Millipede leg morphology

Description

The 16 main groups of millipedes (Diplopoda) show great differences in the appearance of their legs, which can consist of 6, 7, or 8 joints. In this project the leg musculature of millipede species belonging to all 16 extant main millipede groups (orders) will be studied comparatively for the first time. This study will be conducted in the course of a Master thesis by TIm Dannenfeld as part of the international Master OEP programme of the University of Bonn. Based on already existing synchrotone CT scan data prepared at the DESY in Hamburg, Germany, the musculature of the legs will be reconstructed digitally and therefore non-invasively. This is even more impressive as the legs of millipedes are numerous, but also in many species very small, havin a total length of less than 0.5 mm. The, especially in comparison to time consuming histology, non-destructive approach allows the study of very rare species which only exists in a few Museum collections worldwide.

Location