Petaserpes

Cope, 1870

Species Guides

2

Petaserpes is a of millipedes in the Polyzoniidae, established by Cope in 1870. The genus comprises six described distributed in the eastern and central United States. Members of this genus belong to the order Polyzoniida, a group characterized by distinctive morphological features including reduced or absent and a somewhat flattened body form.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Petaserpes: //pɛtəˈsɜrpiːz//

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Identification

Members of Petaserpes can be distinguished from other polyzoniid millipedes by characteristics of the -level classification within the tribe Petaserpetini. Specific identification to level requires examination of and other detailed anatomical features. The genus is part of the order Polyzoniida, which is characterized by with 18 body segments (including the ) and reduced or absent .

Distribution

Eastern and central United States. Documented occurrence records include Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, and Illinois.

Similar Taxa

  • PolyzoniumBoth belong to the Polyzoniidae and share the general body plan of flattened, eyeless or reduced- millipedes. Polyzonium is primarily Palearctic in distribution, whereas Petaserpes is Nearctic.
  • SiphonotusAnother in Polyzoniidae; differs in structure and geographic distribution, with Siphonotus occurring in western North America and other regions.

More Details

Species diversity

The contains six described : Petaserpes bikermani, P. cryptocephalus, P. lateralis, P. mutabilis, P. rosalbus (the type species), and P. strictus.

Sources and further reading