Trichopolydesmidae
Trichopolydesmidae is a family of millipedes in the order Polydesmida. Some authorities deem this family to include Fuhrmannodesmidae, Mastigonodesmidae, Macrosternodesmidae, and Nearctodesmidae as junior synonyms. Others adopt narrower definitions of this family, for example, including only Fuhrmannodesmidae and Mastigonodesmidae as synonyms.
Under the broader definition, this family includes about 140 species distributed among about 75 genera. These species are found mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the tropics but also in temperate regions. About 80 species and 55 genera are tropical, whereas about 60 species and 20 genera are Holarctic.
Description
Millipedes in this family are small, ranging from 2 mm to 20 mm in length. These millipedes have 18, 19, or 20 segments, counting the collum as the first segment and the telson as the last. This family includes two genera notable for featuring sexual dimorphism in segment number: Adult females in these genera have the 20 segments usually found in this order, but adult males have only 19. This family also includes the species Deharvengius bedosae, notable for being among the very few species in this order to feature adults with only 18 segments rather than the 20 segments usually found in polydesmids.
Genera
Some authorities include the following genera in this family:Adisia Golovatch, 1994Aporodesmella Golovatch, Geoffroy & VandenSpiegel, 2014Bacillidesmus Attems, 1898Bactrodesmus Cook, 1896Balkanodesminus Antić, Vagalinski, Stoev & Akkari, 2022Balkanodesmus Antić & Reip, 2014Banatodesmus Tabacaru, 1980Cachania Schubart, 1955Caucasodesmus Golovatch, 1985Cottodesmus Verhoeff, 1936Deharvengius Golovatch, Geoffroy & VandenSpiegel, 2013Eburodesmus Schubart, 1955Enantiogonus Loomis, 1961Esperanzella Kraus, 1960Eutynellus Chamberlin, 1940Galliocookia Ribaut, 1955Gonatodesmus Golovatch, Geoffroy & VandenSpiegel, 2013Haplocookia Brölemann, 1915Harpogonopus Loomis, 1960Helicodesmus Golovatch, Geoffroy & VandenSpiegel, 2014Hemisphaeroparia Schubart, 1955Ingurtidorgius Strasser, 1974Mastigonodesmus Silvestri, 1898Mauritacantha Mauriès & Geoffroy, 1999Mecistoparia Brölemann, 1926Monstrodesmus Golovatch, Geoffroy & VandenSpiegel, 2014Napocodesmus Ceuca, 1974Occitanocookia Mauriès, 1980Physetoparia Brölemann, 1920Rhodopodesmus Antić, Vagalinski, Stoev & Akkari, 2022Sakophallus Chamberlin, 1941Simplogonopus Vagalinski, Golovatch, Akkari & Stoev, 2019Solentanodesmus Antić, Reip, Dražina, Rađa & Makarov, 2014Sphaeroparia Attems, 1909Trichopolydesmus Verhoeff, 1898Trilobodesmus Golovatch & Mauriès, 2007Velebitodesmus Antić, Reip, Dražina, Rađa & Makarov, 2014Verhoeffodesmus Strasser, 1959