Aphilodontinae

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Aphilodontinae
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Geophilidae
Subfamily: Aphilodontinae
Silvestri, 1909
Type genus
Aphilodon
Silvestri, 1898
Genera

Aphilodontinae is a monophyletic group of soil centipedes previously known as the family Aphilodontidae in the order Geophilomorpha. [1] [2] This clade is now considered a subfamily in the family Geophilidae and has been renamed accordingly. [2] [3] This subfamily now includes more than 30 described species distributed among four genera. [2] [4] [5]

Contents

Phylogeny and taxonomy

In 2014, a phylogenetic analysis based on morphological and molecular data found the family Aphilodontidae nested within the family Geophilidae. To avoid paraphyly of the family Geophilidae with respect to Aphilodontidae, authorities dismissed Aphilodontidae as a separate family. [6] Authorities now deem Aphilodontidae to be a junior synonym of Geophilidae. [7] A phylogenetic analysis of the family Geophilidae based on morphology confirms the monophyly of the subfamily Aphilodontinae. [2] The morphological evidence also places this subfamily in a clade with the geophilid genus Geoperingueyia , which emerges as the closest relative of this subfamily in a phylogenetic tree of the family Geophilidae. [2] [6]

Distribution and habitats

Centipedes in this subfamily are found in South America and South Africa. In South Africa, these centipedes are found in Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, North West, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. In South America, these centipedes are found from the Pampas in Argentina to the Atlantic Forest in Brazil and eastern Paraguay, as well as in the Pantanal, the Cerrado, and the Caatinga in Brazil. [2] [4]

Description

This subfamily is characterized by forcipules with only three articles (combining the trochanteroprefemur and femur) and sternites without ventral pores. [2] [4] The lateral parts of the labrum in this subfamily are either inconspicuous thin membranes or apparently missing. Furthermore, the intermediate part of the clypeus features "sub-clypeal" setae, that is, two paired groups of setae in addition to the lateral and post-antennal groups. The poison gland has an unusual location, with part of the gland well inside the anterior leg-bearing portion of the trunk and only the ducts in the forcipules. [2]

The number of legs in this subfamily varies within species as well as among species and ranges from as few as 33 pairs of legs (in Mecophilus carioca ) [5] to as many as 93 pairs (in Aphilodon cangaceiro ). [4] The three species in the Brazilian genus Mecophilus have the fewest legs (33 or 35 pairs) and smallest size (6.5 to 8 mm in length) in this subfamily. [5] The species A. meganae is also notable for its small size (7 to 8 mm in length), the smallest in its genus. [4] The species A. cangaceiro is notable for its many legs, with females featuring as many as 93 leg pairs, the maximum number recorded in this subfamily. [4] The species A. micronyx and A. pereirai can each reach 70 mm in length, the maximum size recorded in this subfamily. [4] [2]

The species in this subfamily share a distinctive set of traits with their close relatives in the genus Geoperingueyia. For example, the male in all of these species features a pair of ultimate legs with only one tarsal article. Furthermore, in all these species, the middle part of the labrum is indistinct, and the distal element of the second maxillae is relatively short and lacks a claw. Moreover, the second and third articles of the forcipules in these species feature setae near the tips of the denticles. [2] [8]

The centipedes in this subfamily can be distinguished from their close relatives, however, based on a set of other traits. These diagnostic traits include forcipules with only three articles, sternites without ventral pores, and sub-clypeal setae. Furthermore, the lateral parts of the labrum are distinctive insofar as they are either membranous or apparently missing. [2]

Genera

This subfamily includes the following genera: [2]

Related Research Articles

<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.

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

Schendylidae is a family of soil centipedes in the superfamily Himantarioidea and the order Geophilomorpha. These centipedes are found in the Americas, the Palearctic region, Africa, Madagascar, Australia, and southeast Asia, and also on some Pacific islands. This family was first proposed by the American biologist Orator F. Cook in 1896.

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.

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.

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.

Mecistocephalus smithii is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. This centipede is notable for featuring 59 pairs of legs rather than the 49 leg pairs usually observed in the genus Mecistocephalus. This centipede is one of only a few species in the genus Mecistocephalus or in the family Mecistocephalidae with more than 55 leg pairs. This centipede is also notable as the first Mecistocephalus species discovered in China.

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.

Aphilodon bahianus 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 21 mm in length and can have either 63 or 65 pairs of legs. This species is found in Brazil.

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.

Aphilodon pereirai 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 73, 75, or 77 pairs of legs and is notable for its size, reaching 71 mm in length, the largest size recorded in the genus Aphilodon. This species is found in Brazil.

Geoperingueyia is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Geophildae. These centipedes are found in southern Africa and Argentina. This genus contains ten species, including the type species G. conjungens.

References

  1. ↑ 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]. ISBN   978-90-04-18826-6. OCLC   812207443.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Calvanese, Victor C. (15 November 2019). "Revision of the Neotropical species of Aphilodontinae (Geophilomorpha, Geophilidae), with eight new species and a first phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily" . Zootaxa. 4698 (1): zootaxa.4698.1.1. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4698.1.1. PMID   32229999. S2CID   209592191. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "IRMNG - Aphilodontidae Silvestri, 1909". www.irmng.org. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Calvanese, Victor C.; Brescovit, Antonio D. (7 March 2022). "Six new species of Aphilodon centipedes (Geophilidae: Aphilodontinae) from Brazil" . Zootaxa. 5105 (4): 539–558. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5105.4.4. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   35391288. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Calvanese, Victor C.; Brescovit, Antonio D. (18 January 2022). "A new species of Mecophilus (Geophilidae: Aphilodontinae), with the first report of the genus from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil" . Zootaxa. 5092 (1): 134–142. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5092.1.8. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   35391216. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  6. 1 2 Bonato, Lucio; Drago, Leandro; Murienne, Jerome (2014). "Phylogeny of Geophilomorpha (Chilopoda) inferred from new morphological and molecular evidence". Cladistics. The International Journal of the Willi Hennig Society. 30 (5): 485–507. doi: 10.1111/cla.12060 . PMID   34794246. S2CID   86204188.
  7. ↑ "ITIS - Report: Aphilodontidae". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  8. ↑ Bonato, Lucio; Edgecombe, Gregory; Lewis, John; Minelli, Alessandro; Pereira, Luis; Shelley, Rowland; Zapparoli, Marzio (18 November 2010). "A common terminology for the external anatomy of centipedes (Chilopoda)". ZooKeys. 69: 17–51. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.69.737 . ISSN   1313-2970. PMC   3088443 . PMID   21594038.
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