IS MASS CORRELATED WITH LENGTH AMONG RED MILLIPEDES CENTROBOLUS COOK, 1897?

Author Name: Mark Ian Cooper

Volume/Issue: 03/05

Country: South Africa

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/11.2022-42796679/UIJIR

Affiliation:

University of Johannesburg, South Africa

ABSTRACT

Body mass variation was correlated with male and female length in the red millipede genus Centrobolus. Mass and length (r=0.86, Z score=2.87, n=8, p<0.01) in males (r=0.97, Z score=2.99, n=5, p<0.01) and females (r=0.96, Z score=2.72, n=5, p<0.01) were correlated. C. inscriptus females have the largest length (67.4 mm) and the highest mass (2.61 g) while C. digrammus has the shortest length (49.9 mm) and the lightest mass (0.68 g). Because Sexual Size Dimorphism (SSD) was inversely correlated with mass, lighter individuals experienced greater competition which gave heavier individuals a competitive advantage.

Key words: Dimorphic; female; length; mass; morphology; ratio