| Narceus gordanus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Diplopoda |
| Order: | Spirobolida |
| Family: | Spirobolidae |
| Genus: | Narceus |
| Species: | N. gordanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Narceus gordanus (Chamberlin, 1943) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Spirobolus gordanus Chamberlin, 1943 | |
Narceus gordanus, also known as smokey oak millipede and smokey ghost millipede, is a species of spirobolid millipede native to the south-eastern United States. Adults range from around 60 to 120 mm (2.4 to 4.7 in) in length, up to 13 mm wide, and possess 45 to 65 body segments. The body color is lighter than other species of the genus Narceus, with each body ring a light greenish tan followed by a band of darker tan. N. gordanus also has shorter legs than other Narceus species, and a deeper groove on the head in which the antennae rest.
Narceus gordanus occurs in Florida scrub habitat of peninsular Florida, and ranges as far north as South Carolina, with possible records in Tennessee. N. gordanus matches the color of sand in some Florida habitats, even though it is mainly active at night. Narceus gordanus, similar to other millipedes, responds to threats by secreting a foul-smelling and tasting fluid and coiling into a defensive spiral to protect its underbelly and head. When exposed to human skin, these secretions can cause a harmless discoloration known as millipede burn. Their diet consists of decaying leaves, wood, and other detritus.
Photos
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Curled in a defensive spiral
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N. gordanus and N. americanus eating a strawberry
References
- ^ Keeton, William T. (1960). "A taxonomic study of the milliped family Spirobolidae (Diplopoda; Spirobolida)". Memoirs of the American Entomological Society. 17: 1–146.
- Eisner, Thomas (2005). For Love of Insects. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap. p. 80. ISBN 9780674018273.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Narceus gordanus | |
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