''Desmoxytoides hasenpuschorum'' is a species of

millipede Millipedes (originating from the Latin , "thousand", and , "foot") are a group of arthropods that are characterised by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments; they are known scientifically as the class Diplopoda, the name derive ...

and the only species in the monotypic

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

''Desmoxytoides''. It lives in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. This species is closely related to the dragon millipedes of the genus ''Desmoxytes'', and there is some speculation, even by

Robert Mesibov Robert 'Bob' Evan Mesibov (born 9 March 1946) is an American born and educated Australian Myriapoda, myriapod specialist. He earned a B.A. from New York University in 1966 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in ...

, the genus authority, that the split may not be necessary. While ''Desmoxytoides hasenpuschorum'' is similar to the millipedes of ''Desmoxytes'' in paranotal form and metatergite sculpture, it has a simpler gonopod telopodite with an unprotected solenomere which gives it its own monotypic genus. This species has the ability to produce

hydrogen cyanide Hydrogen cyanide (formerly known as prussic acid) is a chemical compound with the chemical formula, formula HCN and structural formula . It is a highly toxic and flammable liquid that boiling, boils slightly above room temperature, at . HCN is ...

to ward off predators.

References

Taxa named by Robert Mesibov Polydesmida Millipedes of Oceania Arthropods of Australia Monotypic myriapod genera {{Millipede-stub