Odontopygidae Attems, 1909

Vohland, Katrin & Hamer, Michelle, 2013, A review of the millipedes (Diplopoda) of Namibia, with identification keys and descriptions of two new genera and five new species, African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 251-251 : 291-292

Family Odontopygidae Attems, 1909

Odontopygidae probably have their origin in central Africa and in southern Africa, where highly derived genera occur (Kraus 1960, 1966). Diagnostic features are the maintenance of the sternite on the gonopod segment and a large, lamella-like gonopod tarsus and spines on each of the paraprocts of the anal segment (wanting in some small species). The males can be recognised by their enlarged 6 th segment ( Fig. 82) and the pads on the legs ( Fig. 84). In contrast to other millipedes, which defend themselves by rolling into a spiral, the agile odontopygids show active defensive behaviour.

More odontopygids are recorded in the northern parts of Namibia than in the southern parts ( Fig. 75).