Xystodesmidae

Xystodesmidae
Apheloria virginiensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Diplopoda
Order: Polydesmida
Superfamily: Xystodesmoidea
Family: Xystodesmidae
Cook, 1895
Tribes

See text

Xystodesmidae is a family of millipedes. Its members often have very small distributional areas, with many species only known from a single locality.[1] They are found across the northern hemisphere, with peak diversity in the Appalachian Mountains, where one-third of the 300 or so species occur.[2] They are particularly abundant in deciduous broadleaf forests in the Mediterranean Basin, Africa, Asia, Central and North America, and Russia.[2] Information on basic taxonomy is scant for this family; for example, it is estimated that the genus Nannaria contains over 200 species, but only 25 have so far been described.[2]

The family is divided into the following tribes:[3]

References

  1. ^ Richard L. Hoffman (1995). "Laurel Creek Xystodesmid Milliped Sigmoria whiteheadi". In Karen Terwilliger, John R. Tate & Susan L. Woodward. A Guide to Endangered and Threatened Species in Virginia. University of Tennessee Press. p. 58. ISBN 9780939923311. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ZDHL6f2SAuMC&pg=PA58. 
  2. ^ a b c Paul E. Marek & Jason E. Bond (2006). "Phylogenetic systematics of the colorful, cyanide-producing millipedes of Appalachia (Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae, Apheloriini) using a total evidence Bayesian approach" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 41 (3): 704–729. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.043. PMID 16876439. http://www.apheloria.org/pubs/MarekBond_MPE_2006.pdf. 
  3. ^ "Xystodesmidae Cook, 1895". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=569031. Retrieved November 28, 2010. 

External links