A taxonomic study of millipede genera, Orangutana Golovatch, 1996 and Gigantomorpha Jeekel, 1963 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae), with description of four new species from Sabah, Borneo, East Malaysia

  • Ting Hui Ng Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5123-0039
  • Ruttapon Srisonchai Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7142-0999
  • Sergei I. Golovatch Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky pr. 33, Moscow 119071, Russia
  • Chirasak Sutcharit Animal Systematics Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7670-9540
  • Somsak Panha Animal Systematics Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
  • Martinah Latim Sabah Parks, Lot 1-3, Block K, G/Floor Sinsuran Complex, 88806 Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
  • Natdanai Likhitrakarn Program of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural Production, Maejo University, Chiang Mai 50290, Thailand
Keywords: taxonomy, key, Myriapoda, Borneo

Abstract

This taxonomic study focuses on the millipede genera, Gigantomorpha Jeekel, 1963, and Orangutana Golovatch, 1996, both in the family Paradoxosomatidae. The present investigation focuses on specimens collected in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, a region known for its remarkable biodiversity. Two new species are described from the Crocker Range Park: Gigantomorpha alabensis Ng & Likhitrakarn sp. nov., and Orangutana koropungoi Ng & Likhitrakarn sp. nov. Another two new species come from the Kinabalu Park: Gigantomorpha sayapensis Ng & Likhitrakarn sp. nov. and Gigantomorpha mesilauensis Ng & Likhitrakarn sp. nov. Their descriptions highlight the neglected, yet vibrant millipede diversity in Sabah. The statuses of both Gigantomorpha and Orangutana are mentioned, their distribution map is presented, and an identification key to all species of Gigantomorpha is given.

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Published
2025-04-15
How to Cite
Ng, T. H., Srisonchai, R., Golovatch, S. I., Sutcharit, C., Panha, S., Latim, M., & Likhitrakarn, N. (2025). A taxonomic study of millipede genera, Orangutana Golovatch, 1996 and Gigantomorpha Jeekel, 1963 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae), with description of four new species from Sabah, Borneo, East Malaysia. European Journal of Taxonomy, 987(1), 221–248. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2025.987.2871
Section
Research article