Palpatophora glyphodorsalis

“‘Carved-back palp-bearer”
Kingdom
Microsynthera
Phylum
Plasticae
Class
Occlupanida
Order
Orthogonidectes
Family
Toxodentidae
Genus
Palpatophora
Species
glyphodorsalis
External morphology

Size 27 mm x 21 mm

P. glyphodorsalis is a rare and controversial variant of P. utiliformis, as much debate rages on if P. glyphodorsalis is truly a separate species or not. A great hours-long debate of what constitutes an occlupanid species was put to rest when the several factions went out for drinks that night, and decided that “glyphodorsalis” was a really cool-sounding name. The first species was collected in Reykjavik by C. Franger during a survey of Iceland.  Decades later, researchers found several in a Singapore grocery store during a field research expedition, and sightings have steadily increased.