Species
Harpaphe haydeniana (Yellow-spotted millipede)
Harpaphe haydeniana. Photo: (c) Franco Folini, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Harpaphe haydeniana (the yellow-spotted millipede, almond-scented millipede or cyanide millipede) is a species of polydesmidan (“flat-backed”) millipede found in the moist forests along the Pacific coast of North America, from Southeast Alaska to California. The dark coloration with contrasting yellow-tipped keels warn of its ability to exude toxic hydrogen cyanide as a defense. Despite the various common names given the species, the coloration pattern, cyanide defense, and associated almond scent occur in other flat-backed millipedes around…
- Humboldt Life
- Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
- Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
- Subphylum: Myriapoda (Myriapods)
- Class: Diplopoda (Millipedes)
- Subclass: Chilognatha (Chilognathan millipedes)
- Infraclass: Helminthomorpha (Worm-like millipedes)
- Subterclass: Eugnatha
- Superorder: Merocheta
- Order: Polydesmida (Flat-backed millipedes)
- Suborder: Leptodesmidea
- Superfamily: Xystodesmoidea
- Family: Xystodesmidae (Cherry millipedes)
- Subfamily: Xystodesminae
- Tribe: Xystodesmini
- Genus: Harpaphe
- Species: Harpaphe haydeniana (Yellow-spotted millipede)
- Genus: Harpaphe
- Tribe: Xystodesmini
- Subfamily: Xystodesminae
- Family: Xystodesmidae (Cherry millipedes)
- Superfamily: Xystodesmoidea
- Suborder: Leptodesmidea
- Order: Polydesmida (Flat-backed millipedes)
- Superorder: Merocheta
- Subterclass: Eugnatha
- Infraclass: Helminthomorpha (Worm-like millipedes)
- Subclass: Chilognatha (Chilognathan millipedes)
- Class: Diplopoda (Millipedes)
- Subphylum: Myriapoda (Myriapods)
- Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
- Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
Sightings
