Millipedes
Guides
Abacionidae
crested millipedes
Abacionidae is a family of crested millipedes in the order Callipodida, established by Shelley in 1979. The family contains at least three genera—Abacion, Delophon, and Tetracion—with approximately 13 described species. Members of this family occur in both surface and cave habitats, with some species showing troglobiotic adaptations including reduced pigmentation and non-functional eyes.
Callipodida
Crested Millipedes
Callipodida is an order of millipedes comprising approximately 130 species across three extant suborders and seven families. Members are characterized by elongated bodies with 40–60 segments, reaching up to 100 mm in length, and often display distinctive dorsal crests or ridges. The order exhibits a disjunct distribution across the Northern Hemisphere, with populations in North America, Europe, western Asia, southern China, and Southeast Asia. Sexual maturity is achieved through teloanamorphosis, with males possessing a single pair of gonopods derived from the seventh leg pair.
Cambalidae
Cambalidae is a family of millipedes in the order Spirostreptida, comprising at least 20 genera and 80 described species. The family was established by Bollman in 1893. Members are classified within the superfamily Cambalidea and are part of the large Juliformia group of millipedes.
Desmonus
Desmonus is a genus of flat-backed millipedes in the family Sphaeriodesmidae, first described by Cook in 1898. The genus contains approximately 10 described species distributed in the southeastern United States. Members of this genus belong to the order Polydesmida, characterized by their flattened body form and lateral extensions of the exoskeleton.
Hirudisomatidae
Hirudisomatidae is a family of colobognathan millipedes in the order Polyzoniida, comprising approximately 20 species across seven genera. The family exhibits a disjunct distribution spanning Eurasia from Spain to the Himalayas, Japan, and western North America from southwest Canada to central Mexico. Members of this family possess characteristic colobognathan features including reduced mouthparts and a simplified head structure. The family contains two genera in the Western Hemisphere (Octoglena and Mexiconium) with seven species, while the remaining five genera occur in the Eastern Hemisphere.
Rhinocricidae
Rhinocricidae is a family of millipedes in the order Spirobolida, established by Brölemann in 1913. The family exhibits a disjunct distribution pattern, occurring in Malesia and neighboring parts of Australasia as well as in the Neotropics. It is one of the most species-rich millipede families, with over 500 nominal species classified into 27 genera and 3 subgenera. Members are characterized by their cylindrical body form typical of spirobolidan millipedes and possess well-developed chemical defense systems.
Spirobolidae
Spirobolid Millipedes
Spirobolidae is a family of large, cylindrical millipedes in the order Spirobolida, distributed across tropical and temperate regions worldwide. The family is divided into two subfamilies: Spirobolinae and Tylobolinae. Members of this family include well-known genera such as Narceus in North America, Spirobolus in Asia, and Chicobolus in the southeastern United States. Several species serve as intermediate hosts for parasitic acanthocephalans.
Trigoniulidae
round-backed millipedes
Trigoniulidae is a family of round-backed millipedes in the order Spirobolida, comprising approximately 171 species across 25 genera. The family was established by Attems in 1909. Members are found in tropical and subtropical regions where they inhabit leaf litter and soil environments. Population studies of at least one species, Trigoniulus lumbricinus, indicate seasonal fluctuations correlated with rainfall patterns.
Uroblaniulus
Uroblaniulus is a genus of millipedes in the family Parajulidae, order Julida. Members of this genus are cylindrical millipedes with two pairs of legs per body segment, characteristic of the class Diplopoda. The genus was established by Attems in 1901 and is classified within the tribe Uroblaniulini. Observations have been recorded in the eastern United States, particularly Vermont.
Xystodesmidae
Cherry Millipedes, flat-backed millipedes
Xystodesmidae is a family of flat-backed millipedes in the order Polydesmida, established by O. F. Cook in 1895. The family comprises over 390 described species across 62 genera, with many additional species remaining undescribed. Members are characterized by broad, compact bodies with prominent paranota (lateral keels), chemical defenses based on hydrogen cyanide and benzaldehyde, and frequent participation in Müllerian mimicry rings. Peak diversity occurs in the Appalachian Mountains, where approximately one-third of species are found.