Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae: Notodesmus

Notodesmus scotius Chamberlin, 1920

Adult Notodesmus scotius are shiny black or dark chestnut brown and grow to ca 20 mm long. Males are much more slender than females. Notodesmus scotius can be very abundant in dry forest and heathland in the northeast, and adults are often seen wandering in the open during the daytime. Adult males and females can be found copulating in "mating swarms" during the spring in some areas.

Isolated occurrences of N. scotius at Stanley, near Liawenee and at Pumphouse Point (Lake St Clair) suggest that this species is expanding its range with human help. Notodesmus scotius also occurs in eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales.

Notodesmus scotius is currently classified in subfamily Australiosomatinae, tribe Antichiropodini.

 

Image is lateral view of left gonopod

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