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Photo#1156543
Mystery Polydesmid - Scytonotus

Mystery Polydesmid - Scytonotus
Gresham, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA
October 17, 2015
Size: Slightly >1 cm
Hi, Bugguide

This millipede was found in a healthy forested area with lots of Douglas Fir, Red Alder, and undergrowth. The millipede seemed kind of lethargic and did not rush to cover itself after I found it. Do any of you know what it might be?

Phil

Images of this individual: tag all
Mystery Polydesmid - Scytonotus Mystery Polydesmid - Scytonotus Mystery Polydesmid - Scytonotus

Moved
Moved from Nearctodesmidae.

Moved

Polydesmida: Nearctodesmidae.
Polydesmida: Nearctodesmidae.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Transverse grooves
It is somewhat hard to see, but I believe there is a transverse groove visible on each segment in the second image, indicative of Family Paradoxosomatidae.

It appears to be a Greenhouse Millipede, Oxidus gracilis, but it would be easier to tell if the shots were cropped much closer to the subject.

Compare:

 
Oxidus gracilis
Interesting! Oxidus gracilis looks very close.

I uploaded some cropped versions of the pictures. Can you see the transverse groove on the segments now? Also, is Oxidus gracilis usually this small? I'm guessing it was about 13 mm.

Thanks for your help!
Phil

 
Revised
Based on cropped image, I would revise my guess to a juvenile Pseudopolydesmus.

As to size, you will find millipedes of various lengths, as most past the first couple molts do not change much other than length. A lot of the baby ones will start with fewer legs.

Compare:


But it also might be another, looking at how rough.


End result, wait for an expert, I am not confident in ID.

 
Pseudopolydesmus vs. Scytonotus
I just found this paper that has some identification points for pseudopolydesmus and scytonotus:

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1750&context=insectamundi

According to it, pseudopolydesmus has well marked polygonal areas on the asetose metazonites. With a quick Wikipedia search, I think that means that there are bumps on the latter half of the double segments that are without setae. I'm pretty sure I can see that on the picture you linked. Also, the paper says that pseudopolydesmus is restricted to eastern North America. Scytonotus is apparently smaller, about 15 mm long, whereas pseudopolydesmus averages about 20-30 mm (for known species). Segment wise, pseudopolydesmus has 20 segments and scytonotus has 19. It sort of looks like there may by 19 segments on this millipede, but then again the image on either end is so blurry.
So far, it looks like scytonotus may win.

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