Daily activities of the giant pill-millipede Zephronia cf. viridescens Attems, 1936 (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida: Zephroniidae) in a deciduous forest in Northern Thailand

TY - JOUR

T1 - Daily activities of the giant pill-millipede Zephronia cf. viridescens Attems, 1936 (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida: Zephroniidae) in a deciduous forest in Northern Thailand

AU - Wongthamwanich, Nattarin

AU - Panha, Somsak

AU - Sitthicharoenchai, Duangkhae

AU - Pradatsundarasar, Art-ong

AU - Seelenan, Tosak

AU - Enghoff, Henrik

AU - Thirakhupt, Kumthorn

PY - 2012/12

Y1 - 2012/12

N2 - For the 1st time in the order Sphaerotheriida, daily activities of the giant pill-millipede Zephronia cf. viridescens Attems, 1936 (family Zephroniidae) were studied. In 2009 and 2010, an investigation was conducted during the rainy season (May-Sept.), the period when millipedes are most active, in a deciduous forest at Wiang Sa District, Nan Province, Thailand. From a total of 20 observation periods of 1 d each, 16 males and 23 females were marked with acrylic paint on the anal shield, and each was optically observed in its natural habitat every 30 min for 24 h. Key visually discernible activities of each individual, such as feeding, walking, mating, and resting, were recorded. The majority of millipedes fed throughout the day under the leaf litter. Walking activity was significantly higher in males than females throughout the day. Compared to males, females rested more during the night and fed more during the day. Average daily distances moved were significantly higher in males than females. It was concluded that females tend to accumulate energy throughout the day, probably for reproduction, while males tend to spend more time walking, probably for the purpose of finding mates.

AB - For the 1st time in the order Sphaerotheriida, daily activities of the giant pill-millipede Zephronia cf. viridescens Attems, 1936 (family Zephroniidae) were studied. In 2009 and 2010, an investigation was conducted during the rainy season (May-Sept.), the period when millipedes are most active, in a deciduous forest at Wiang Sa District, Nan Province, Thailand. From a total of 20 observation periods of 1 d each, 16 males and 23 females were marked with acrylic paint on the anal shield, and each was optically observed in its natural habitat every 30 min for 24 h. Key visually discernible activities of each individual, such as feeding, walking, mating, and resting, were recorded. The majority of millipedes fed throughout the day under the leaf litter. Walking activity was significantly higher in males than females throughout the day. Compared to males, females rested more during the night and fed more during the day. Average daily distances moved were significantly higher in males than females. It was concluded that females tend to accumulate energy throughout the day, probably for reproduction, while males tend to spend more time walking, probably for the purpose of finding mates.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1021-5506

VL - 51

SP - 913

EP - 926

JO - Zoological Studies

JF - Zoological Studies

IS - 7

ER -