# Desmoxytes

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Genus of millipedes

Desmoxytes Desmoxytes purpurosea, the "shocking pink dragon millipede" from Thailand Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Myriapoda Class: Diplopoda Order: Polydesmida Family: Paradoxosomatidae Subfamily: Paradoxosomatinae Tribe: Orthomorphini Genus: Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923 Type species Desmoxytes planata (Pocock, 1895) Species 18, see text

***Desmoxytes***, whose species are commonly known as the **dragon millipedes**, is a genus of [millipedes](/source/Millipede) of the family [Paradoxosomatidae](/source/Paradoxosomatidae) found in [Southeast Asia](/source/Southeast_Asia). The genus was described by [Ralph Vary Chamberlin](/source/Ralph_Vary_Chamberlin) in 1923, and reviewed by Sergei Golovatch and Henrik Enghoff in 1994.[1] At least 18 species are known from to [Malaysia](/source/Malaysia), [Myanmar](/source/Myanmar), and [Thailand](/source/Thailand).[2] One species, *D. planata*, has also been observed in [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka), the [Andaman Islands](/source/Andaman_Islands), [Seychelles](/source/Seychelles), [Java](/source/Java), [Great Coco Island](/source/Great_Coco_Island), and [Fiji](/source/Fiji); however, this species has expanded its range by being transported through human activity.[1][3] Several species have only recently been discovered, and some have yet to be officially described.[3]

Generally, species in this genus are striking in coloration and spiny,[3] although several species are cave-dwelling, and show [troglomorphic](/source/Troglomorphic) characteristics, such as pale brownish coloration and long, narrow spines.[4] This genus is unique for its sculptured, ornamented dorsum, and elaborate paranota.[5] The maximum length for a species in this genus is around 3 cm (1.2 in).[3] Species in this genus also have the ability to produce [hydrogen cyanide](/source/Hydrogen_cyanide) to ward off predators, which can give the dragon millipedes an almond-like smell.[3]

## 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.[3] Additionally, one species from Australia, *[Desmoxytoides hasenpuschorum](/source/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.[3] In 2018, the genus *[Hylomus](/source/Hylomus)* was reinstated and 33 *Desmoxytes* species were reassigned to this genus.[2]

Binomial names Authority Year Range Desmoxytes aurata Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018 Thailand Desmoxytes breviverpa Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2016 Thailand Desmoxytes cervina Pocock 1895 Myanmar Desmoxytes corythosaurus Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018 Thailand Desmoxytes delfae Jeekel 1964 Thailand Desmoxytes des Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2016 Thailand Desmoxytes euros Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018 Thailand Desmoxytes flabella Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018 Thailand Desmoxytes golovatchi Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018 Thailand Desmoxytes octoconigera Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018 Thailand Desmoxytes perakensis Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018 Malaysia Desmoxytes pinnasquali Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2016 Thailand Desmoxytes planata Pocock 1895 widespread Desmoxytes purpurosea Enghoff, Sutcharit & Panha 2007 Thailand Desmoxytes takensis Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2016 Thailand Desmoxytes taurina Pocock 1895 Myanmar Desmoxytes terae Jeekel 1964 Malaysia, Thailand Desmoxytes waepyanensis Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha 2018 Myanmar

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Enghoff_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Enghoff_1-1) Enghoff, Henrik (November 2005). ["The millipedes of Thailand (Diplopoda)"](https://www.zmuc.dk/commonweb/JOURNALS/PDF/Vol29-1/Enghoff.pdf) (PDF). *Steenstrupia*. **29** (1). Copenhagen: 87–103. Retrieved 2008-12-16.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) Srisonchai, Ruttapon; Enghoff, Henrik; Likhitrakarn, Natdanai; Panha, Somsak (29 May 2018). ["A revision of dragon millipedes I: genus *Desmoxytes* Chamberlin, 1923, with the description of eight new species (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae)"](https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=24214). *ZooKeys* (761): 1–177. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3897/zookeys.761.24214](https://doi.org/10.3897%2Fzookeys.761.24214). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [5988806](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5988806). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [29875597](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29875597). Retrieved 30 June 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-purpurosea_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-purpurosea_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-purpurosea_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-purpurosea_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-purpurosea_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-purpurosea_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-purpurosea_3-6) Enghoff, Henrik; Sutcharit, Chirasak; Panha, Somsak (2007). ["The shocking pink dragon millipede, *Desmoxytes purpurosea*, a colourful new species from Thailand"](http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01563p036.pdf) (PDF). *Zootaxa*. **1563**: 31–36. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.11646/zootaxa.1563.1.3](https://doi.org/10.11646%2Fzootaxa.1563.1.3). Retrieved 2008-12-16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GolovatchEtAl2012_4-0)** Golovatch, Sergei; Li, Youbang; Liu, Weixin; Geoffroy, Jean-Jacques (2012). ["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)"](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-). *ZooKeys* (185): 1–17. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3897/zookeys.185.3082](https://doi.org/10.3897%2Fzookeys.185.3082). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [3345791](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3345791). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [22577310](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22577310).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Shelley_5-0)** Shelley, Rowland; Selena Bauer (1998). ["The Milliped Family Paradoxosomatidae in the Hawaiian Islands (Diplopoda: Polydesmida)"](http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/fiji/pdf/shelley-bauer1998.pdf) (PDF). *Bishop Museum Occasional Papers*. **56**: 48–49. Retrieved 2008-12-17.

Taxon identifiers Desmoxytes Wikidata: Q3784435 Wikispecies: Desmoxytes ADW: Desmoxytes CoL: 7P8ZX GBIF: 1017692 iNaturalist: 366883 IRMNG: 1171692 NCBI: 614299 Open Tree of Life: 3377339 Plazi: 8E248799-FF91-FF8F-FF39-E1AD76BEEEF9 WoRMS: 891424

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