Microdecemplex

Microdecemplex; Temporal range: Middle Devonian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Life restoration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Myriapoda
Class:	Diplopoda
Subclass:	†Arthropleuridea?
Order:	†Microdecemplicida; Wilson & Shear, 2000
Family:	†Microdecemplicidae; Wilson & Shear, 2000
Genus:	† Microdecemplex
Binomial name
	Microdecemplex rolfei; Wilson & Shear, 2000

Microdecemplex rolfei is the only known species of the extinct, small-bodied millipede order Microdecemplicida. This order is originally considered as a member of the extinct subclass Arthropleuridea, but study in 2024 suggested to reject from the group, instead belongs to subclass Chilognatha.^[1] Fossils, measuring less than 5 mm in length, are known from the Panther Mountain Formation of New York State, dating to the Middle Devonian. This species apparently lacks antennae and shows sexual dimorphism in its hind legs, which may be similar in function to the telopods of male living pill-millipedes that are used to grasp females during mating.^[2]^[3]

References

^ Lhéritier, Mickaël; Edgecombe, Gregory D.; Garwood, Russell J.; Buisson, Adrien; Gerbe, Alexis; Koch, Nicolás Mongiardino; Vannier, Jean; Escarguel, Gilles; Adrien, Jérome; Fernandez, Vincent; Bergeret-Medina, Aude; Perrier, Vincent (2024-10-11). "Head anatomy and phylogenomics show the Carboniferous giant Arthropleura belonged to a millipede-centipede group". Science Advances. 10 (41). doi:10.1126/sciadv.adp6362. ISSN 2375-2548. PMC 11463278. PMID 39383233.
^ Wilson, Heather M.; Shear, William A. (2000). "Microdecemplicida, a new order of minute arthropleurideans (Arthropoda: Myriapoda) from the Devonian of New York State, U.S.A.". Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences. 90 (4): 351–375. doi:10.1017/S0263593300002674.
^ Shear, William A.; Edgecombe, Gregory D. (2010). "The geological record and phylogeny of the Myriapoda". Arthropod Structure & Development. 39 (2–3): 174–190. doi:10.1016/j.asd.2009.11.002. PMID 19944188.

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[1] Lhéritier, Mickaël; Edgecombe, Gregory D.; Garwood, Russell J.; Buisson, Adrien; Gerbe, Alexis; Koch, Nicolás Mongiardino; Vannier, Jean; Escarguel, Gilles; Adrien, Jérome; Fernandez, Vincent; Bergeret-Medina, Aude; Perrier, Vincent (2024-10-11). "Head anatomy and phylogenomics show the Carboniferous giant Arthropleura belonged to a millipede-centipede group". Science Advances. 10 (41). doi:10.1126/sciadv.adp6362. ISSN 2375-2548. PMC 11463278. PMID 39383233.

[Wilson&Shear2000-2] Wilson, Heather M.; Shear, William A. (2000). "Microdecemplicida, a new order of minute arthropleurideans (Arthropoda: Myriapoda) from the Devonian of New York State, U.S.A.". Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences. 90 (4): 351–375. doi:10.1017/S0263593300002674.

[3] Shear, William A.; Edgecombe, Gregory D. (2010). "The geological record and phylogeny of the Myriapoda". Arthropod Structure & Development. 39 (2–3): 174–190. doi:10.1016/j.asd.2009.11.002. PMID 19944188.

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