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.[1] At least 18 species are known from to Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.[2] 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.[1][3] Several species have only recently been discovered, and some have yet to be officially described.[3]

Desmoxytes
Desmoxytes purpurosea, the "shocking pink dragon millipede" from Thailand
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Diplopoda
Order: Polydesmida
Family: Paradoxosomatidae
Subfamily: Paradoxosomatinae
Tribe: Orthomorphini
Genus: Desmoxytes
Chamberlin, 1923
Type species
Desmoxytes planata
(Pocock, 1895)
Species

18, see text

Generally, species in this genus are striking in coloration and spiny,[3] although several species are cave-dwelling, and show troglomorphic characteristics, such as pale brownish coloration and long, narrow spines.[4] This genus is unique for its sculptured, ornamented dorsum, and elaborate paranota.[5] The maximum length for a species in this genus is around 3 cm (1.2 in).[3] Species in this genus also have the ability to produce hydrogen cyanide to ward off predators, which can give the dragon millipedes an almond-like smell.[3]

Species

edit

Other than D. planata, each species of dragon millipede is known primarily from only one or a few locations in their country of origin.[3] Additionally, one species from Australia, Desmoxytoides hasenpuschorum, is extremely similar to Desmoxytes, but has been split into its own monotypic genus; speculation exists, even by the genus authority for Desmoxytoides, that this split is not necessary.[3] In 2018, the genus Hylomus was reinstated and 33 Desmoxytes species were reassigned to this genus.[2]

Binomial names Authority Year Range
Desmoxytes aurata Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018   Thailand
Desmoxytes breviverpa Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2016   Thailand
Desmoxytes cervina Pocock 1895   Myanmar
Desmoxytes corythosaurus Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018   Thailand
Desmoxytes delfae Jeekel 1964   Thailand
Desmoxytes des Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2016   Thailand
Desmoxytes euros Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018   Thailand
Desmoxytes flabella Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018   Thailand
Desmoxytes golovatchi Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018   Thailand
Desmoxytes octoconigera Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018   Thailand
Desmoxytes perakensis Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018   Malaysia
Desmoxytes pinnasquali Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2016   Thailand
Desmoxytes planata Pocock 1895 widespread
Desmoxytes purpurosea Enghoff, Sutcharit & Panha 2007   Thailand
Desmoxytes takensis Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2016   Thailand
Desmoxytes taurina Pocock 1895   Myanmar
Desmoxytes terae Jeekel 1964   Malaysia,   Thailand
Desmoxytes waepyanensis Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018   Myanmar

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Enghoff, Henrik (November 2005). "The millipedes of Thailand (Diplopoda)" (PDF). Steenstrupia. 29 (1). Copenhagen: 87–103. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
  2. ^ a b Srisonchai, Ruttapon; Enghoff, Henrik; Likhitrakarn, Natdanai; Panha, Somsak (29 May 2018). "A revision of dragon millipedes I: genus Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923, with the description of eight new species (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae)". ZooKeys (761): 1–177. doi:10.3897/zookeys.761.24214. PMC 5988806. PMID 29875597. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g 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. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
  4. ^ Golovatch, Sergei; Li, Youbang; Liu, Weixin; Geoffroy, Jean-Jacques (2012). "Three new cavernicolous species of dragon millipedes, genus Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923, from southern China, with notes on a formal congener from the Philippines (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae)". ZooKeys (185): 1–17. doi:10.3897/zookeys.185.3082. PMC 3345791. PMID 22577310.
  5. ^ Shelley, Rowland; Selena Bauer (1998). "The Milliped Family Paradoxosomatidae in the Hawaiian Islands (Diplopoda: Polydesmida)" (PDF). Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 56: 48–49. Retrieved 2008-12-17.