Brachoria

Brachoria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Myriapoda
Class:
Diplopoda
Order:
Polydesmida
Family:
Xystodesmidae
Genus:
Brachoria

Species

see text

Synonyms

Tucoria Chamberlin, 1943
Anfractogon Hoffman, 1948

Brachoria is a genus of polydesmidan millipedes in the family Xystodesmidae inhabiting the Eastern United States. Also known as the Appalachian mimic millipedes, at least 30 species are known, with highest diversity in the Appalachian Mountains, especially the Cumberland Plateau and Ridge and Valley Province.[1][2]

Species of Brachoria are boldly patterned with yellow, orange, red, violet that contrasts with a black background, and in the Appalachians some species mimic species of Apheloria where they co-occur, a phenomenon known as Müllerian mimicry[3]

  1. ^ Marek, Paul E.; Bond, Jason E. (2006). "Phylogenetic systematics of the colorful, cyanide-producing millipedes of Appalachia (Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae, Apheloriini) using a total evidence Bayesian approach". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 41 (3): 704–729. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.043. PMID 16876439.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Marek2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Marek, P. E.; Bond, J. E. (2009). "A Mullerian mimicry ring in Appalachian millipedes". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106 (24): 9755–9760. Bibcode:2009PNAS..106.9755M. doi:10.1073/pnas.0810408106. PMC 2700981. PMID 19487663.