of my favorite genera of millipede!
Thoughts, questions, pictures are welcome!
