MilliBase aims at capturing all diplopod species names, their synonyms, genera and their synonyms, higher classification, distributions, as well as deposition of type specimens, and associated literature records. MilliBase incorporated two main sources of records: P. Sierwald’s  global millipede species catalog developed over the past 15 years, and Jörg Spelda’s SysMyr database, an extensive collection of distribution and literature source records that started independently in the late 1990’s.  While the backbone of a global millipede species catalog is available now at MilliBase, we are currently in the process of uploading more files and records.

With the generous and patient support of the WoRMS data management team MilliBase is going to develop greatly within the next few months. A dedicated group of taxonomic editors will help proof read the records and improve the data served on MilliBase. We hope to include large parts of the millipede research community in this effort in the near future.  MilliBase: Check it out now and come back often.

The MilliBase initiative is supported by LifeWatch Belgium, part of the E-Science European LifeWatch Infrastructure for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research. LifeWatch is a distributed virtual laboratory which is used for different aspects of biodiversity research. The Taxonomic Backbone of LifeWatch aims at bringing together taxonomic and species-related data and at filling the gaps in our knowledge. The transfer of MilliBase into the Aphia platform ensures its accessibility to the scientific community and the broader public, avoiding loss of these valuable data.