(Diplopoda: Paradoxosomatidae) from Gujarat, India

Journal of Biological Records, 2016, e0052016: 52-60

Short Communication

First record of three species of Millipedes (Diplopoda: Paradoxosomatidae) from Gujarat, India Swetapadma Dash1* Pallabi Priyadarsini1 1Estuarine

Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Ganjam Odisha, India *Corresponding author: Email: [email protected]

(Received: March 9, 2016; Accepted after revision: March 15, 2016, Published online: March 23, 2016) Academic Editor: Dr. D Mohandass

Cite this paper as: Dash, S. & Priyadarsini, P. 2016. First record of three species of Millipedes (Diplopoda: Paradoxosomatidae) from Gujarat, India. Journal of Biological Records, e0052016: 52-60.

Abstract Millipedes are ancient soil invertebrates and have a significant impact on the soil due to burrowing. They belong to the order Diplopoda, and are often confused with centipedes. The millipede fauna of India is only poorly known and the records and descriptions are widely scattered in the literature.

Indian Fauna of Diplopoda is

represented by 11 orders, 20 families, and about 120 genera and 500 species. The present study deals with scantily studied fauna. It reported three millipede species Oxidus gracilis (C.L.Koch,1847), Anoplodesmus saussurii (Humbert,1865), Asiomorpha coarctata (De Saussure,1860) of the order Polydesmida and the family Paradoxosomatidae for the first time recorded from Narmada and Tapi estuarine area of Bharuch and Surat Districts, Gujarat, India. This present study provides an updated species distribution and taxonomical status of Diplopods in India since the late 20th century. The study should be regarded as an invitation for future as taxonomic and diversity studies on the Indian millipede fauna.

Key words: Paradoxosomatidae, Oxidus gracilis, Anoplodesmus saussurii, Asiomorpha coarctata, Estuary of Gujarat

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52

Dash & Priyadarsini

First record of three species of Millipedes

Introduction The millipedes belong to class Diplopod, a highly diverse group of terrestrial organisms with over 12,000 described species and an estimated 80, 000 species yet to be described (Shelley 2007; Sierwald & Bond 2007). Millipedes are generally detritivores and prefer to eat decaying plant material rather than living vegetation. These ancient soil invertebrates have a significant impact on the soil due to burrowing, litter breakdown, and the mixing of organic and inorganic substances in their digestive system which are allocated to different soil layers (Hopkins & Read 1992). The introduction of millipedes throughout the temperate and tropical zones of the world as the result of commerce is well known. Several members of the order Polydesmida, such as Asiomorpha coarctata (Saussure), are particularly known to be widely spread throughout the tropics on small islands and in urban areas (Shelley & Lehtinen 1998; 1999). Similar to many soil invertebrates, the Diplopod fauna of India is only poorly known. Records and descriptions are widely scattered in the literature (Bai 1997; 1998; 2001; Bai & Indra 1998). Indian Fauna of Diplopods is represented by 11 orders, 20 families, and about 120 genera and 500 species. The present study deals with scantily studied fauna. This study reported three millipede species of the order Polydesmida and the family Paradoxosomatidae for the first time recorded from Narmada and Tapi Estuarine area of Bharuch and Surat District, India.

Materials and Methods Study area The collections were made from the estuarine survey of Narmada and Tapi, Bharuch and Surat districts of Gujarat (Fig. 1). Bharuch district is located at the Southern part of the state of Gujarat at the mouth of the River Narmada. Similarly Surat district is situated on the left bank of the Tapi River, the collection sites were situated within 22 kms from both rivers’ mouth area. Survey of Narmada and Tapi River Estuary were made from different sites (Fig. 1). Collection of Millipedes and associate insects were recorded from 4 sampling stations along with the estuarine part of the rivers described in the study area. Millipedes were collected with help of blunt forceps randomly from the survey sites below the leaf litter and detritus, rotting logs and weeds. Specimens were preserved in 70 per cent alcohol which was brought to the laboratory of Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India for identification. The specimens were photographed, labeled with the date and identified with the original descriptions by (Peter & Trudy 2012; Shelley & Lehtinen 1998). All the speciemen were deposited in the Zoological Museum,Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Gopalpur-on-Sea. During the survey different type of habitats like cultivated field, Dense vegetation of estuarine bank, bushy ground vegetation near river bank, were chosen for the explored collection of the fauna Copyright © 2016 Journal of Biological Records, New Scientist Publishers Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved 53

Dash & Priyadarsini


and it was made from the nearby villages as well as from the towns also. The specimens were collected from the following locations: 

Jadeshwar, Bharuch, Gujarat (210°42’42.08”N and 730°02’04.58”E) is located 15km far away from the city. A well planned cultivated area with the beautiful scenary. In order to prepare the faunal inventory, collection was made from the nearby areas. (Fig. 2) (Source: Google Earth)



Narmada Bridge, Bharuch (210°41’16.65”N and 730°00’17.05” E) lies 3 km. away from the city. Area is represented by dense vegetation and polluted environment. The human interference is high in this area. (Fig. 2) (Source: Google Earth)



Abrama, Surat (210°15’51.74”N and 720°54’30.45” E) is located 19 km far away from the city. Area is represented by bushy ground vegetation. Human interference is moderate (Fig. 3) (Source: Google Earth)

Fig. 1 Collection site, Gujarat India

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Dash & Priyadarsini

Fig. 2 Study spot at Narmada, Bharuch


Fig. 3 Study spot at Tapi, Surat

Results and Discussion The following three species of millipedes were identified in the study area: Order Polydesmida Family Paradoxosomatidae. 1.

Anoplodesmus saussurii (Humbert 1865)

Diagnosis: Length 21–33 mm, width 3,5–4,8 mm, body large and very broad. General colouration of adult individuals is shiny dark brown to black. It is an yellow stripped millipede (Fig. 4). Ventral part of collum and rounded short paraterga are bright yellow, and legs are light brown. The metaterga are smooth with a deep transverse groove (Fig. 5). Distribution: Widespread in tropical tramps, probably native to India or Ceylon (Shelley and Lehtinen, 1998). Remarks: The species is more abundant, and also spread out into public parks. Incorrect names for this millipede species circulated, e.g., Harpaphehaydeniana and Orthomorphaweberi, probably based on the superficial similarity in the colour pattern of Anoplodesmussaussurii which is a common among millipede of the order Polydesmida. In 2010 this species was identified as Anoplodesmus saussurii (Decker & Tertilt 2012).


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Fig. 4. Anoplodesmus saussurii (Humbert) Male 2.


Fig. 5. Dorsal view of segment ten of A. saussurii

Asiomorpha coarctata (De Saussure 1860)

Diagnosis: Length 2 cm, width 2 mm, body large and very broad with a hardened exoskeleton colour dark brown to black in adults (Fig. 6). Mid-body paranota (segments 8-9) are sharp posteriorly (Fig.8), extending beyond segment margin. Male gonopod on 7th segment long and slender, reaching posterior legs of 5th segment. The back of the segments is smooth and the body can be threaded. The body consists of 20 segments and 30 pairs of legs in males and 31 in females. Distribution: It is native to Southeast Asia and currently introduced by man in tropical regions of the planet (Circumtropical), particularly in the islands (Shelley & Lehtinen 1998; Hoffman1999). Remarks: Probably of East Asian origin, A. coarctata become very widespread in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world (Jeekel 1963, Shelley & Lehtinen 1998).

Fig. 6. Asiomorpha coarctata (De Saussure)


Dash & Priyadarsini

3.


Oxidus gracilis (C.L. Koch 1847)

Diagnosis Oxidus gracilis, belongs to family Paradoxosomatidae, body is dorso ventrally flattened and bears 30 to 31 pairs of legs in both male and female respectively They generally measure 18.5 to 22.2 mm in length and 2.0 to 2.5 mm in width. It is dark brown in colour (Fig. 7). The dorsal plate of segment is brown with transverse grooves on each segment and the lateral end of each segment is pale colour (Fig. 9), as on the legs. Distribution It is native to Southeast Asia and currently introduced by man in tropical regions of the planet (circumtropical), with particularly in the islands (Shelley & Lehtinen 1998; Hoffman1999). Remarks Oxidus gracilis originally was a species from south east Asia but now have been introduced worldwide even in temperate regions of USA.

Fig 7.Oxidus gracilis (C.L. Koch)

Table 1 Difference between Asiomorpha coarctata and Oxidus gracilis.

A. coarctata

O. gracilis

Morphological appearance

Paranotamoderately

broad,

Rounded corners and longer

observe

extending into sides. Angled

Caudally only in the segments

corners and acuminate at all

16 to 19 (Fig. 9).

segmentsand extended caudally (Fig. 8). Gonopods.

Male gonopod on 7th segment

Relatively short gonopods short

long

reaching to 6th segment legs

and

slender,

reaching

posterior legs of 5th segment.


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Fig. 8. Dorsal segment of A.coarctata


Fig. 9. Dorsal segment of O. gracilis

Conclusion Among the 145 millipede families of the 16 diplopod orders, the family Paradoxosomatidae is one of the largest families in terms of described genera and species (Chaudhury et al. 2014). In the present study three millipede species of the family Paradoxosomatidae viz. Oxidus gracilis,

Anoplodesmus saussurii and Asiomorpha coarctata, are reported for the first time from the banks of Narmada and Tapi estuaries of Gujurat. Among these, Anoplodesmus saussurii commonly found on the compost heaps usually spread very fast, and become a nuisance to people. Oxidus gracilis (C.L. Koch) are mostly found in green- and hot-houses worldwide; Asiomorpha coarctata (DeSaussure 1860), of Southeast Asian origin is distributed throughout the tropics. Millipedes are good decomposers, especially in forest ecosystems and they play important role to maintain the terrestrial ecosystem healthy and moist. Millipede fauna of India is poorly known taxonomically and the present species records indicate the necessity of further research on this important group of soil arthropods which would considerably improve the taxonomic knowledge on the fauna.

Acknowledgements The authors are thankful to the Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India for his being cooperation and gesture of good will in course of making of this work.


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Disclosure statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests. Authors contribution: SD carried out the design of the study, identification of materials, conceived the implementation of the study and drafting of the manuscript. PP helped in collecting the specimens and drafting of the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript. Biosketches:

S. Dash, she is presently working as Scientist at Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological

Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha, India. This study was conducted for part of her Project on Aquatic Insect fauna of Narmada Tapi Estuary, Gujarat during the year 2012-2014. P. Priyadarsini, she is presently working as Senior Zoological Assistant at the same Institute and participated in the same project surveys. Important Note: New Scientist Publishers are not liable for the content or functionality of any supporting materials provided by the authors. Any questions other than those on missing material should be directed to the corresponding author of the article.

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