Archipolypoda

Archipolypoda is an extinct group of millipedes known from fossils in Europe and North America and containing the earliest known land animals.^[1] The Archipolypoda was erected by Scudder (1882)^[2] but redefined in 2005 with the description of several new species from Scotland.^[3] Distinguishing characteristics include relatively large eyes with densely packed ocelli (sometimes interpreted as compound eyes), and modified leg pairs on the 8th body ring.^[3][4] Some species had prominent spines while others had a flattened appearance.^[3][5]

Archipolypoda Temporal range: Lochkovian–Pennsylvanian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Reconstruction of Acantherpestes major
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Myriapoda
Class:	Diplopoda
Subclass:	Chilognatha
Superorder:	†Archipolypoda Scudder, 1882
Orders
Archidesmida Cowiedesmida Euphoberiida Palaeosomatida
Synonyms
Macrosterni Fritsch, 1899 Palaeocoxopleura Verhoeff, 1928

Cross-section (left) and side view (right) of a Euphoberiid archipolypodan body segment showing prominent tergal spines and two pair of legs.

Classification

The Archipolypoda as currently recognized consists of four orders,^[6] many with monotypic families and genera, as well as five species of uncertain placement (incertae sedis).^[3][7]

Archidesmida Wilson & Anderson, 2004

• Archidesmidae Scudder, 1885
  • Archidesmus macnicoli Peach, 1882. Lower Devonian, Scotland
• Zanclodesmidae Wilson, Daeschler & Desbiens, 2005
  • Zanclodesmus willetti Wilson, Daeschler & Desbiens, 2005. Upper Devonian, Quebec, Canada
  • Orsadesmus rubecollus Wilson, Daeschler & Desbiens, 2005. Upper Devonian, Pennsylvania, USA

Cowiedesmida Wilson & Anderson, 2004

• Cowiedesmidae Wilson & Anderson, 2004
  • Cowiedesmus eroticopodus Wilson & Anderson, 2004. Mid Silurian or Lower Devonian,^[8] Scotland.

Euphoberiida Hoffman, 1969

• Euphoberiidae Scudder, 1882. Upper Carboniferous of Europe and North America.
  • Acantherpestes Meek & Worthen, 1868
  • Euphoberia Meek & Worthen, 1868
  • Myriacantherpestes Burke, 1979

Palaeosomatida Hannibal & Krzeminski, 2005. Carboniferous, UK and Poland^[9]

• Palaeosomatidae Hannibal & Krzeminski, 2005
  • Palaeosoma

Order incertae sedis

• Albadesmus almondi Wilson & Anderson, 2004 Mid Silurian or Lower Devonian,^[8] Scotland
• Anaxeodesmus diambonotus Wilson, 2005 Upper Carboniferous, UK.
• Anthracodesmus macconochiei, Peach, 1899
• Palaeodesmus tuberculata (Brade-Birks, 1923) (=Kampecaris tuberculata) Lower Devonian, Scotland.
• Pneumodesmus newmani Wilson & Anderson, 2004 Mid Silurian or Lower Devonian,^[8] Scotland

See also

• Arthropods portal
• Paleontology portal

• Arthropleuridea- Another group of extinct millipedes
• Euthycarcinoidea, a group of enigmatic arthropods that may be ancestral to myriapods
• Colonization of land, major evolutionary stages leading to terrestrial organisms
• Xanthomyria, a Cambrian fossil which closely resembles archipolypodans