Atopetholus
Chamberlin, 1918
Species Guides
1Atopetholus is a of millipedes in the Atopetholidae, order Spirobolida. The genus was established by Chamberlin in 1918 and contains approximately eight described , all distributed in western North America, particularly California. Species in this genus are cylindrical millipedes characteristic of the Atopetholidae family.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Atopetholus: /ˌætəˈpɛθələs/
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Identification
Members of Atopetholus can be distinguished from other spirobolidan millipedes by their membership in the Atopetholidae, which is characterized by specific structures used in identification. The is distinguished from related genera primarily through male genitalia (gonopod) , which requires microscopic examination. All eight species are to western North America and show limited geographic overlap.
Distribution
Western North America, with all described to California and adjacent regions. Specific species distributions include: A. angelus (California), A. barbaranus (California), A. californicus (California), A. carmelitus (California), A. fraternus (California), A. michelbacheri (California), A. paroicus (California), and A. pearcei (California).
Similar Taxa
- Other Atopetholidae generaRelated in the same share cylindrical body form and western North American distribution; definitive separation requires examination of .
- Other SpirobolidaMembers of orders Spirobolida, Spirostreptida, and Julida can appear superficially similar as large cylindrical millipedes; -level identification requires detailed anatomical study.
More Details
Taxonomic history
The was established by Ralph V. Chamberlin, a prolific American myriapodologist who described the majority of the known between 1918 and 1950. The species epithet 'michelbacheri' was originally described under a different genus by German myriapodologist Karl Wilhelm Verhoeff in 1938 before transfer to Atopetholus.
Research status
This is poorly represented in biodiversity databases, with only 9 observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the source date, suggesting limited field documentation and potential for undetected .