Microlympiidae

Shear, William A. & Leonard, William P., 2003, Microlympiidae, a new milliped family from North America, and Microlympia echina, new genus and species (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida: Brannerioidea), Zootaxa 243, pp. 1-11 : 2-4

Family Microlympiidae , new

Type genus: Microlympia new genus, described below. Monobasic.

Diagnosis: Distinct from any other known chordeumatidan family in the ninth legs of the males, which consist of single, U­shaped articles, and the coxae of the tenth legs of males, with a unique anterior fringe on the coxal gland openings.

Description: Head and 28 trunk segments (including epiproct). Mentum not divided. Head rounded, broader than collum. Antennae short, clavate. Ocelli present in single or irregular double rows. Postcollum segments with smooth metaterga bearing 6 long, curved, smooth, acute setae. Outermost setae on pronounced swellings. Pregonopodal legs of males enlarged, with modified femora. Gonopods with two pairs of angiocoxal processes, the posterior as curved rods. Colpocoxites simple, poorly sclerotized sacs. Ninth legs of males strongly reduced to single, U­shaped articles; inner limb of each U with distinct gland channels connecting to bilaterally paired glands dorsal to sternum. Tenth legs of males with reduced telopodites arising from large coxosternum; anterior margins of coxosternal gland openings with 8­10 fimbriae, posterior margins with broad plates. Eleventh legs of males with slightly enlarged coxae and coxal glands, bearing small anterior­distal processes. Cyphopods of females with fused valves, large receptacle; coxae of second legpair with posterior projections.