{{Short description|Genus of millipedes}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Desmoxytes purpurosea 01.jpg | image_caption = ''[[Desmoxytes purpurosea]]'', the "shocking pink dragon millipede" from Thailand | display_parents = 2 | taxon = Desmoxytes | authority = [[Ralph Vary Chamberlin|Chamberlin]], 1923 | type_species = ''[[Desmoxytes planata]]'' | type_species_authority = ([[Reginald Innes Pocock|Pocock]], 1895) | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = 18, see text | synonyms = }}
'''''Desmoxytes''''', whose species are commonly known as the '''dragon millipedes''', is a genus of [[millipede]]s of the family [[Paradoxosomatidae]] found in [[Southeast Asia]]. The genus was described by [[Ralph Vary Chamberlin]] in 1923, and reviewed by Sergei Golovatch and Henrik Enghoff in 1994.<ref name="Enghoff">{{cite journal | last = Enghoff| first = Henrik| title = The millipedes of Thailand (Diplopoda) | journal = Steenstrupia| volume = 29| issue = 1| pages = 87–103| location = Copenhagen| date = November 2005| url = https://www.zmuc.dk/commonweb/JOURNALS/PDF/Vol29-1/Enghoff.pdf| access-date =2008-12-16 }}</ref> At least 18 species are known from to [[Malaysia]], [[Myanmar]], and [[Thailand]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Srisonchai|first1=Ruttapon|last2=Enghoff|first2=Henrik|last3=Likhitrakarn|first3=Natdanai|last4=Panha|first4=Somsak|date=29 May 2018|title=A revision of dragon millipedes I: genus ''Desmoxytes'' Chamberlin, 1923, with the description of eight new species (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae) |journal=ZooKeys |issue=761|pages=1–177 |url=https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=24214|access-date=30 June 2021|doi=10.3897/zookeys.761.24214|pmid=29875597|pmc=5988806|doi-access=free}}</ref> One species, ''D. planata'', has also been observed in [[Sri Lanka]], the [[Andaman Islands]], [[Seychelles]], [[Java]], [[Great Coco Island]], and [[Fiji]]; however, this species has expanded its range by being transported through human activity.<ref name="Enghoff"/><ref name="purpurosea ">{{cite journal |last=Enghoff |first=Henrik |author2=Sutcharit, Chirasak |author3=Panha, Somsak |year=2007 |title=The shocking pink dragon millipede, ''Desmoxytes purpurosea'', a colourful new species from Thailand |journal=Zootaxa |volume=1563 |pages=31–36 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.1563.1.3 |url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01563p036.pdf |access-date=2008-12-16 }}</ref> Several species have only recently been discovered, and some have yet to be officially described.<ref name="purpurosea "/>
Generally, species in this genus are striking in coloration and spiny,<ref name="purpurosea "/> although several species are cave-dwelling, and show [[troglomorphic]] characteristics, such as pale brownish coloration and long, narrow spines.<ref name=GolovatchEtAl2012>{{cite journal|last=Golovatch|first=Sergei|author2=Li, Youbang |author3=Liu, Weixin |author4= Geoffroy, Jean-Jacques |title=Three new cavernicolous species of dragon millipedes, genus ''Desmoxytes'' Chamberlin, 1923, from southern China, with notes on a formal congener from the Philippines (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae) |journal=ZooKeys|year=2012|issue=185|pages=1–17|doi=10.3897/zookeys.185.3082|url=https://www.pensoft.net/journals/zookeys/article/3082/abstract/three-new-cavernicolous-species-of-dragon-millipedes-genus-desmoxytes-chamberlin-1923-from-southern-china-with-notes-on- |pmid=22577310 |pmc=3345791|doi-access=free}}</ref> This genus is unique for its sculptured, ornamented dorsum, and elaborate paranota.<ref name="Shelley ">{{cite journal |last=Shelley |first=Rowland|author2=Selena Bauer |year=1998|title= The Milliped Family Paradoxosomatidae in the Hawaiian Islands (Diplopoda: Polydesmida) |journal=Bishop Museum Occasional Papers |volume=56|pages=48–49 |url=http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/fiji/pdf/shelley-bauer1998.pdf |access-date=2008-12-17}}</ref> The maximum length for a species in this genus is around {{convert|3|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name="purpurosea "/> Species in this genus also have the ability to produce [[hydrogen cyanide]] to ward off predators, which can give the dragon millipedes an almond-like smell.<ref name="purpurosea "/>
==Species== Other than ''D. planata'', each species of dragon millipede is known primarily from only one or a few locations in their country of origin.<ref name="purpurosea "/> Additionally, one species from Australia, ''[[Desmoxytoides hasenpuschorum]]'', is extremely similar to ''Desmoxytes'', but has been split into its own monotypic genus; speculation exists, even by the genus authority for ''Desmoxytoides'', that this split is not necessary.<ref name="purpurosea "/> In 2018, the genus ''[[Hylomus]]'' was reinstated and 33 ''Desmoxytes'' species were reassigned to this genus.<ref name=":0" /> {| width=auto class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Binomial names ! Authority ! Year ! Range |- |''[[Desmoxytes aurata]]'' |Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha |2018 |{{THA}} |- | ''[[Desmoxytes breviverpa]]'' | Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha | 2016 | {{THA}} |- | ''[[Desmoxytes cervina]]'' | [[Reginald Innes Pocock|Pocock]] | 1895 | {{MMR}} |- |''[[Desmoxytes corythosaurus]]'' |Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha |2018 |{{THA}} |- | ''[[Desmoxytes delfae]]'' | [[C.A.W. Jeekel|Jeekel]] | 1964 | {{THA}} |- | ''[[Desmoxytes des]]'' | Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha | 2016 | {{THA}} |- |''[[Desmoxytes euros]]'' |Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha |2018 |{{THA}} |- |''[[Desmoxytes flabella]]'' |Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha |2018 |{{THA}} |- |''[[Desmoxytes golovatchi]]'' |Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha |2018 |{{THA}} |- |''[[Desmoxytes octoconigera]]'' |Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha |2018 |{{THA}} |- |''[[Desmoxytes perakensis]]'' |Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha |2018 |{{MYS}} |- | ''[[Desmoxytes pinnasquali]]'' | Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha | 2016 | {{THA}} |- | ''[[Desmoxytes planata]]'' | Pocock | 1895 | widespread |- | ''[[Desmoxytes purpurosea]]'' | Enghoff, Sutcharit & Panha | 2007 | {{THA}} |- | ''[[Desmoxytes takensis]]'' | Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha | 2016 | {{THA}} |- | ''[[Desmoxytes taurina]]'' | Pocock | 1895 | {{MMR}} |- | ''[[Desmoxytes terae]]'' | Jeekel | 1964 | {{MYS}}, {{THA}} |- |''[[Desmoxytes waepyanensis]]'' |Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha |2018 |{{MMR}} |}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
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[[Category:Polydesmida]] [[Category:Desmoxytes| ]] [[Category:Millipede genera]] [[Category:Millipedes of Asia]] [[Category:Cave millipedes]] [[Category:Taxa named by Ralph Vary Chamberlin]]