Chordeumatida

Chordeumatida
Two unidentified species from New Zealand
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Diplopoda
Subterclass: Eugnatha
Superorder: Nematophora
Order: Chordeumatida
Pocock, 1894
Suborders

Chordeumatidea
Craspedosomatidea
Heterochordeumatidea
Striariidea

Diversity
c. 50 families, 1200 species
Synonyms

Ascospermophora Verhoeff, 1900
Craspedosomatida Jeekel, 1971

Chordeumatida (from the Greek word for "sausage") is a large order of millipedes containing more than 1,400 species. Also known as sausage millipedes, they are found nearly worldwide. Chordeumatida is the largest order in the superorder Nematophora, a group also known as spinning millipedes because their telsons feature spinnerets used to build nests of silk. These millipedes produce this silk to create chambers in which to molt or to lay their eggs.