Tectosphaera
Tectosphaera is a genus of pill millipede found in Northwestern Iberia. It currently contains only one known species, Tectosphaera vicenteae.
Description
Tectosphaera millipedes are approximately 3-4 mm in length. The thoracic shield has a lateral circular groove to accommodate the lateral tips of the tergites when the millipede is curled up in a defensive posture. The head possesses a Y-shaped crest and antennal grooves.Like those of other Doderiinae millipedes, male Tectosphaera millipedes have telopods at the 19th pair of legs, the femur of which bears a long, internal distal process on its caudal surface. The 17th pair of legs possesses non-rounded syncoxal lobes and 3-segmented telopodites.
The tergites of Tectosphaera millipedes are smooth, without tranverse ridges. They are densely and strongly punctuated. The penultimate 11th tergite extends into a posterior pseudo-telson. The corselet possesses hollow lateral lobes, similar to those of the Trachysphaera genus.