Millipedes of Central America

Tridontomidae is a small family of millipedes. Its members are endemic to Guatemala. These millipedes range from 22 mm to 28 mm in length and are uniformly grayish in color; their legs and antennae are unusually long and slender. This family includes the remarkable species Aenigmopus alatus, in which adult males feature no gonopods. This millipede is the only species in the infraclass Helminthomorpha without gonopods.

Psammodesmus is a genus of platyrhacid millipedes found from Panama to Peru. The 11 species constitute the platyrhacid subfamily Psammodesminae (formerly the tribe Psammodesmini).

species of myriapod

Rhysodesmus is a genus of flat-backed millipedes in the family Xystodesmidae. There are at least 90 described species in Rhysodesmus., ranging from El Salvador to the Southern United States.

The family Messicobolidae is one of the smaller families of millipedes in the order Spirobolida (fewer than 30 described species). In general appearance, messicobolids are medium to large size spirobolids and are often brightly colored. Messicobolids occur in mountainous regions of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Oak/pine forest and montane rain forest are the typical habitats in these environments and messicobolids are generally associated with decomposing logs and leaf litter of broad-leaved trees.

Nyssodesmus is a genus of flat-backed millipedes in the family Platyrhacidae. About a dozen species have been described, all native to Central America, occurring from Nicaragua to Panama.