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      An integrative and citizen science based approach to the rediscovery and redescription of the only known high-altitude endemic Pill Millipede, Glomeris aurita Koch (Diplopoda, Glomerida)

      research-article
      PeerJ
      PeerJ Inc.
      Integrative taxonomy, Rediscovery, Citizen science, Bergamasque alps, High-altitude endemics, Color morphs, Biodiversity, CT scan

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          Abstract

          The pill millipede species Glomeris aurita Koch, 1847 remained of relative unknown origin and appearance until its recent rediscovery in samples from the Bergamasque Alps, northern Italy. In order to provide an integrative redescription and accurate identification of the high-altitude microendemic G. aurita, COI barcode sequences from three individuals coming from two different localities were obtained. These sequences are compared with those of the syntopic endemic G. oblongoguttata Verhoeff, 1894, the widespread black morph of G. romana Verhoeff, 1900, as well as several widespread species including G. marginata Villers, 1789, G. connexa Koch, 1847, and G. klugii Brandt, 1833, which have rare colour morphs that exhibit some similarity to G. aurita. To rule-out any identity confusion of G. aurita with other high-altitude or little-known Italian Glomeris, specimens of G. transalpina Koch, 1836, G. oropensis Verhoeff, 1934, and G. primordialis Verhoeff, 1932 were also added to the dataset. Altogether, 24 sequences were compared. Morphologically, the specimens of G. aurita were studied utilizing scanning electron microscopy as well as non-invasive micro-CT technology. The distribution of both Bergamasque endemics, G. aurita and G. oblongoguttata, could be mapped and compared utilizing samples from the Museo civico di Scienze Naturali di Bergamo, as well as photographic evidence from an Italian naturalist forum. G. aurita has a very short active period and is the first known pill millipede species restricted to mountain tops and cold places, possibly representing a Nunatak survivor.

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            Phylogeny in cryptic weevils: molecules, morphology and new genera of western Palaearctic Cryptorhynchinae (Coleoptera�:�Curculionidae)

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                Author and article information

                Contributors
                Journal
                PeerJ
                PeerJ
                peerj
                peerj
                PeerJ
                PeerJ Inc. (San Francisco, USA )
                2167-8359
                13 September 2018
                2018
                : 6
                : e5569
                Affiliations
                [-1] Center for Taxonomy and Evolutionary Research (Section Myriapoda), Zoological Research Museum A. Koenig, Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity , Bonn, Germany
                Article
                5569
                10.7717/peerj.5569
                6139249
                e6bf4c33-8900-43fd-8b02-2d0a8f0cf09e
                ©2018 Wesener

                This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. For attribution, the original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ) and either DOI or URL of the article must be cited.

                History
                : 13 March 2018
                : 13 August 2018
                Funding
                Funded by: Alexander Koenig Gesellschaft (AKG)
                The Alexander Koenig Gesellschaft (AKG), under its now deceased president Uwe Schäkel, funded the research expedition by the author to the three known localities of G. aurita; while ultimately fruitless, this expedition yielded numerous other interesting samples, as well as an opportunity to study the habitat of this elusive species. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
                Categories
                Biogeography
                Entomology
                Taxonomy
                Zoology

                integrative taxonomy,rediscovery,citizen science,bergamasque alps,high-altitude endemics,color morphs,biodiversity,ct scan

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