What is Desmoxytes purpurosea?
{{Italictitle}} {{Taxobox |image=Desmoxytes purpurosea 01.jpg |regnum=[[Animal]]ia |phylum=[[Arthropod]]a |classis=[[Diplopoda]] |ordo=[[Polydesmida]] |familia=[[Paradoxosomatidae]] |genus=''[[Desmoxytes]]'' |binomial='''''Desmoxytes purpurosea'''''}} The '''shocking pink dragon millipede'''<ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/photogalleries/greater-mekong-new-species-photos/photo2.html National Geographic] this is its real name</ref> (also called the '''dragon millipede'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/12/15/world/worldwatch/entry4668671.shtml |title=CBSnews.com |website=[[CBS News]] |access-date=2008-12-16 |archive-date=2008-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219182549/http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/12/15/world/worldwatch/entry4668671.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> (''Desmoxytes purpurosea'') is a [[millipede]] which has a bright [[pink]] color on its spiny body). It is very [[toxic]]. They have glands that release [[cyanide]] to protect them from [[predators]]. The millipede has glands that produce [[hydrogen cyanide]] to protect it from predators,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/photogalleries/greater-mekong-new-species-photos/photo2.html |title=Cyanide Millipede, Huge Spider Among New Species |publisher=National Geographic Society}}</ref> a fact advertised by its [[aposematic]] color. Because it produces cyanide, it smells like [[almonds]].<ref name=Enghoff>{{cite journal |last=Enghoff |first=Henrik |authorlink= |author2=Sutcharit, Chirasak |author3=Panha, Somsak |year=2007 |title=The shocking pink dragon millipede, ''Desmoxytes purpurosea'', a colourful new species from Thailand |journal=Zootaxa |volume=1563 |issue= |pages=31–36 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.1563.1.3 |issn=1175-5326 |url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01563p036.pdf}}</ref> It is one of a thousand new spcies found in the Greater [[Mekong]] region in the last ten years.<ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/photogalleries/greate