Sphaerotheriida

Wesener, Thomas, 2009, Unexplored richness: discovery of 31 new species of Giant Pill-Millipedes endemic to Madagascar, with a special emphasis on microendemism (Diplopoda, Sphaerotheriida), Zootaxa 2097 (1), pp. 1-134 : 9

Key to Malagasy giant pill-millipede genera (order Sphaerotheriida )

1. Anterior telopods with four podomeres distal to syncoxite. Harp on first podomere with three or more stridulation ribs. Vulva with large and well-rounded operculum, protruding up to half of prefemur length. Sixth antennomere wide, disc with more than 40 sensory cones. Number of sensory cones sexually dimorphic, males with almost twice as many cones as females. Legs with single, well-developed coxal lobe. Underside of anal shield with one short black locking carina on each side. Neither groove nor sclerotized teeth present on antennomeres. .............................. .................................................................. Sphaeromimus (3 species, see Wesener & Sierwald 2005b for a revision)

- Anterior telopods with three podomeres distal to syncoxite. Harp on first podomere with one or two (in one exception three) stridulation ribs. Operculum of vulva medially notched (subreniform) or operculum well-rounded, but not surpassing coxa. Legs without coxal lobe. Underside of anal shield with one or two black locking carinae on each side, or carina absent. Sixth antennomere cylindrical, disc with four or up to 45 sensory cones. At least first antennomere with sclerotized teeth.............................................................................................................................. 2

2. Underside of anal shield on each side with one large carina (Fig. 1B). First antennomere with isolated, elongated, conical, sclerotized teeth (Fig. 3B). Anal shield covered with large grooves and special (rotated around the middle axis), stout setae. Specimens smaller than 20 mm ............... Microsphaerotherium Wesener & VandenSpiegel, 2007

- Underside of anal shield on each side with two black locking carinae, or carina absent. First antennomere with scalelike sclerotized teeth (Fig. 8B). Anal shield not covered by special stout setae. Mature specimens larger than 20 mm. ............................................................................................................................................................... Zoosphaerium