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Reproductory behaviour of millipedes (Myriapoda: Diplopoda)
Habrová, Jitka ; Dolejš, Petr (advisor) ; Tuf, Ivan Hadrián (referee)
Reproduction is one of the most important parts of life of each animal. Courtship and copulation are very diverse in millipedes and differ among orders and species. Examining millipedes during their reproductive period enable us to investigate their mating behaviour. In addition, complex copulatory organs, namely those of males, are important for species delimitation and identification. I summarize basic taxonomy and morphology of millipedes that help to understand further knowledge from copulatory organ morphology to their function during copulation or courtship. I deal with copulatory organs of males (gonopods, telopods) and females (vulvae) as well as with secondary sexual characteristics (hook-like structures, adhesive pads, forceps-like mandibles, glands). I briefly mention the course of courtship (licking, "Schwänzeln", holding, stridulation, drumming, tactile and chemical communication) and copulation for each millipede order to point out the main behavioural differences. Species from the orders Julida, Spirostreptida and Polydesmida are the best explored, whereas in order Polyxenida, behaviour of only one species is described - Polyxenus lagurus.
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