''Floridobolus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

millipede Millipedes are a group of arthropods that are characterised by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments; they are known scientifically as the class Diplopoda, the name derived from this feature. Each double-legged segment is a resu ...

s commonly known as Florida scrub millipedes containing three described species: ''Floridobolus penneri'', ''F. orini'', and ''F. floydi''; the latter two described in 2014. All three species are endemic to

Florida scrub Florida sand pine scrub is an endangered subtropical forest ecoregion found throughout Florida in the United States. It is found on coastal and inland sand ridges and is characterized by an evergreen xeromorphic plant community dominated by shrub ...

habitat of peninsular

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

, and ''F. penneri'' is considered a critically imperiled species by

NatureServe NatureServe, Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Arlington County, Virginia, US, that provides proprietary wildlife conservation-related data, tools, and services to private and government clients, partner organizations, and the public. Nat ...

. Prior to the description of ''F. orini'', the genus (then only a single species) was considered the sole member of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Floridobolidae, named by William T. Keeton in 1959, however studies in 2014 have argued that ''Floridobolus'' does not represent a distinct family but rather is a basal member of the family

Spirobolidae Spirobolidae is a family of millipedes in the order Spirobolida. The family consists of several genera with numerous species, and is commonly divided into the subfamilies Spirobolinae and Tylobolinae. Classification Subfamily Spirobolinae * ' ...

, representing the subfamily Floridobolinae, and

tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...

Floridobolini.

Description

Species of ''Floridobolus'' range from long with 45 to 50 body rings or segments as adults. The body is not purely cylindrical, but rather is widest around the 12th or 13th rings, and tapers towards the head and

telson The telson () is the posterior-most division of the body of an arthropod. Depending on the definition, the telson is either considered to be the final segment of the arthropod body, or an additional division that is not a true segment on accou ...

(rear end). The body is oval in cross section whereas most other related millipedes are circular in cross section. The body color ranges from slate gray to olive, with some species more uniform while others having lighter yellowish bands on the rear margin of body rings.

Species

The three species of ''Floridobolus'' differ primarily in shape and proportion of the

gonopods Gonopods are specialized appendages of various arthropods used in reproduction or egg-laying. In males, they facilitate the transfer of sperm from male to female during mating, and thus are a type of intromittent organ. In crustaceans and milli ...

(male reproductive appendages), and in geographic location, each occurring on different sand ridges running from north to south in Florida.

''Floridobolus penneri''

''Floridobolus penneri'' was described in 1957 by Nell B. Causey based on individuals collected near the

Archbold Biological Station The Archbold Biological Station (ABS) is a research institute with a surrounding estate near Lake Placid, Florida, USA. It includes an extensive area of Florida scrub, a scientifically interesting and highly threatened ecosystem. It was establ ...

. Mature individuals generally range from long and 10.8 to 11.6 mm wide. Its known natural predators include larval ''

Phengodes laticollis ''Phengodes laticollis'' is a species of glowworm beetle in the family Phengodidae The beetle family Phengodidae is known also as glowworm beetles, whose larvae are known as glowworms. The females and larvae have bioluminescence, biolumines ...

'' ( glowworm beetles) and adult ''

Mastigoproctus giganteus ''Mastigoproctus giganteus'', the giant whip scorpion, also called the giant vinegaroon or grampus, is a species of whip scorpions in the family Thelyphonidae. Description This species can grow to be long, excluding the tail. They have six legs ...

'' (giant

whip scorpion Thelyphonida is an arachnid order comprising invertebrates commonly known as whip scorpions or vinegaroons (also spelled vinegarroons and vinegarones). They are often called uropygids in the scientific community based on an alternative name for ...

s). ''F. penneri'' has been assessed by

as critically imperiled globally and nationally due to a range of less than 1,000 square kilometers (400 square miles), few populations known, and historic decline in Florida scrub habitat.

''Floridobolus orini''

''Floridobolus orini'' was described in 2014 and is only known from the

Ocala National Forest The Ocala National Forest ls the second largest nationally protected forest in the U.S. State of Florida. It covers of northern Florida. It is located three miles (5 km) east of Ocala and southeast of Gainesville. The Ocala National For ...

. Individuals grow from long, 10 to 13 mm wide, and possess 47 to 50 body rings (segments). The body color is gray with body rings bordered in yellow.

''Floridobolus floydi''

''Floridobolus floydi'' was also described in 2014, based on individuals collected in

Citrus ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering plant, flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as Orange (fruit), oranges, Lemon, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and lim ...

and Hernando counties, occurring further west than other ''Floridobolus '' species. With a median body length of around , ''F. floydi'' is generally smaller than other ''Floridobolus''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18148494 Spirobolida Millipedes of North America Endemic fauna of Florida