Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

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Genus Petaserpes

Representative Images

Polyzoniid Millipede - Petaserpes Polyzoniid Millipede - Petaserpes cryptocephalus Polyzoniid Millipede - Petaserpes Millipede - Petaserpes Yellowish millipede - Petaserpes cryptocephalus Yellowish millipede - Petaserpes cryptocephalus Petaserpes Petaserpes

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Myriapoda (Myriapods)
Class Diplopoda (Millipedes)
Order Polyzoniida
Family Polyzoniidae
Genus Petaserpes

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

nearctic spp. used to be treated in Polyzonium, a genus now restricted to Europe

Explanation of Names

Petaserpes Cope 1870

Numbers

6 spp.(1)

Range

e.NA (QC‒ON‒WI to GA‒AL‒AR)(2)

Remarks

"All representatives of the genus Petaserpes produce a terpenoid defensive secretion that smells like camphor. The millipedes are secretive and occur in wet leaves; on several occasions I have actually smelled the "camphor" aroma before I uncovered the millipedes." ‒Rowland Shelley

Works Cited

1.Sierwald P., Spelda J. (2023) MilliBase
2.Checklist of the millipeds of North and Middle America
Richard L. Hoffman. 1999. Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publications.