''Narceus'' 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 large cylindrical millipedes of the family Spirobolidae native to eastern North America. The genus comprises three or four species, two of which are endemic to Florida, and the remainder forming a species complex. The species of ''Narceus'' include some of the largest and most recognizable millipedes in eastern North America.

Description

''Narceus'' individuals range from long, with 45 to 59 segments as adults. Their body color is various shades of brown with reddish to yellow stripes on each segment.

Species

* ''

Narceus americanus ''Narceus americanus'' is a large millipede of eastern North America. Common names include American giant millipede, worm millipede, and iron worm. It inhabits the eastern seaboard of North America west to Georgetown, Texas, north of the Ottine ...

'' / '' Narceus annularis'' complex -

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

, south to

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

and

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

. Extends into southern

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

and

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

in Canada. * '' Narceus gordanus'' - Florida to South Carolina, possibly Tennessee * '' Narceus woodruffi'' - Florida The species '' N. americanus'' and '' N. annularis'' are widely distributed in North America, and may represent an intergradation of forms rather than two distinct species, a group known as the "''N. americanus/annularis'' complex".

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4257330 Millipedes of North America Spirobolida Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque