The catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) of methane is studied over staged palladium/alumina and rhodium/alumina coated monoliths by an in-situ sampling technique to resolve the axial species concentration and temperature profiles. A molar C/O ratio of unity, which is stoichiometric for the formation of synthesis gas (CO/H-2), and short residence times are chosen for this autothermal process. The profiles of the staged monoliths are compared with profiles of single-sliced palladium/alumina and rhodium/alumina coated monoliths. The investigations clearly show two zones inside the catalytic channel. In the staged catalyst with the Pd stage being on the upstream side as well as in the single-sliced Pd catalyst, hydrogen is not formed before oxygen is almost completely consumed, i.e. a total oxidation zone is observed in front of a steam reforming zone. In the Rh catalyst, in the first 2 mm zone, total oxidation and steam reforming occur as prevalent reactions followed by a reforming zone with steam reforming as dominating reaction. The observations are interpreted in terms of the indirect and direct route towards hydrogen formation in CPOX of methane. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.