Scolopendridae is a family of large centipedes.
Pachymerium syriacum is a species of centipede in the family Geophilidae. The original description of this species is based on a female specimen measuring 110 mm in length with 87 pairs of legs. Authorities now place this species in another genus under the name Gnathoribautia syriaca, a species found in Turkey, Greece, and Lebanon.
Pachymerium is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae found mainly in the west Palearctic region and in south Africa. Centipedes in this genus feature an elongate head, scattered coxal pores, and sternal pores in a pair of anterior groups and a posterior transverse band; the forcipular coxosternite is broad, and the ultimate article of the forcipule has a prominent basal denticle.
The Geophilidae are a polyphyletic, cosmopolitan family of soil centipedes in the superfamily Geophiloidea containing the mostly defunct clades Aphilodontidae, Dignathodontidae, Linotaeniidae, Chilenophilinae, and Macronicophilidae. These centipedes are found almost worldwide.
Stigmatogaster is a genus of centipedes in the family Himantariidae. Centipedes in this genus feature a relatively slender trunk, transversally slightly elongate sternal pore-fields on almost all trunk segments, and unusual lateral furrows on some trunk metasternites; most coxal organs open into a dorsal pouch covered by the metatergite. These centipedes range from 5 cm to 10 cm in length, have 83 to 111 pairs of legs, and are found in the Mediterranean region. This genus contains the following species:
Mecistocephalidae is a monophyletic family of centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha. It is the only family in the suborder Placodesmata. Most species in this family live in tropical or subtropical regions, but some occur in temperate regions. This family is the third most diverse in the order Geophiliomorpha, with about 170 species, including about 130 species in the genus Mecistocephalus.
Geophilus is a large, heterogeneous genus of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae largely considered to be synonymous with Brachygeophilus. This genus is mostly Holarctic and characterized by a claw-shaped ultimate pretarsus, complete or nearly complete coxo-pleural sutures at the prosternum, and incomplete chitin-lines. Centipedes in this genus feature slightly elongate heads and labral intermediate parts with tubercles, the forcipules are usually poorly elongate with a single small tubercle at the base of each tarsungulum, and the anterior trunk metasternites usually have an anterior medial socket and a posterior transversally elongate pore-field. The generic name first appeared in Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopaedia in 1814 as Geophilus electricus.
Linotaeniidae are a monophyletic clade of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae found mostly in the temperate regions of the Holarctic as well as the south Andes. Species in the clade Linotaeniidae are characterized by a body that usually tapers toward the anterior tip; mandibles with a single pectinate lamella; second maxillae with coxo-sternite usually undivided and claws without projections; forcipular segment short, with tergite remarkably wide, forcipules evidently tapering; coxal organs opening through distinct pores on the ventral surface of the coxo-pleura. The number of legs in this clade varies within as well as among species and ranges from as few as 31 pairs of legs to as many as 83 leg pairs. Compared to most families in the suborder Adesmata, this clade features a modest number of leg-bearing segments and limited variation in this number within each species.
Schendylidae is a family of centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha found in the Americas, the Palearctic region, Africa, Madagascar, Australia, and southeast Asia, and also on some Pacific islands.
Strigamia is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Linotaeniidae found in temperate parts of the Holarctic region. Members of this family can be identified by their anteriorly tapering bodies, the extra claw on the forcipules, scattered coxal pores, and the distinctly swollen ultimate legs of the males. The generic name is from Latin striga, "strip," referring to its strip of bristles.
Dignathodontidae is a monophyletic clade of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae found in the Mediterranean region, extending to Macaronesia, Caucasus, and western and central Europe. The clade is characterized by a gradually anteriorly tapered body, a short head with non-attenuated antennae, and a poorly sclerotized labrum with tubercles. The number of legs in this clade varies within as well as among species and ranges from 43 pairs to 153 pairs of legs. Species in this clade tend to have more leg-bearing segments and greater intraspecific variability in this number than generally found in the family Geophilidae.
Acanthogeophilus is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae, found in the centro-west part of the Mediterranean region. The species in this genus are slender, 2-3 centimeters long, with 67 to 71 pairs of stout legs, peculiar spine-like processes on the ultimate legs, a claw-like pretarsus, complete coxo-pleural sutures, incomplete chitin-lines, absence of a carpophagous pit, possession of only basal denticles, and a transverse band porefield with scattered, anterior pores on the coxopleuron.
Acanthogeophilus dentifer is the type species of the genus Acanthogeophilus found in the Italian peninsula. The original description of this species is based on an adult male specimen measuring 24 mm in length with 67 pairs of legs. This species is characterized by an absence of anterior tubercles on a forcipular coxosternum, smooth internal margin of forcipular tarsungulum, presence of basal tubercle on forcipular tarsungulum, and transversally elongate sternal pores on the posterior area.
Geophilus arenarius is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in northwest Africa, specifically near Annaba, Algeria. This species is frequently misidentified with G. electricus, and as part of the carpophagus species-complex, is closely related to both G. carpophagus and G. easoni, though it differs mainly by lacking a transverse suture on the head and peculiar integumental features (carpophagus-structures) along the trunk, as well as having relatively stouter antennae and forcipular coxosternite. G. arenarius is distinctly smaller at full growth than G. carpophagus, with usually blunter and more sclerotised tubercles lining the intermediate part of the labrum and a minute denticle at the basis of the forcipular tarsungula. It has fewer bristles lining the lateral parts of the labrum than G. easoni as well as a generally higher number of legs and a more greyish coloured trunk. The descriptions of 36 G. arenarius syntypes indicate that males of this species have 55 pairs of legs, whereas females have 55 to 59 leg pairs, with 57 as the most common number.
Diphyonyx is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae found in the Palearctic region. They are notable for the unusually shaped claws on the anterior part of the trunk, which are swollen and have anterior spurs enlarged into elongate projections. Centipedes in this genus have a forcipular coxosternite with a pair of anterior tubercles and feature no sternal pores. Most coxal organs open into a single pit on each coxopleuron. These centipedes range from 4 cm to 6 cm in length and have 65 to 81 pairs of legs.
Queenslandophilus is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. It was described by German myriapodologist Karl Wilhelm Verhoeff in 1925. Centipedes in this genus feature second maxillae with sclerotized ridges on the coxosternite, no sternal pores, and coxopleura many scattered pores; the lateral parts of the labrum almost touch medially, and the ultimate legs most often have claws. These centipedes range from 1 cm to 6 cm in length, have 37 to 75 pairs of legs, and are found in Australia, Japan, and North America. The Japanese species Queenslandophilus monoporus and Q. macropalpus are notable for their small sizes, measuring only 10 mm and 15 mm in length, respectively. The species Q. elongatus, found in California, is notable for its large size, ranging from 40 mm to 63 mm in length. The species Q. macropalpus has only 37 leg pairs, the minimum number recorded in this genus, whereas Q. elongatus has 73 to 75 leg pairs, the maximum number recorded in this genus.
Ribautia is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. This genus was described by French myriapodologist Henry Wilfred Brolemann in 1909. Centipedes in this genus are found in South America, tropical Africa, Madagascar, the Arabian peninsula, Australia, New Zealand, and Melanesia.
Orphnaeus is a genus of centipedes in the family Oryidae. This genus was described by Danish entomologist Frederik Vilhelm August Meinert in 1870. Centipedes in this genus are found in tropical regions.
Schendyla is a genus of centipedes in the family Schendylidae found in the west Palearctic region. This genus was described by Danish entomologists Vilhelm Bergsøe and Frederik Vilhelm August Meinert in 1866. Centipedes in this genus feature only a few spines on the claws of the second maxillae, two pores on each coxopleuron, and ultimate legs without claws.
Maoriella is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. It was described by Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems in 1903. Species in this genus are found in New Zealand, Australia, and Tahiti.
