Differences between Thai and Vietnamese Rainbows

[Sooner]

Title says it all...I've seen pictures of both Thai and Vietnamese Rainbow millipedes but I'm still confused if they're different species or just variants of the same species.

Does anyone have the scientific name for the Thai Rainbows? Also, would anyone know of any dealers for Thai Rainbows? Anyone ever keep them and keep them well? I'm thinking about getting some for my girlfriend so any help would be great!

*Edit*
She fell in love with these millipedes (Thai rainbows?): http://www.bidabug.org/auction/APUserImages/U1F1UQCMSKKU.JPG

 

[millipeter]

The scientific name of the Vietnamese Rainbows (with the red dots on the back) is Tonkinbolus dollfusi (syn.=Aulacobolus rubropunctatus) but this species is also common in the eastern parts of Thailand.
The Thailand rainbows (I know them under the common name Thailand red legged) are often named as Apeuthes sp. In my opinion (after looking at gonopods) they belong also to the genus Tonkinbolus and maybe are T. caudulanus. That species is quite easy to keep and breed.

 

[Sooner]

Yeah, now that I look at it, the cream colored Thai ones are Apeuthes sp.

I believe she first saw them at Swift's but he haven't had them in stock since December 2007. And since it looks nothing like other millipedes, I'm wondering if they're an albino morph of an uncharacterized Apeuthes or Tonkinbolus.

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

The Thai rainbows are not as pretty as the Vietnamese (though the Vietnamese are variable and some are much uglier). The two do look quite different and the egg/L1 size of the Vietnamese is nearly three times that of the Thai. The major 'pet' difference is the Thai are extremely hardy and long lived -adults live at least seven years- while the Vietnamese are not hardy and the majority of adults survive only one or two years.

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

The egg and L1 size is an intersting difference but unrelated to adult size. Overall the adults of both are similar in size, but Thai's can get a full inch longer than the Vietnamese.

 

[Sooner]

Thank you very much! We will be keeping an eye out for Thai millipede stocks