Aphilodon bahianus

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Aphilodon bahianus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Geophilidae
Genus: Aphilodon
Species:
A. bahianus
Binomial name
Aphilodon bahianus
Calvanese & Brescovit, 2022

Aphilodon bahianus is a species of soil centipede in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae [1] but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. [2] [3] This centipede can reach 21 mm in length and can have either 63 or 65 pairs of legs. This species is found in Brazil. [3]

Contents

Discovery

This species was first described in 2022 by the biologists Victor C. Calvanese and Antonio D. Brescovit. The original description of this species is based on 22 specimens (12 females and 10 males), including a female holotype and four paratypes (two females and two males). These specimens were collected in 2018 from four different localites, all in the state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil. The species A. bahianus is named for its type locality. The type specimens are deposited in the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, Brazil. [3]

Distribution and habitats

This centipede is the first species of the genus Aphilodon found in the state of Bahia in Brazil. The original description of this species is based on specimens found in four relatively distant municipalities in the state of Bahia, suggesting a broad range for this species: Nine specimens including the type specimens were collected from the Parque Nacional do Descobrimento in Prado, ten specimens from the Reserva Biológica de Una in Una, two specimens from the Parque Municipal de Mucugê in Mucugê, and one specimen from the Parque Nacional da Chapada da Diamantina in Andaraí. This wide geographic distribution includes not only the Atlantic Forest but also the Caatinga biome and transition areas. Specimens were found just below rotten logs or about 5 cm to 10 cm below the surface, either in large forests or in small forest fragments in open areas. [3]

Description

This species can have 63 or 65 pairs of legs in each sex and ranges from 16 mm to 21 mm in length. When preserved in alcohol, the body is yellowish, with the head and forcipular segment a reddish brown. The dorsal plate on the head is longer than wide, with a length/width ratio of about 1.1. This cephalic plate features scattered short setae but lacks a visible transverse suture. The antennae are about 2.9 times longer than the cephalic plate. The sclerite in front of the forcipular tergite is exposed rather than covered by the cephalic plate. Each forcipule features only three articles. The first article of the forcipule features two denticles and the second article features one denticle, with all three denticles large and well developed, but the ultimate article lacks a distinct denticle. The ultimate article of the forcipule is distinctly curved and shorter than the first article. The basal element of each of the ultimate legs features six to nine scattered pores. Each ultimate leg features a well developed terminal spine. Males have thicker ultimate legs than females. [3] [4]

LIke other species in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, this species features forcipules with only three articles and sternites without ventral pores, [1] and like other species in the genus Aphilodon, this species features a terminal spine on each of the ultimate legs. [3] [2] This species especially resembles A. foraminis , another species in the same genus, insofar as both species feature an unusual absence of a distinct denticle on the ultimate article of the forcipule. Furthermore, A. foraminis features two denticles on the first article of the forcipule and one denticle on the second article, all relatively large, as in A. bahianus, as well as a similar number of pores (five to eight) scattered on the basal element of each of the ultimate legs. [3] [4]

The species A. bahianus can be distinguished from A. foraminis, however, based on other traits. For example, the cephalic plate is wider than long and features a transverse suture in A. foraminis but is longer than wide and lacks such a suture in A. bahianus. Furthermore, the ultimate article of the forcipule is shorter than the first article and curved in A. bahianus but longer than the first article and not curved in A. foraminis. Moreover, the terminal spine at the end of each ultimate leg is small in A. foraminis but well developed in A. bahianus. Specimens of A. foraminis are also smaller than those of A. bahianus, ranging from 11 mm to 15 mm in length, and feature fewer leg pairs, with only 39 or 41 in males and 41 or 43 in females. [3] [4]

The species A. bahianus resembles A. acutus , another species in the same genus, in terms of both size and number of legs: A. acutus ranges from 18 mm to 22 mm in length and features 63 or 65 leg pairs in females and 61 or 63 leg pairs in males. Furthermore, in both species, the cephalic plate is longer than wide and lacks a transverse suture, and the ultimate article of the forcipule is shorter than the first article. [3] [4]

Other characteristics, however, distinguish A. bahianus from A. acutus. In particular, the ultimate article of the forcipule features a large sharp denticle in A. acutus but features no distinct denticle in A. bahianus. Furthermore, the sternite of the second maxillae is distinctly shorter in the middle in A. acutus but not in A. bahianus. [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

Nannarrup is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae. This genus contains only three species, including the type species Nannarrup hoffmani. Also known as Hoffman's dwarf centipede, N. hoffmani was discovered in Central Park in New York City and was the first new species to be discovered in that park in more than a century. This genus includes the smallest species in the family Mecistocephalidae, with adults measuring about 10 mm in length. Centipedes in this genus have only 41 pairs of legs, the minimum number recorded in this family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geophilidae</span> Family of centipedes

Geophilidae is a family of soil centipedes in the superfamily Geophiloidea and the order Geophilomorpha. In 2014, a phylogenetic analysis based on morphological and molecular data found this family to be polyphyletic. To avoid this polyphyly, authorities dismissed the families Aphilodontidae, Dignathodontidae, Linotaeniidae, and Macronicophilidae, which are now deemed to be junior synonyms for Geophilidae. Authorities also moved some genera from Geophilidae to form the family Zelanophildae in order to avoid the polyphyly of the family Geophilidae. The family Geophilidae now includes more than 650 species in more than 120 genera. This family has a cosmopolitan distribution, with species found almost worldwide.

Aphilodontinae is a monophyletic group of soil centipedes previously known as the family Aphilodontidae in the order Geophilomorpha. This clade is now considered a subfamily in the family Geophilidae and has been renamed accordingly. This subfamily now includes more than 30 described species distributed among four genera.

Geophilus richardi is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in France and Monaco in the Western Alps as well as in Italy and the Ionian islands. This species is notable as one of only two in the family Geophilidae to include centipedes with as few as 29 leg pairs. This centipede is also notable for its small size, reaching only 10 mm in length.

Geophilus sounkyoensis is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in Japan and Russia. This species can have either 55 or 57 pairs of legs and can reach 40 mm in length.

Mecistocephalus is the largest genus of centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae, with about 140 species. This genus is among the most diverse and widespread of all the genera in the order Geophilomorpha. The British entomologist George Newport first proposed this genus in 1843 to contain a group of centipedes marked by an unusual elongation of the head.

Dinogeophilus is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Schendylidae. This genus contains only two species, Dinogeophilus pauropus and D. oligopodus, which range from 4.5 to 5.5 mm in length. These species are notable as the smallest not only in the order Geophilomorpha but also in any epimorphic order of centipedes. The species D. oligopodus is also notable as one of only six species of soil centipedes to feature only 29 pairs of legs and one of only two species to include females with only 29 pairs, the minimum number recorded for females in the order Geophilomorpha.

Schendyla antici is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This species is notable as one of only six species in the order Geophilomorpha to feature centipedes with only 29 pairs of legs, which is also the minimum number recorded in the genus Schendyla. No other species in this genus features so few legs.

Mecophilus is a genus of soil centipedes in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. The species in this genus are among the smallest centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha, reaching only 8 mm in length. This genus is also notable for featuring the fewest legs in the subfamily Aphilodontinae. The species in this genus are found in the Atlantic Forest in south and southeastern Brazil.

Mecistocephalus evansi is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. This centipede is notable for featuring 51 pairs of legs rather than the 49 leg pairs usually observed in the genus Mecistocephalus. This species was first described by the French myriapodologist Henry W. Brolemann in 1922. He based the original description of this species on a single female specimen found in the Maysan governorate on the Tigris river in Iraq.

Krateraspis sselivanovi is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. This centipede is found in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. This species is notable for featuring 53 leg pairs without any intraspecific variation. This number of legs is rarely observed in the family Mecistocephalidae and also appears to be the maximum number evidently fixed by species in the class Chilopoda.

Dinogeophilus oligopodus is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 mm in length, the smallest size recorded not only in the order Geophilomorpha but also in any epimorphic order of centipedes. This species is also notable as one of only six species in the order Geophilomorpha to feature only 29 pairs of legs and one of only two species to include females with only 29 pairs, the minimum number recorded for females in this order.

Mecophilus tupiniquim is a species of soil centipede in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. This centipede is notable for its small size and modest number of legs. This species is found in Brazil.

Arctogeophilus glacialis is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophildae. This centipede is found in Russia, Alaska, and Canada. This species was first described in 1909 by the Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems as the type species for the taxon Arctogeophilus, which was originally described as a subgenus of the genus Geophilus but was elevated to the status of genus in 1910 by the French zoologist Henri Ribaut.

Alloschizotaenia bipora is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This species was first described in 1952 by the Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems.

Mairata is a genus of soil centipedes in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. This genus contains only two species: M. itatiaiensis and the type species M. butantan. Both species are found in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil.

Mairata itatiaiensis is a species of soil centipede in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. This centipede can reach 41 mm in length and can have either 61 or 63 pairs of legs. This species is found in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil.

Aphilodon is a genus of soil centipedes in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. These centipedes are found in South America. This genus includes sixteen species and is the most diverse of the Neotropical genera in the subfamily Aphilodontinae.

Schendylops demelloi is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede is found in Brazil. This species is notable for its large size, reaching 70 mm in length, the maximum size recorded in the genus Schendylops. This centipede can have either 69 or 71 pairs of legs.

Aphilodon silvestrii is a species of soil centipede in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. This centipede can have 67, 69, or 71 pairs of legs and is notable for its size, reaching 61 mm in length, which is among the largest sizes recorded in the genus Aphilodon. This species is found in Brazil.

References

  1. 1 2 Bonato, Lucio; Edgecombe, Gregory D.; Zapparoli, Marzio (2011). "Chilopoda – Taxonomic overview". In Minelli, Alessandro (ed.). The Myriapoda. Volume 1. Leiden: Brill. pp. 363–443 [407-408]. ISBN   978-90-04-18826-6. OCLC   812207443.
  2. 1 2 Calvanese, Victor C.; Brescovit, Antonio D.; Bonato, Lucio (2019-11-15). "Revision of the Neotropical species of Aphilodontinae (Geophilomorpha, Geophilidae), with eight new species and a first phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily". Zootaxa. 4698 (1): 1–72 [4, 10, 14, 20–21, 57]. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4698.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Calvanese, Victor C.; Brescovit, Antonio D. (7 March 2022). "Six new species of Aphilodon centipedes (Geophilidae: Aphilodontinae) from Brazil". Zootaxa. 5105 (4): 539–558 [539–544, 547–549, 555–557]. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5105.4.4. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   35391288.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Bonato, Lucio; Edgecombe, Gregory; Lewis, John; Minelli, Alessandro; Pereira, Luis; Shelley, Rowland; Zapparoli, Marzio (2010-11-18). "A common terminology for the external anatomy of centipedes (Chilopoda)". ZooKeys (69): 17–51. Bibcode:2010ZooK...69...17B. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.69.737 . ISSN   1313-2970. PMC   3088443 . PMID   21594038.
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