The genus was described by Ralph Vary Chamberlin in 1923, and reviewed by Sergei Golovatch and Henrik Enghoff in 1994.

[2] One species, D. planata, has also been observed in Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands, Seychelles, Java, Great Coco Island, and Fiji; however, this species has expanded its range by being transported through human activity.

[3] Species in this genus also have the ability to produce hydrogen cyanide to ward off predators, which can give the dragon millipedes an almond-like smell.

[3] Other than D. planata, each species of dragon millipede is known primarily from only one or a few locations in their country of origin.

[3] Additionally, one species from Australia, Desmoxytoides hasenpuschorum, is extremely similar to Desmoxytes, but has been split into its own monotypic genus; speculation exists, even by the genus authority for Desmoxytoides, that this split is not necessary.