Introduction

'Although Pauropoda are of widespread occurrence in Australia, they have not attracted much attention from systematists, probably owing to their small size and obscure habitat.' (Tiegs 1943: 151) As of 2003, 18 species of native and introduced Pauropoda in seven genera and two families had been reported from mainland Australia (Australian Biological Resources Study).

Most Australian Pauropoda are tiny (less than 2 mm long) and live in moist, organic-rich soil. Life histories have not been studied in Australia, but local species are likely to feed on soil microbes and/or dead soil animals. The illustration above shows Pauropus amicus from New South Wales (from Harrison 1914).