''Microdecemplex rolfei'' is the only known species of the extinct, small-bodied
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 ...
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. Fossils, measuring less than 5 mm in length, are known from the
Panther Mountain Formation
The Panther Mountain Formation is a Formation (stratigraphy), geologic formation in New York (state), New York. It preserves fossils dating back to the Devonian Period (geology), period. It is located in the counties of Albany County, New York, ...
of
New York State
New York, also called New York State, is a state in the northeastern United States. Bordered by New England to the east, Canada to the north, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, its territory extends into both the Atlantic Ocean and ...
, dating to the
Middle Devonian
In the geological timescale, the Middle Devonian epoch (from 393.3 ± 1.2 million years ago to 382.7 ± 1.6 million years ago) occurred during the Devonian period, after the end of the Emsian age.
The Middle Devonian epoch is subdivided into two ...
. This species apparently lacks antennae and shows
sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is the condition where sexes of the same species exhibit different Morphology (biology), morphological characteristics, including characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most dioecy, di ...
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.
References
Devonian myriapods
Prehistoric myriapod genera
Millipede genera
Devonian arthropods of North America
Fossil taxa described in 2000
{{Paleo-myriapod-stub