Pauropodidae
Pauropodidae is a family of pauropods in the order Tetramerocerata. This group is the most diverse family of pauropods, containing 27 genera and more than 800 species. These pauropods usually live in the soil on mountains and hills.
Description
Pauropods in this family are generally whitish and small, less than 2 mm in length. These pauropods feature a ventral antennal branch with one seta and one globulus. The dorsal surface of the head features a single anterior seta and four transverse rows of setae.The tergites are entire rather than divided into multiple sclerites. These tergites are weakly sclerotized, allowing many species in this family to curve their soft bodies in all directions. The setae on these tergites are arranged in regular transverse rows. The setae on the head and tergites are usually tapering or cylindrical. The middle of the posterior end of the sternum of the pygidium has only one anal plate attached.
Like most adult pauropods in the order Tetramerocerata, most adults in this family have nine pairs of legs, but adults in one genus, Cauvetauropus, have only eight pairs of legs, and female adults in another genus, Decapauropus, have nine or ten pairs of legs. The first and last pairs of legs have five segments. In most genera, the remaining legs have six segments instead, but in some genera, all legs may have five segments.