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Motyxia is a genus of cyanide-producing millipedes (collectively known as Sierra luminous millipedes or motyxias [1]) that are endemic to the southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, and Santa Monica mountain ranges of California. Motyxias are blind and produce the poison cyanide, like all members of the Polydesmida.
The millipede has glands that produce hydrogen cyanide to protect it from predators, which causes it to smell like almonds. Its toxicity is advertised by its aposematic color. [2] The shocking pink dragon millipede was named third in the top ten new species list of 2008 by the International Institute for Species Exploration. [3]
This behaviour gives rise to the common names "cyanide millipede" and "almond-scented millipede" (since cyanide smells of almonds), although cyanide secretion is not unique to H. haydeniana. [5] Nonetheless, at least one species, the ground beetle Promecognathus laevissimus, is a specialised predator of H. haydeniana. [3] Good for soil aeration.
Polydesmida (from the Greek poly "many" and desmos "bond") is the largest order of millipedes, with more than 5,000 species, [2] [3] including all the millipedes reported to produce hydrogen cyanide (HCN). [4] This order is also the most diverse of the millipede orders in terms of morphology. [5]
Millipedes, myriapods of the class Diplopoda, contain approximately 12,000 described species organized into 16 extant orders and approximately 140 families. This list is based on Shear, 2011, [1] sorted alphabetically by order and taxonomically within order. Note: The names of millipede orders end in "-ida"; suborders end in "-idea".
Apheloria tigana, known as the yellow-and-black flat millipede, is a large North American flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae. It is reported to secrete cyanide compounds as a defense. It is recommended that one wash hands after handling this organism as the toxic compounds it secretes are poisonous and can cause extreme ...
Narceus americanus is a large millipede of eastern North America. Common names include American giant millipede, [1] worm millipede, and iron worm. [2] It inhabits the eastern seaboard of North America west to Georgetown, Texas, north of the Ottine wetlands. [3] It has a nearly cylindrical gray body, reaching a length of 4 inches (100 mm). [4]
Apheloria virginiensis, the Kentucky flat millipede, [1] is a large North American millipede. It gets its name from the yellow and orange markings on its back that give it a flattened appearance. [2] It is reported to secrete cyanide compounds as a defense mechanism.