Parafontaria

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.[1][2] 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. [3] Individuals vary from around 3.5 to 6 cm (1.4 to 2.4 in) as adults, and feed on leaf litter as well as soil, making them comparable to earthworms in facilitating decomposition and soil nutrient cycling.[4][5]

Parafontaria
Parafontaria tonominea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Myriapoda
Class:
Diplopoda
Order:
Polydesmida
Family:
Xystodesmidae
Subfamily:
Parafontariinae

Hoffman, 1978
Genus:
Parafontaria

Verhoeff, 1936
Species

See text

Synonyms

Japonaria Attems, 1938
Grayaria Chamberlin, 1943

Species
  • Parafontaria crenata Shinohara, 1986
  • Parafontaria doenitzi (Karsch, 1880)
  • Parafontaria erythrosoma (Takakuwa, 1942)
  • Parafontaria falcifera (Verhoeff, 1936)
  • Parafontaria ishiii Shinohara, 1986
  • Parafontaria laminata (Attems, 1909)[6][7] This species is poisonous. [8]
  • Parafontaria longa Shinohara, 1986
  • Parafontaria longispina Miyosi, 1951
  • Parafontaria shiraiwaensis Shinohara, 1986
  • Parafontaria terminalis (Takakuwa, 1942)
  • Parafontaria tokaiensis Tanabe, 2002
  • Parafontaria tonominea (Attems, 1899)

References
  1. Tanabe, T. (2002). "Revision of the millipede genus Parafontaria Verhoeff, 1936 (Diplopoda, Xystodesmidae)". Journal of Natural History. 36 (18): 2139–2183. doi:10.1080/00222930110085610. S2CID 85178629.
  2. Marek, P., et al. (2014) A Species Catalog of the Millipede Family Xystodesmidae (Diplopoda: Polydesmida). Special Publication 17. Virginia Museum of Natural History. pp.86-90
  3. "Mystery of massive, train-stopping millipede swarms solved". Live Science. 14 January 2021.
  4. Hashimoto, Minori; Kaneko, Nobuhiro; Ito, Masamichi T; Toyota, Ayu (2004). "Exploitation of litter and soil by the train millipede Parafontaria laminata (Diplopoda: Xystodesmidae) in larch plantation forests in Japan". Pedobiologia. 48 (1): 71–81. doi:10.1016/j.pedobi.2003.09.001.
  5. Toyota, Ayu; Kaneko, Nobuhiro; Ito, Masamichi T. (2006). "Soil ecosystem engineering by the train millipede Parafontaria laminata in a Japanese larch forest". Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 38 (7): 1840–1850. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.12.015.
  6. Toshio Yoshida: The periodical millipede, Parafontaria laminata armigera. On: Global Soil Biodiversity. August 29, 2016
  7. Jacinta Bowler: Every 8 Years, Swarms of Millipedes Stop Trains in Japan. Scientists Finally Know Why. On: sciencealert. 13 January 2021
  8. 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


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