A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
I found this creature in Hells Canyon by an abandoned mine. Flat-backed millipedes resemble centipedes. The bodies of the adults are flat, dark brown, with about twenty segments. They measure 14–25 millimetres (0.55–0.98 in) in length and are about 0.4 mm (0.016 in) wide. The plate segments covering the back are ridged along their lengths. The antennae and legs are longer than in most other millipedes.
Thanks for taking the time to craft a detailed response! I'll leave this one open to identification.
Hello Jeff. I don't know what it is. I was just pointing out that I don't think there's any record of it in the western US. There must be hundreds of species of millipede in North America alone and tens of thousands worldwide. There are cases of transplantation of native species to other regions. That is indeed the case with Polydesmus angustus as happened in the southeast US and Atlantic Canada. On the other hand, there are also many species that resemble other species. We try to make IDs here on the basis of digital photos (we should consider known documented range too). Sometimes that just isn't enough -- isn't accurate -- depending on the species. Sometimes it takes more, like a detailed anatomical inspection. In the case of your spotting I wouldn't use Polydesmus angustus unless you can find at least 1 record of it in the northwest US/Canada. Personally I don't think your flat-backed/tractor millipede really looks like it. Yours looks thinner, sharper, longer and has more yellow on it. If there isn't an answer today, there might be one in the future...so don't get too frustrated.
So what is it? It certainly could have been triduced by miners - and the climate is relatively mild in Hello Canyon,
Please note that the suggested species Polydesmus angustus species is found in Northwest Europe and was accidentally introduced to the southeastern United States and Atlantic Canada. It does not occur in western North America. Suggestions should not be made if the species does not occur in the area.
You guys are right, thanks. Strange thing to find on the Idaho/Oregon border.
Spotted on Mar 12, 2012
Submitted on Oct 4, 2012
