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Arthropods, 2018, 7(3): 48-52
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Article

Centrobolus size dimorphism breaks Rensch's rule

Mark Cooper
School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Received 4 June 2018;Accepted 10 June 2018;Published 1 September 2018
IAEES

Abstract
This present research aims to study the relative sexual size dimorphism of Centrobolus (Cook) in 18 congenerics. Millipedes illustrated reversed sexual size dimorphism (SSD) where females were larger than males; and broke Rensch's rule as this dimorphism increased with body size. SSD was calculated in 18 species of the genus Centrobolus and illustrated was regressions; male versus female SSD and SSD vs body size. An allometric equation for Centrobolus was (1) ?=0.00051x-0.01071. SSD ranged from 0.63-2.89 (1.55¡À0.63; n not less than 18) and was not negatively correlated (R=0.70485; P=0.00109; n=18 spp.) with volume ranging from 284-2683 mm3 (1097.89¡À638.06; 18). The rejection of the rule appears consistent among arthropods.

Keywords dimorphism;millipede;SSD;size.



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