Nearctodesmidae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Nearctodesmidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nearctodesmus salix | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Diplopoda |
| Order: | Polydesmida |
| Suborder: | Polydesmidea |
| Family: | Nearctodesmidae Chamberlin & Hoffman, 1950 |
Nearctodesmidae is a family of flat-backed millipedes in the order Polydesmida.[1][2][3][4][5] These millipedes are found in northwestern North America.[4] This family includes the species Nearctodesmus salix. The defensive secretion of this millipede consist of hydrogen cyanide, benzaldehyde, 3-methylbutanoic acid, and 2-methylbutanoic. This evidence confirms that cyanogenesis extends to the family Nearctodesmidae.[6]
Authorities often consider Nearctodesmidae to be a junior synonym of Macrosternodesmidae.[7][8][9] Many of these authorities demote Nearctodesmidae and place the genera previously assigned to that family in a subfamily (Nearctodesminae) in the family Macrosternodesmidae.[7][10][11] Other authorities consider both Nearctodesmidae and Macrosternodesmidae to be junior synonyms of Trichopolydesmidae.[9][12]
