Paeromopodidae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paeromopodidae |
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| Californiulus chamberlini | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Diplopoda |
| Order: | Julida |
| Family: | Paeromopodidae Cook, 1895 |
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| Synonyms | |
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Paeromopidae |
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Paeromopodidae (say "PAY-roh-moh-POH-dih-day") is a family of really long, tube-shaped millipedes. These amazing creatures live in the western parts of the United States. They are part of a larger group of millipedes called Julida. This family includes two main groups, or genera, and ten different kinds of species. Some of these millipedes are the longest ones found in North America! They can grow up to 16.5 cm (6.5 in) long. That's longer than a typical pencil!
Contents
What Do They Look Like?
These millipedes have many body segments, usually between 60 and 80. As adults, they can be from 5 to 16.5 cm (2.0 to 6.5 in) long. They are also quite thin, about 2 to 8 mm wide.
Paeromopodids have special parallel lines on their body rings. These lines are called striae (say "STRY-ay"). They make the millipede's body feel a bit rough. These grooves help tell them apart from other tube-shaped millipedes in the western U.S.
Their colors can vary a lot. Some are a plain blue-gray color. Others have cool patterns with alternating bands of light and dark brown. You might also see some with a yellow or light brown stripe running down their back.
Where Do They Live?
Paeromopodids are found only in the United States. They live in two main areas. The first area is along the Pacific coast. This stretches from Washington state down to the southern Sierra Nevada mountains and the Death Valley region in California. It also goes east to the Warner Mountains, which are near the borders of California, Oregon, and Nevada.
The second area is a smaller region. It covers the very northeastern part of Oregon, goes across the Idaho Panhandle, and into western Montana.
The species in the group called Paeromopus are usually bigger. They are only found in California. The species in the group called Californiulus live in California too. But they also live in all the other areas where this family of millipedes is found.
How Do They Live?
Paeromopodids are known for being quite active and fast-moving millipedes. They are also very flexible, which helps them move around.
Many species like to live under rocks or inside moist, rotting logs. You usually won't find them buried deep in leaf litter. The Californiulus species might even prefer places that are a bit drier than where Paeromopus species live.
For example, one species, C. blechrostriatus, lives in the dry eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It can even be found in Death Valley! This millipede has been seen at very high places, up to 2,400 meters (about 8,000 ft) above sea level.
Types of Paeromopodids
There are two main groups, or genera, within the Paeromopodidae family. Each group has several different species.
Genus Californiulus
- Californiulus blechrostriatus
- Californiulus chamberlini
- Californiulus dorsovittatus
- Californiulus euphanus
- Californiulus parvior
- Californiulus yosemitensis
Genus Paeromopus
- Paeromopus angusticeps
- Paeromopus cavicolens
- Paeromopus eldoradus
- Paeromopus paniculus
