Eurypauropodidae

Distinguished from other pauropod families by: (1) heavily sclerotized, ornamented tergites versus weakly sclerotized tergites in most pauropods; (2) six entire tergites covering head and pygidium versus divided or different arrangements; (3) brown adult coloration versus nearly white adults in other families; (4) larger body size and robust, flattened oval shape; (5) litter-dwelling habitat preference versus deep soil preference; (6) inability to coil body; (7) single anal plate on pygidial sternum. Genus-level identification requires examination of tergite ornamentation patterns and leg segmentation.

Primarily inhabits leaf litter and upper soil layers rather than deep soil. Found in mixed forests and broad-leaved forests. The thick, heavily sclerotized cuticle provides resistance to drought conditions, allowing occupation of drier microhabitats than most pauropods, which require humid environments.

Present on all continents except South America and Antarctica. Genus Samarangopus has broadest distribution: Indomalayan realm (Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Borneo), Afrotropical realm (Rwanda, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion), Australasian realm (Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, New Caledonia), and eastern Palearctic (Japan). Other genera restricted to Holarctic: Eurypauropus (Nearctic: United States; Palearctic: Japan), Trachypauropus (Palearctic: Great Britain, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Balkans, Turkey, Israel), Acopauropus (Palearctic: Algeria, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Balkans, Georgia, Korea).

Development involves leg pair addition: juveniles observed with 5, 6, or 8 pairs of legs; adults possess 9 pairs of legs.

Capable of strikingly fast movement. Unlike most pauropods, does not coil its body.

Inhabits decomposing leaf litter; likely contributes to decomposition processes and nutrient cycling in forest floor ecosystems.

No direct economic or medical significance. Subject of taxonomic and systematic research; new species continue to be described.

• PauropodidaeOther major pauropod family; distinguished by weakly sclerotized tergites, smaller size, nearly white coloration even in adults, preference for deep soil habitats, and sensitivity to dry conditions.

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Taxonomic and distributional notes on pauropods from the United States (Myriapoda, Pauropoda: Pauropodidae, Eurypauropodidae)
• Two new species of the genus Samarangopus and the first record of Eurypauropusjaponicus (Arthropoda, Myriapoda, Pauropoda, Eurypauropodidae) from China.