''Parafontaria'' is a

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 ...

of "flat-backed"

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 ...

s (order

Polydesmida Polydesmida (from the Greek ''poly'' "many" and ''desmos'' "bond") is the largest order of millipedes, with more than 5,000 species, including all the millipedes reported to produce hydrogen cyanide (HCN). This order is also the most diverse of ...

) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This is because some populations 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. Individuals vary from around as adults, and feed on

leaf litter Plant litter (also leaf litter, tree litter, soil litter, litterfall, or duff) is dead plant material (such as leaves, bark, needles, twigs, and cladodes) that has fallen to the ground. This detritus or dead organic material and its constituen ...

as well as soil, making them comparable to

earthworm An earthworm is a soil-dwelling terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. The term is the common name for the largest members of the class (or subclass, depending on the author) Oligochaeta. In classical systems, they we ...

s in facilitating decomposition and soil nutrient cycling.

Species

*''

Parafontaria crenata ''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This ...

'' Shinohara, 1986 *''

Parafontaria doenitzi ''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This ...

'' (Karsch, 1880) *''

Parafontaria erythrosoma ''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This ...

'' (Takakuwa, 1942) *''

Parafontaria falcifera ''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This ...

'' (Verhoeff, 1936) *''

Parafontaria ishiii ''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This ...

'' Shinohara, 1986 *'' Parafontaria koreana'' (Paik, 1963) *''

Parafontaria laminata ''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This ...

'' (Attems, 1909) This species is poisonous.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 *''

Parafontaria longa ''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This ...

'' Shinohara, 1986 *''

Parafontaria shiraiwaensis ''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This ...

'' Shinohara, 1986 *'' Parafontaria spathulata'' (Miyosi, 1951) *'' Parafontaria takakuwai'' (Shinohara in Takashima & Shinohara, 1957) *''

Parafontaria terminalis ''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This ...

'' (Takakuwa, 1942) *''

Parafontaria tokaiensis ''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This ...

'' Tanabe, 2002 *''

Parafontaria tonominea ''Parafontaria'' is a genus of "flat-backed" millipedes (order Polydesmida) consisting of 14 species native to Japan and Korea. ''Parafontaria laminata armigera'', formerly called train millipedes, has been synonymized with ''P. laminata''. This ...

'' (Attems, 1899)

References

Polydesmida Endemic fauna of Japan Millipedes of Asia {{Millipede-stub