Penicillata
Guides
Polyxenida
bristle millipedes, bristly millipedes, pincushion millipedes
Polyxenida is an order of millipedes distinguished by a soft, non-calcified exoskeleton covered in distinctive tufts of bristles. They are the only living members of the subclass Penicillata, which represents the most basal lineage of living millipedes. This order comprises approximately 148 species across four families worldwide. Polyxenida exhibit several unique derived traits including indirect sperm transfer via spermatophores deposited in webs, and a mechanical defense using detachable barbed bristles rather than chemical defenses.
Polyxenidae
pincushion millipedes, bristly millipedes
Polyxenidae is a family of small millipedes in the subclass Penicillata, characterized by distinctive bundles of bristles (setae) at the posterior end. Adults range from 1.2–4.2 mm in length and possess 13 pairs of legs with 10 tergites anterior to the telson. The family contains approximately 109 species across 23 genera, distributed worldwide except Antarctica. Males produce spermatophores delivered via specialized pores on leg pairs 6–11.