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Desmoxytes purpurosea also known as dragon millipede, is a spiny and toxic millipede named for its vivid pink color. It was formally described in 2007 from a specimen collected at the Hup Pa Tard limestone cavern in the Uthai Thani Province of Thailand. Among the largest species of its genus, the adult millipede is approximately 3 cm (1.2 in) long. It lives in the open on leaf litter. Large numbers of them occur after rain showers. The millipede has glands that produce hydrogen cyanide to protect it from predators, which causes it to smell like almonds. Its toxicity is advertised by its aposematic color.
Desmoxytes, whose species are commonly known as the dragon millipedes, is a genus of millipedes of the family Paradoxosomatidae found in Southeast Asia. The genus was described by Ralph Vary Chamberlin in 1923, and reviewed by Sergei Golovatch and Henrik Enghoff in 1994. At least 18 species are known from to Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. One species, D. planata, has also been observed in Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands, Seychelles, Java, Great Coco Island, and Fiji; however, this species has expanded its range by being transported through human activity. Several species have only recently been discovered, and some have yet to be officially described.
Polydesmida is the largest order of millipedes, with more than 5,000 species, including all the millipedes reported to produce hydrogen cyanide (HCN). This order is also the most diverse of the millipede orders in terms of morphology. Millipedes in this order are found in all regions of the world other than Antarctica.
Sphaerotheriida is an order of millipedes in the infraclass Pentazonia, sometimes known as giant pill millipedes. They inhabit Southern Africa, Madagascar, South and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Like the Northern Hemisphere pill millipedes of the order Glomerida, these millipedes can roll into a ball when disturbed. When they are rolled-up, most sphaerotheriidans reach a maximum size of a cherry or golf ball, but some species from Madagascar can even reach the size of an orange. When rolled-up, predators are unable to unravel giant pill millipedes since the margins of their second and last dorsal plates fit perfectly into one another, creating a sealed ball. A few giant pill millipede species are able to produce sound, the only millipedes known to do this. This order of millipedes is also unique in that some African species are used for medicinal purposes.
Dalodesmidae is a family of millipedes in the order Polydesmida, containing at least 250 species found in the Southern Hemisphere.
Chordeumatida is a large order of millipedes containing more than 1,400 species. Also known as sausage millipedes, they are found nearly worldwide. Chordeumatida is the largest order in the superorder Nematophora, a group also known as spinning millipedes because their telsons feature spinnerets used to build nests of silk. These millipedes produce this silk to create chambers in which to molt or to lay their eggs.
Casimir Albrecht Willem Jeekel (1922–2010) was a Dutch myriapodologist and entomologist known for his major contributions to the taxonomy of millipedes. His 1971 monograph Nomenclator Generum et Familiarum Diplopodorum is credited as launching the "modern era" of millipede taxonomy, and has been considered the "most important single work ever published on the Diplopoda". He served as director of the Zoological Museum Amsterdam, and authored over 150 works on the taxonomy of millipedes and other myriapods.
Hylomus rhinoceros is an aposematic species of dragon millipede in the family Paradoxosomatidae. It is only known from Champasak and Sekong Provinces in southern Laos.
Hylomus rhinoparvus is a species of dragon millipede in the family Paradoxosomatidae. It is only known from Houaphanh province of northeastern Laos.
Crosbycus is a potentially monotypic genus of harvestmen in the family Taracidae, with one species found in North America as of 2023, per the World Catalog of Opiliones.
Tingupidae is a family of millipedes in the order Chordeumatida. Adult millipedes in this family have 28 or 30 segments. There are 2 genera and 13 described species in Tingupidae.
Lissodesmus is a genus of the Dalodesmidae family of Millipedes. Species of the genus are found in Australia. They are commonly known as Tasmanian multipedes.
Lusitanipus is a genus of millipedes in the family Dorypetalidae. The genus is endemic to the Iberian peninsula; L. alternans is endemic to Portugal and L. xanin is only known from Spain. It was believed to be a monotypic genus until the 2020 discovery of L. xanin.
Plumatyla humerosa is a millipede species found in mines, as well as lava tube and limestone caves of northern California and south-central Oregon. It belongs to the family Conotylidae. The millipede is likely a troglophile with a white carapace and observed in lava caves though it may inhabit crevices as well. P. humerosa is observed frequenting areas with mold or bat feces on the cave floors. Taracus marchingtoni has been observed feeding on P. humerosa within cave habitat.
Inodesmus is a genus of millipedes in the family Haplodesmidae, first described by Orator F. Cook in 1896. The type species is I. jamaicensis. Members of this genus are found in Jamaica, New Caledonia, and the Australian states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
References
- 1 2 3 Enghoff, Henrik; Sutcharit, Chirasak; Panha, Somsak (2007). "The shocking pink dragon millipede, Desmoxytes purpurosea, a colourful new species from Thailand" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1563: 31–36. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1563.1.3. ISSN 1175-5326 . Retrieved 2008-12-16.
- ↑ Mesibov, Robert (November 2006). "Dirt-encrusted and dragon millipedes (Diplopoda: Polydesmida:Paradoxosomatidae) from Queensland, Australia" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1354: 31–44. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1354.1.2. ISSN 1175-5334 . Retrieved 2008-12-17.
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