''Parafontaria'' 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 "flat-backed"
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 ...
s (order
Polydesmida
Polydesmida (from the Greek language, Greek ''poly'' "many" and ''desmos'' "bond") is the largest order (biology), order of millipedes, containing approximately 3,500 species, including all the millipedes reported to produce hydrogen cyanide (HCN ...
) consisting of 13 species native to Japan, where they are referred to as train millipedes.
This is because some species exhibit periodical swarming behavior during which large numbers congregate and can impact train passage when this congregation occurs on tracks. Documentation of this event goes back to 1920. Individuals vary from around as adults, and feed on
leaf litter
Plant litter (also leaf litter, tree litter, soil litter, litterfall or duff) is dead plant material (such as leaves, bark, needles, twigs, and cladodes) that have fallen to the ground. This detritus or dead organic material and its constituent ...
as well as soil, making them comparable to
earthworm
An earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. They exhibit a tube-within-a-tube body plan; they are externally segmented with corresponding internal segmentation; and they usually have setae on all segments. Th ...
s in facilitating decomposition and
soil nutrient cycling.
Species
*''
Parafontaria crenata
''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 13 species native to Japan, where they are referred to as train millipedes. This is because some species exhibit periodical swarming behavior during which l ...
''
Shinohara, 1986
*''
Parafontaria doenitzi
''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 13 species native to Japan, where they are referred to as train millipedes. This is because some species exhibit periodical swarming behavior during which l ...
''
(Karsch, 1880)
*''
Parafontaria erythrosoma''
(Takakuwa, 1942)
*''
Parafontaria falcifera''
(Verhoeff, 1936)
*''
Parafontaria ishiii''
Shinohara, 1986
*''
Parafontaria laminata''
(Attems, 1909) This species is poisonous.
[ Mori, N., Kuwahara, Y., Yoshida, T., Nishida, N., 1995. Major defensive cyanogen from Parafontaria laminata armigera Verhoeff (Xystodesmidae : Polydesmida). Appl. Entomol. Zool. 30, 197-202 ]
*''
Parafontaria longa''
Shinohara, 1986
*''
Parafontaria longispina''
Miyosi, 1951
*''
Parafontaria shiraiwaensis''
Shinohara, 1986
*''
Parafontaria terminalis''
(Takakuwa, 1942)
*''
Parafontaria tokaiensis''
Tanabe, 2002
*''
Parafontaria tonominea
''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 13 species native to Japan, where they are referred to as train millipedes. This is because some species exhibit periodical swarming behavior during which l ...
''
(Attems, 1899)
References
Polydesmida
Endemic fauna of Japan
Millipedes of Asia
{{Myriapoda-stub