Polydesmida: Dalodesmidae: Ginglymodesmus

Ginglymodesmus tasmanianus Mesibov, 2005

Males in the H+19 genus Ginglymodesmus are 5-6 mm long, uncommon and inconspicuous. Females have not yet been distinguished from other, very similar Polydesmida living in the same habitats. Adult males are easily recognisable by their gonopods, which are long, slender and "hinged" in the middle. The three known species of Ginglymodesmus can be identified by close examination of the gonopods.

Ginglymodesmus tasmanianus: close-up of gonopod (left) and micrograph of "hinge" (right)

Right gonopod, posterior and lateral views for G. penelopae and G. sumac; left gonopod, posterior and medial views for G. tasmanianus

Ginglymodesmus sumac is so far known only from rainforest near Julius River and Lagunta Creek. Ginglymodesmus penelopae and G. tasmanianus both occur in a range of forest types, and G. tasmanianus has also been found in coastal scrub.

 

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