Family Odontopygidae Attems 1909

Diagnosis. A family of Spirostreptida, suborder Spirostreptidea, differing from other families of the suborder by usually having the anal valves produced dorsally into a spine and often also ventrally with a somewhat smaller spine-like projection, by having the gonopod telopodites curving mesad and crossing over (curving laterad in other families) and by having the ninth pair of male legs represented by a visible sternal remnant (‘posterior sternum’, absent in other families).

Distribution. Sub-Saharan Africa excluding Madagascar. Introduced on the Cape Verde Islands.