Tasmanian Millipedes

Go to:
 
Checklist
 
Millipedes
bibliography
 
Gasterogramma
distribution
 
Copyright
info

 
 
Back to:
 
Multipedes
start page

 
Millipedes
introduction
 
Millipedes
identification
 
Polydesmida
introduction
 
Polydesmida
identification
 
Gasterogramma
introduction


Gasterogramma spp.: Identification

(Order Polydesmida, family Dalodesmidae)

Gonopods of mature male Gasterogramma are prominent structures, as shown in the image below (G. psi), but you may need to push aside or break off legs in order to see them. In the scanning electron micrographs below, the gonopods are shown in the same orientation as in the colour image; the (white) scale bar in all cases is 0.5 mm.

G. psi
 

Gasterogramma austrinum Mesibov, 2003
 
Darkly mottled pink-purple in colour (see Gasterogramma introduction page). In rainforest and wet eucalypt forest in southern Tasmania from ca. 50-600 m. First collected in 1994.
 
Distribution map

gonopod

Gasterogramma extremum Mesibov, 2003
 
Pale with faint pink-purple mottling. So far known from rainforest and wet eucalypt forest at only three locations in far southern Tasmania, from near sea level to 690 m. Likely to be more widespread in this little-sampled part of Tasmania. First collected by V.V. Hickman in 1952.
 
Distribution map

gonopod

Gasterogramma imber Mesibov, 2003
 
Darkly mottled pink-purple in colour. In rainforest and wet eucalypt forest in western Tasmania from ca. 50-800 m. Co-occurs with G. psi. First collected by V.V. Hickman in 1952. Note: The L-shaped gonopod components in the image have spread apart as a result of drying; in live and alcohol-preserved specimens these components are adjacent and parallel.
 
Distribution map

gonopod

Gasterogramma plomleyi Mesibov, 2003
 
Pale with faint pink-purple mottling (see Gasterogramma introduction page). In rainforest and wet eucalypt forest in high-rainfall parts of northeast Tasmania from ca. 150-850 m. First collected in 1988.
 
Distribution map

gonopod

Gasterogramma psi Jeekel, 1982
 
Variable in colour. Off-white in the Northwest, 'harlequin'-patterned (see Gasterogramma introduction page) in the central north and mottled pink-purple elsewhere. Occurs from sea level to ca. 1250 m over the northern and western third of Tasmania, including Three Hummock Island in Bass Strait. Found in coastal, subalpine and riparian scrubs; in swamp forest, wet eucalypt forest and rainforest; in exotic tree plantations; and occasionally in caves. Co-occurs with G. imber, G. rusticum, G. tarkinense and G. wynyardense. First collected by V.V. Hickman in 1952.
 
Distribution map

gonopod

Gasterogramma rusticum Mesibov, 2003
 
Lightly mottled in brownish pink. In rainforest, wet eucalypt forest and exotic tree plantations in north central Tasmania from sea level to ca. 700 m. Co-occurs with G. psi. First collected in 1991.
 
Distribution map

gonopod

Gasterogramma tarkinense Mesibov, 2003
 
Pale with faint pink-purple mottling. Known from rainforest and wet eucalypt forest at four widely separated sites in northwest Tasmania from ca. 200-900 m. Co-occurs with G. psi. First collected in 1989.
 
Distribution map

gonopod

Gasterogramma wynyardense Mesibov, 2003
 
Lightly mottled in brownish pink. In rainforest and closed wet eucalypt forest (and exotic tree plantations) in northwest Tasmania from near sea level to ca. 500 m. Co-occurs with G. psi. First collected in 1993.
 
Distribution map

gonopod