Scientific name Platydesmida Rank Order | Infraclass Helminthomorpha Subclass Chilognatha | |
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Similar Polyzoniida, Callipodida, Stemmiulidae, Siphoniulus, Siphonocryptida | ||
Platydesmida (Greek for platy "flat" and desmos "bond") is an order of millipedes containing two families and over 60 species. Some species practice paternal care, in which males guard the eggs.
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Description
Platydesmidans have a flattened body shape with lateral extensions (paranota) on each segment. They lack eyes, and have between 30 and 110 body segments. They measure up to 60 mm (2.4 in) in length.
Behavior
While most millipedes feed on dead or decomposing leaf litter platydesmidans may be specialized to feed on fungi. Platydesmidans have also been studied with regard to parental investment, in that males of some species coil around eggs and young, a rare example of paternal care in arthropods. This behavior has been observed in species of Brachycybe from North America and Japan, and Bazillozonium and Yamasinaium from Japan, all are in the family Andrognathidae.
Distribution
Platydesmidans occur in North America, Central America, the Mediterranean region of Europe, Japan, China, southeast Asia and Indonesia.
Classification
The order contains two families.
Family Andrognathidae Cope, 1869
Family Platydesmidae DeSaussure, 1860
