Genus Sphaerobelum Verhoeff, 1924

A complete synonymy is provided by Jeekel (2001: 17)

Type species. Sphaerobelum clavigerum Verhoeff, 1924

Other species included. S. hirsutum Verhoeff, 1924; S. bicorne Attems, 1938; S. separatum Attems, 1953, S. truncatum n. sp.

Diagnosis. Males of Sphaerobelum species can be distinguished from all other giant pill-millipede genera in the world by the distally swollen process of the second joint of the posterior telopod.

Comments. A comprehensive description of the genus Sphaerobelum cannot be given at the moment. However, all species currently assigned to the genus display the following unique combination of characters: posterior telopods consisting of four podomeres and with a large process on the 2nd podomere which features a greatly enlarged, swollen-looking tip (Fig. 11D). The latter feature has been described for all four species included in the genus and figured for three of them (Verhoeff, 1924, fig. 36 for S. clavigerum; Attems, 1938, figs. 18, 19 for S. bicorne; Attems, 1953, fig. 27 for S. separatum). Special attention should be given to the minute Tömösváry organ, which is separated by a sclerotized crest from the eye field at least in some Zephronia species, a structure not present in Sphaerobelum .