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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.
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.
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]
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]
The term "millipede" is widespread in popular and scientific literature, but among North American scientists, the term "milliped" (without the terminal e) is also used. [4] Other vernacular names include "thousand-legger" or simply "diplopod". [5] The science of millipede biology and taxonomy is called diplopodology: the study of diplopods. [6]
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.
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]
Cyanide poisoning, a form of poisoning that occurs when a living organism is exposed to a compound that produces cyanide ions when dissolved in water; Cyanide fishing, an illegal form of fishing common in South East Asia, which usually uses the chemical compound sodium cyanide