author(s)
Mark Cooper

abstract
The Tropical Conservativism Hypothesis and Biogeographical Conservativism Hypothesis were tested in forest millipedes. Latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) was measured in the infraclass Pentazonia to distinguish between the two hypotheses. There was a significant correlation between the number of species and latitudinal degrees away from the equator (r=-0.86, r²=0.75, n=47, p<0.01). An evolutionary preference for temperate environments appearing to have led to dispersal based on precipitation/temperature gradients and predation was suggested.