Polyxenidae Lucas, 1840

Vohland, Katrin & Hamer, Michelle, 2013, A review of the millipedes (Diplopoda) of Namibia, with identification keys and descriptions of two new genera and five new species, African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 251-251 : 254-255

Family Polyxenidae Lucas, 1840

Diagnosis: 10 tergites plus telson, 13 pairs of legs and 6–8 ocelli in each eye. Lateral extension of palps of gnathochilarium shorter than in Synxenidae ( Condé & Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin 2008) .

Genus Afraustraloxenodes Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin, 2003 Afraustraloxenodes: Nguyen Duy­Jacquemin 2003: 72–73 , fig. 1.

Type species: Afraustraloxenodes namibiensis Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin, 2003 .

Diagnosis (after Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin 2009): Short, thick trichomes. Pseudoarticulated gnathochilarial sensilla present, setiform sensilla as opposed to a spine on metatarsus (tarsus II), antennal, prefemoral, femoral and tibial setiform sensilla ending in a single spine.

Remark: The genus is known only from southern Africa, and currently includes four species; two from Namibia, one from the Eastern Cape in South Africa and one from South Africa and Botswana.

Afraustraloxenodes namibiensis Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin, 2003 Afraustraloxenodes namibiensis: Nguyen Duy­Jacquemin 2003: 73–78 , figs 1–20.

Diagnosis: Antennal article VI with four sensilla basiconica. Labrum with short, cuspidate papillae. Pseudoarticulated sensilla on the outer palps of the gnathochilarium are more numerous (15 or 16) than in the other species in the genus ( Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin 2003).

Remarks: This species has been found near Rehoboth [23°18'59"S 17°04'59"E, 1396m] and 150 km West of Windhoek ( Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin 2003), and was recorded in the BIOTA programme at the biodiversity observatory Gellap near Keetmannshoop, 26°24'12.8"S 18°00'22.8"E.

Afraustraloxenodes coineaui Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin, 2003 Afraustraloxenodes coineaui: Nguyen Duy­Jacquemin 2003: 78–81 , figs 41–54.

Diagnosis:Antennal article VI with three sensilla basiconica, and diameter of the sensilla constant up to the attenuated apex, while the anterior sensillum is slightly shorter than the others. The setiform sensillum is located between the anterior and median sensilla. Labrum ornamented with flat papillae enclosing small granules ( Nguyen Duy­Jacquemin 2003).

Remarks: The type locality for the species is Hamilton Range (co-ordinates uncertain) and it has also been recorded from Swartbank, 40 km NW of Gobabeb [23°30'53"S 15°02'35"E, 418 m], and Mirabib Rock (co-ordinates uncertain). This species was recorded in the BIOTA programme at the biodiversity observatory Gellap near Keetmannshoop, 26°24'12.8"S 18°00'22.8"E.

The type locality habitat was described by Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin (2003) as being “on top of marble mountain, in cracks of rocks and under stones”.