Rhinotus

Members of Rhinotus can be distinguished from other siphonotid genera by their position within the tribe Rhinotini; specific diagnostic characters for the genus require examination of gonopod morphology and other detailed anatomical features not summarized in available sources.

Synanthropic environments including greenhouses; natural habitat preferences for most species are poorly documented.

Cosmopolitan distribution for at least some species; Rhinotus purpureus has been recorded from England (Kew Gardens), Germany, Central America, southern United States, Comoro Islands, Madagascar, Indian Ocean Islands, and India.

At least one species, Rhinotus purpureus, is designated as a common tramp species, frequently transported through human activity and established in greenhouses and other artificial environments far from its native range.

Rhinotus purpureus is a frequent greenhouse pest or inhabitant, repeatedly introduced to new regions through plant trade and human commerce; the genus has been subject to taxonomic confusion due to repeated descriptions of the same widespread species under different names.

• Other Polyzoniida generaRhinotus belongs to the tribe Rhinotini within Siphonotidae; other genera in the family Siphonotidae share the colobognathan head morphology with reduced mandibles and elongated gnathochilarium, but differ in specific gonopod structure and other subtle anatomical features.

• millipede
• Polyzoniida
• Siphonotidae
• tramp species
• synanthropic
• greenhouse
• cosmopolitan

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• On the report of a new world millipede (Rhinotus purpureus) from India