Review of the millipede genus <i>Xystodesmus</i> (Diplopoda, Polydesmida), with seven new species from the southwestern part of Japan.

ABSTRACT: The genus Xystodesmus Cook, 1895 (most closely related to Riukiaria Attems, 1938) is retained as a taxon of xystodesmine millipedes with a relatively small body length (25-35 mm), male gonopods more complicated than just a forceps-like conformation, and with live colouration of grey-brown tergites with red, orange, or yellow paranotal spots. Seven new species of the genus (Xystodesmusfasciatus sp. nov., X.keramae sp. nov., X.kumamotoensis sp. nov., X.kumeensis sp. nov., X.parvus sp. nov., X.rebekae sp. nov., X.sesokoensis sp. nov.) are described from the islands of Kyushu, Okinawa-jima, Kume-jima, Okinoerabu-jima, Aka-jima, Amami-O-shima, and Sesoko-jima, southwestern Japan. K

SUBMITTER: Korsos Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11923595 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature