WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Common and widespread throughout the UK. Habitat includes: places with decomposing plant matter such as gardens (compost heaps), parks, allotments, cemeteries, hedgerows, scrub, woodland (often found amongst leaf litter and under stones / logs) etc. Length: Up to 25 mm. Width: 4 mm. Identification: A flat, brown coloured Millipede with whitish legs and about 20 segments.

Polydesmus angustus /
Polydesmus coriaceus /
Polydesmus denticulatus /
Polydesmus inconstans /


4 genre:

Brachydesmus (1 species)

• Brachydesmus superus / has 19 segments (not including the head) as oppose to 20 in Polydesmus

Eumastigonodesmus (1 species)

• Eumastigonodesmus boncii x

Polydesmus (6 species)

• Polydesmus angustus /
• Polydesmus asthenestatus /x
• Polydesmus barberii x
• Polydesmus coriaceus /
• Polydesmus denticulatus /
• Polydesmus inconstans //

Propolydesmus (1 species)

• Propolydesmus testaceus x