Harpagophoridae

This family has 43 accepted genera split into four sub-families, and is one of the most difficult to deal with when it comes to captive specimens due to a lack of available information and a plethora of species that match the characteristics of the family and yet cannot be determined even to genus. The family has large variation in sizes, colors, textures, and ranges, though it is mostly limited to an Asian and Oceanian distribution and can often be differentiated by the presence of a telsondorn or telson spike. While two or possibly three genera have been definitively recorded in culture, it is unknown at this time how many species (quite possibly hundreds) have been kept in culture and subsequently lost to time.

Page Image- MillipedeTrain. (N.A.). Unknown Asian Harpagophoridae spp. on Hand. Harpagophoridae Family Page. Photograph. Permission Granted to TMED.