| Craterostigmus tasmanianus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| [1] | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Chilopoda |
| Order: | Craterostigmomorpha |
| Family: | Craterostigmidae |
| Genus: | Craterostigmus |
| Species: | C. tasmanianus |
| Binomial name | |
| Craterostigmus tasmanianus Pocock, 1902 | |
Craterostigmus tasmanianus, also known as the Tasmanian remarkable centipede, [2] [3] is a species of Tasmanian centipede endemic and widespread on the island. [4] [5] [6]
Craterostigmus tasmanianus is a small, greenish or yellowish-brown centipede, growing up to 50 millimetres (2.0 in) in length. [2] [7] [5] [8] It has a long reddish-brown head with a single ocellus on either side of the cephalic plate (head shield), [9] and dark reddish-brown forcipules extending visibly forward past the plate. [8] [2] [10] It cannot be distinguished from Craterostigmus crabilli on a basis of colour. [11] The antennae taper, are divided into 17 or 18 articles (antennomeres), are recorded as about one quarter the length of the head, and are hirsute, especially closer to the tips. [8] [2] [9] The species is generally slow-moving. [2] Adults have 15 pairs of legs and 21 tergites. [2]
Craterostigmus tasmanianus is widespread across Tasmania (and especially common in the west), as well as other nearby islands, but not on the mainland. It is found in a variety and elevations, ranging from sea-level to highland (up to 1300 m), but is restricted to woodland habitats, both dry and wet. [2] [5] [7] In drier areas, it is restricted microhabitats such as leaf litter, piled rocks rotting logs, and deep humus. [2] [7] [5] The record for average density is one specimen per 12 m2, from a 1992 hand-collecting expedition (in Nothofagus forest). [5]
The brood chambers of C. tasmanianus are usually cavities in damp rotting logs or excavations in the soil. [2] [5] [7] The breeding season runs from November to February, and brooding occurs between September and April. [7] [5] Like members of the Scolopendramorph and Geophilmorph orders, the mother coils around the eggs and early instars to guard them. [2] [7] Hatchlings emerge from the eggs with 12 pairs of legs, then gain three final ones in their first moult. [4] [5] [7] [2] They then disperse in winter into the leaf litter. [5] Mothers have been recorded to lay anywhere between 44 and 77 eggs at a time. [5] [2]
The diet of C. tasmanianus remains unknown, but several theories have been advanced. It may prey on other arthropods, such as isopods, millipedes, beetles, amphipods, maggots, mites, springtails, and even other centipedes. [5] [7] [2] In captivity, they can be sustained on flies, crickets, and isopods, and have been observed using their forcipules to dig into termite mounds for food, although this behaviour has not yet been observed in the wild. [2] [5] Some sources suggest that it may be a specialist predator on termites and other burrowing insects. [5]
Craterostigmus tasmanianus was described in 1902 by Reginald Innes Pocock. [12] The type specimen was found on the summit of Mount Rumney, outside the city of Hobart. [5] It is the type species of the genus Craterostigmus, and was, until 2008 when C. crabilli was named, the only species in the genus. [4] [11] Records of C. tasmanianus from New Zealand are almost certainly C. crabilli. [9]
Centipedes are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda, an arthropod group which includes millipedes and other multi-legged animals. Centipedes are elongated segmented (metameric) creatures with one pair of legs per body segment. All centipedes are venomous and can inflict painful stings, injecting their venom through pincer-like appendages known as forcipules or toxicognaths, which are actually modified legs instead of fangs. Despite the name, no centipede has exactly 100 pairs of legs; number of legs ranges from 15 pairs to 191 pairs, always an odd number.
Myriapods are the members of subphylum Myriapoda, containing arthropods such as millipedes and centipedes. The group contains about 13,000 species, all of them terrestrial.
Scolopendridae is a family of large centipedes.
Scolopendra is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae.
Leucopatus is a genus of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae, containing a single species, the blind velvet worm. It is found in northeast Tasmania, Australia, and is ovoviviparous.
Geophilus flavus is a terrestrial, soil-dwelling, species of centipede in the Geophilidae family. G. flavus occurs in a range of habitats across central Europe, North America, Australia and other tropical regions. Geophilomorph centipedes, like centipedes generally, are primary predators, hunting predominantly in underground soil burrows or above ground leaf litter. Their consumption behaviours are influenced by environment and seasonal factors. Given their lack of economic value and marginal medical significance, G.flavus remains largely understudied in mainstream research. Some recent studies have detailed the evolutionary development of G.flavus and Geophilidae generally, illustrating developed predatory features like forcipule venom glands.
Dendrothereua is a genus of house centipedes in the family Scutigeridae. There are at least three described species in Dendrothereua, found in the southern United States and the Neotropics.
Pselliodidae is a family of small centipedes, identical and closely related to house centipedes.
Scolopocryptops is a genus of bark centipedes in the family Scolopocryptopidae. There are over 20 described species in Scolopocryptops.
Strigamia is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Linotaeniidae. 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. There are at least 50 described species in Strigamia. Centipedes in this genus can reach 15 cm in length and can have as few as 31 pairs of legs or as many as 83 leg pairs. The species S. hoffmani is notable for its small size as well as for having relatively few legs.
Craterostigmus is a genus of centipedes belonging to the Craterostigmidae family. The species are found in Australasia.
Craterostigmus crabilli is a species of small centipede in the order Craterostigmomorpha. It is endemic to New Zealand.
The centipedes or Chilopoda are divided into five orders, which are grouped into two subclasses, Pleurostigmomorpha and Notostigmomorpha, the latter of which comprises only one order, the Scutigeromorpha.
Steneurytion morbosus is a species of centipede in the Geophilidae family. It was first described in 1877 by New Zealand naturalist Frederick Hutton.
Pachymerellus zygethus is a species of centipede in the Geophilidae family. It is endemic to Australia, and was first described in 1920 by American biologist Ralph Vary Chamberlin.
Tuoba laticeps is a species of centipede in the Geophilidae family. It is endemic to Australia, and was first described in 1891 by British zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock.
Tuoba sydneyensis is a species of centipede in the Geophilidae family. It was first described in 1891 by British zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock.
Paralamyctes is a genus of centipedes in the family Henicopidae. It was described by British zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901.
Paralamyctes mesibovi is a species of centipede in the Henicopidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was first described in 2001 by palaeontologist Gregory Edgecombe.
Tasmanophilus spenceri is a species of centipede in the Zelanophilidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described in 1901 by British zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock. The species epithet spenceri honours British-Australian evolutionary biologist Baldwin Spencer.