''Antichiropus'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
millipede
Millipedes are a group of arthropods that are characterised by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments; they are known scientifically as the class Diplopoda, the name derived from this feature. Each double-legged segment is a resu ...
in the family
Paradoxosomatidae
Paradoxosomatidae, the only family in the suborder Paradoxosomatidea (also known as Strongylosomatidea), is a family of flat-backed millipedes in the order Polydesmida. Containing nearly 200 genera and 975 species , it is one of the largest fami ...
. The genus is very distinctive in the form of the
gonopod
Gonopods are specialized appendages of various arthropods used in reproduction or egg-laying. In males, they facilitate the transfer of sperm from male to female during mating, and thus are a type of intromittent organ. In crustaceans and millip ...
, which is typically coiled through at least a full circle.
It is probably
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. Some species have small ranges of less than 10000 km
2, classifying them as
short-range endemic invertebrates Short-range endemic (SRE) invertebrates are animals that display restricted geographic distributions, nominally less than 10,000 km2, that may also be disjunct and highly localised. The most appropriate analogy is that of an island, where the m ...
.
See also
*''
Antichiropus fossulifrons
''Antichiropus'' is a genus of millipede in the family Paradoxosomatidae. The genus is very distinctive in the form of the gonopod, which is typically coiled through at least a full circle. It is probably endemic to Australia. Some species have ...
''
(Attems, 1911) –
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
*''
Antichiropus humphreysi''
(Shear, 1992) – Western Australia
*''
Antichiropus mammilifer''
(Jeekel, 1982) –
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
*''
Antichiropus minimus''
(Attems, 1911) – Western Australia
*''
Antichiropus monacanthus''
(Attems, 1911) – Western Australia
*''
Antichiropus nanus''
(Attems, 1911) – Western Australia
*''
Antichiropus sulcatus''
(Attems, 1911) – Western Australia
*''
Antichiropus variabilis
''Antichiropus'' is a genus of millipede in the family Paradoxosomatidae. The genus is very distinctive in the form of the gonopod, which is typically coiled through at least a full circle. It is probably endemic to Australia. Some species have ...
''
(Attems, 1911) – Western Australia
*''
Antichiropus whistleri
''Antichiropus'' is a genus of millipede in the family Paradoxosomatidae. The genus is very distinctive in the form of the gonopod, which is typically coiled through at least a full circle. It is probably endemic to Australia. Some species have ...
''
(Attems, 1911) – Western Australia
References
Polydesmida
Millipedes of Oceania
Endemic fauna of Australia
{{Myriapoda-stub