Register      Login
Australian Journal of Zoology Australian Journal of Zoology Society
Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Reproduction, egg morphology and development observed in two Australian penicillate millipedes, Lophoturus queenslandicus (Lophoproctidae) and Phryssonotus novaehollandiae (Synxenidae) (Diplopoda)

Cuong Huynh A B and Anneke A. Veenstra A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (Burwood Campus), Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: cuong.huynh@deakin.edu.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 64(2) 138-150 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO16035
Submitted: 24 May 2016  Accepted: 26 July 2016   Published: 16 August 2016

Abstract

Lophoproctid and synxenid millipede species observed in this study showed clear differences in their sexual reproduction, including sperm web structure, egg morphology and development compared with species from Polyxenidae. Male Lophoturus queenslandicus (Lophoproctidae) produce a single spermatophore on a sperm web without signal threads due to their lack of silk-producing coxal glands. Females of this species lay fewer eggs and differ in their egg cluster arrangement, which includes nest trichomes for protection. Lophoproctid chorion has a thin protective membrane and the pupoid has fused papillae covering the entire anterior region and an aperture bordered by protective papillate sensilla is present at the apex of the pupoid. Lophoproctid millipedes have a comparatively short intermoult period between stadia. In contrast, male Phryssonotus novaehollandiae (Synxenidae) produce two spermatophores separated by a large gap on their sperm web, with signal threads that are less obvious. Synxenid chorion and pupoid stages were unique; the chorion was tough and thick and the pupoid had anterior projections without an aperture bordered by sensilla, unlike those observed in lophoproctid and polyxenid millipedes. This study extends knowledge of the reproduction of species from three major millipede families from the Suborder Polyxenida (Penicillata: Diplopoda). Additionally, the results indicate that the reproductive strategies of Australian lophoproctid and synxenid species are adapted to their harsh environment.

Additional keywords: Arthropoda, morphology, reproductive biology.


References

Blower, J. G. (1985). ‘Millipedes.’ Linnaen Society Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series). No. 35. (E. J. Brill/Dr W. Backhuys: London.)

Bureau of Meteorology (2016). Australian Government – Bureau of Meteorology. Available at: http://www.bom.gov.au [accessed 1 May 2016].

Condé, B. (1970). Essai sur l’évolution des Diplopodes Pénicillates. Bulletin du Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, 2e sér, 41(2), 48–52.

Enghoff, H. (1976). Morphological comparison of bisexual and parthenogenetic Polyxenus lagurus (L. 1758) (Diplopoda: Polyxenidae) in Denmark and southern Sweden, with notes on taxonomy, distribution, and ecology. Entomologiske Meddelelser 44, 161–182.

Huynh, C., and Veenstra, A. A. (2014). Reproduction, egg morphology and development observed in Monographis queenslandicus (Diplopoda: Polyxenidae). Invertebrate Zoology 11, 335–345.

Kubrakiewicz, J. (1991). Egg envelopes in diplopods, a comparative ultrastructural study. Tissue & Cell 23, 561–566.
Egg envelopes in diplopods, a comparative ultrastructural study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1cvkvVSqsA%3D%3D&md5=50b2e0d2fb8528217754e650010d545eCAS |

Marquet, M. L., and Condé, B. (1950). Contribution à la connaissance des diplopodes pénicillates d’Afrique et de la région madécasse. Mémoires de l’Institut Scientifique de Madagascar. Série A 4, 113–134.

Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin, M. and Condé, B. (1982). Lophoproctides insulaires de L’ocean Pacifique (Diplopodes Penicillates). Bulletin du Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, Paris, 4 Ser., 4, 1982 section A, no. 1–2, 95–118.

Schaller, F. (1971). Indirect sperm transfer by soil arthropods. Annual Review of Entomology 16, 407–446.
Indirect sperm transfer by soil arthropods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Seifen, G. (1960). Die Entwicklung von Polyxenus lagurus L. (Diplopoda, Pselaphognatha). Zoologische Jahrbucher. Abteilung fur Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere 78, 257–312.

Short, M., and Huynh, C. (2006). Redescription of Phryssonotus novaehollandiae (Silvestri, 1923) with details of post-embryonic stadia. Norwegian Journal of Entomology 53, 211–222.

Short, M., and Huynh, C. (2009). Phryssonotus novaehollandiae Silvestri, 1923: the sole Australian representative of the millipede Family Synxenidae. Soil Organisms 81, 695–700.

Short, M., and Huynh, C. (2011). The genus Unixenus Jones, 1944 (Diplopoda, Penicillata, Polyxenidae) in Australia. ZooKeys 156, 105–122.
The genus Unixenus Jones, 1944 (Diplopoda, Penicillata, Polyxenidae) in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22303098PubMed |

Silvestri, F. (1923). Notizia della presenza del genere Synxenus (Myriapoda, Diplopoda) in Catalogna e descrizione di quattro specie. Treballs del Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona 4, 5–15.

Verhoeff, K. W. (1924). Results of Dr. E. Mjoberg’s Swedish Scientific Expedition to Australia 1910–1913. 34. Myriapoda. Arkiv för Zoologi 16, 1–124.

Yahata, K., and Makioka, T. (1994). Phylogenetic implications of structure of adult ovary and oogenesis in the penicillate diplopod, Eudigraphis nigricians (Miyosi) (Diplopoda: Myriapoda). Journal of Morphology 222, 223–230.
Phylogenetic implications of structure of adult ovary and oogenesis in the penicillate diplopod, Eudigraphis nigricians (Miyosi) (Diplopoda: Myriapoda).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Yahata, K., and Makioka, T. (1995). Postembryonic development of the ovary in the penicillate diplopod, Eudigraphis nigricans (Miyosi) (Diplopoda: Penicillata). Journal of Morphology 224, 213–220.
Postembryonic development of the ovary in the penicillate diplopod, Eudigraphis nigricans (Miyosi) (Diplopoda: Penicillata).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |