Hiltonius pulchrus
This record describes Hiltonius pulchrus (species). Recorded family: Spirobolidae. Recorded order: Spirobolida.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Diplopoda
- Order
- Spirobolida
- Family
- Spirobolidae
- Genus
- Hiltonius
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California: Kern, Los Angeles, San Diego , Orange and probably Ventura counties
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Hiltonius pulchrus Chamberlin 1918
About Spirobolida: the wider group
Order-level background for Spirobolida, the group containing Hiltonius pulchrus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Spirobolida (round-backed millipedes) includes ~500 described species. These robust millipedes are common in tropical and temperate forests where they are important decomposers of leaf litter.
Ecological role of the group
Spirobolid millipedes process enormous quantities of leaf litter - in some tropical forests, millipedes break down up to 40% of annual leaf fall. Their fecal pellets are rich in nutrients that support soil microbial communities.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Millipedes occasionally invade homes in large numbers during mass migrations triggered by rain or dry conditions. While they are harmless, these invasions can be alarming and may require pest management services.
Recorded sources for this group: Tropical ecology, decomposition studies. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Hiltonius pulchrus (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Brown; Additional contributions by v belov