Geophilidae

Last updated

Geophilidae
Geophilus flavus (Geophilidae), Arnhem, the Netherlands.jpg
Geophilus flavus , the Netherlands
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Chilopoda
Order:
Geophilomorpha
Suborder:
Adesmata
Superfamily:
Geophiloidea
Family:
Geophilidae

Leach, 1815  [1]
Synonyms [2]

Chilenophilidae
Sogonidae

Geophilus sp. mother and brood. Soil Centipede Mother With Offspring (22684796317).jpg
Geophilus sp. mother and brood.

Geophilidae is a family of soil centipedes in the superfamily Geophiloidea and the order Geophilomorpha. [3] [4] In 2014, a phylogenetic analysis based on morphological and molecular data found this family to be polyphyletic. [3] To avoid this polyphyly, authorities dismissed the families Aphilodontidae, [5] Dignathodontidae, [6] Linotaeniidae, [7] and Macronicophilidae, [8] which are now deemed to be junior synonyms for Geophilidae. [4] Authorities also moved some genera from Geophilidae to form the family Zelanophildae in order to avoid the polyphyly of the family Geophilidae. [3] [9] The family Geophilidae now includes more than 650 species in more than 120 genera. [4] This family has a cosmopolitan distribution, with species found almost worldwide. [10]

Contents

Description

Species in this family are characterized by mandibles with a single pectinate lamella. Sternal pores are often present but with variable arrangements, and coxal organs are usually present and open into pits or through distinct pores. Female gonopods in this family are usually an undivided lamina. [10]

Compared to most other families in the suborder Adesmata, this family features a modest number of leg-bearing segments and limited variation in this number within each species. [11] Two European species in this family include centipedes with only 29 pairs of legs: Geophilus persephones (29 in the only specimen, a male), and G. richardi (29 or 31 in males and 33 in females). [12] [13] In the order Geophilomorpha, only two species include centipedes with fewer leg pairs, both of them in the family Schendylidae. [12] Several other species in the family Geophilidae are known from specimens with notably few leg pairs in each sex, including Ribautia platensis (as few as 31 in each sex), [14] G. hadesi (33 in each sex), [15] Schendyloides alacer (as few as 33 in each sex), [16] and Strigamia sibirica (as few as 33 in each sex). [17]

Genera

This family contains these genera: [1] [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geophilomorpha</span> Order of centipedes

Geophilomorpha is an order of centipedes commonly known as soil centipedes. The name "Geophilomorpha" is from Ancient Greek roots meaning "formed to love the earth." This group is the most diverse centipede order, with 230 genera. These centipedes are found nearly worldwide but are absent in Antarctica and most Arctic regions.

<i>Geophilus hadesi</i> Species of centipede

Geophilus hadesi is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is a troglobite, spending its entire life cycle in a cave environment. This species and Geophilus persephones are the only two troglobites known in the order Geophilomorpha. The species G. hadesi is named after Hades, god of the underworld in Greek mythology and the husband of Persephone, the namesake of the first troglobite discovered among the soil centipedes. The species G. hadesi has been observed in a cave as far as 1,100 meters below the surface, the deepest underground that any centipede has ever been recorded.

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

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.

<i>Geophilus</i> Genus of centipedes

Geophilus is a large, heterogeneous genus of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae largely considered to be synonymous with Brachygeophilus. The generic name first appeared in Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopaedia in 1814 as Geophilus electricus. This genus has a Holarctic distribution.

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.

<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 persephones is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae discovered in 1999. This species is named after Persephone, the queen of the underworld in Greek mythology, and found in caves in the Gouffre de la Pierre Saint-Martin. It has elongated antennae and legs as well as abundant sensory setae, and like other geophilomorhps it lacks sight, has a flattened trunk, and is well adapted to underground life. This species was the first troglomorphic geophilomorph ever discovered and one of the only two in existence along with Geophilus hadesi. Known from a single male specimen measuring 16.2 mm in length, G. persephones has only 29 pairs of legs, one of only two species in the Geophilidae family to feature so few leg pairs.

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

Aphilodontidae is a monophyletic clade of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae found in South America and South Africa. These centipedes are closely related to Geoperingueyia and characterized by shieldlike setae on the front of the head, lateral parts of the flattened cuticle above the mouthparts, and combined forcipular trochanteroprefemur and femur. The number of legs in this clade varies within species as well as among species and ranges from as few as 33 pairs of legs to as many as 93 pairs. The three species in the Brazilian genus Mecophilus have the fewest legs and smallest size in this clade. The two species with the fewest legs in the Neotropical genus Aphilodon also feature notably modest numbers: A. meganae and A. indespectus. A. meganae is also notable for its small size, the smallest in its genus. Species with more legs also exhibit greater variation in the number of leg pairs. The largest species in this clade can reach 70 mm in length.

Geophilus richardi is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in France and Monaco in the Western Alps and on the Italian mainland, Sicily, Sardinia, 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.

Geophilus pusillus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in Algeria. It grows up to 11 millimeters in length. The original description of this species is based on ten specimens: five male specimens from Algeria with 31 pairs of legs, and five specimens from Germany. Records from the Alpstein mountains indicate that G. pusillus is a soil-dwelling species that prefers humus-rich soil, but these records deserve confirmation. Some authorities consider the specimens recorded from Europe to be specimens of G. ribauti that have been misidentified as specimens of the Algerian species G. pusillus.

Geophilus bobolianus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in France and Italy. This species has 45 to 51 pairs of legs. It was originally classified as a subspecies of G. longicornis identified by its lack of anterior sternal pores.

Strigamia crassipes is a centipede belonging to the family Linotaeniidae 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.

Geophilus oligopus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in several European countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovenia, and Romania. Although this centipede has been described as having an Alpine-Dinaric distribution, this species has also been found in the Carpathian mountains and may be more widespread than previously thought.

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.

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.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Geophilidae Leach, 1815". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Geophilidae".
  3. 1 2 3 Bonato, Lucio (2014). "Phylogeny of Geophilomorpha (Chilopoda) inferred from new morphological and molecular evidence". Cladistics. 30 (5): 485–507. doi: 10.1111/cla.12060 . PMID   34794246. S2CID   86204188.
  4. 1 2 3 "ITIS - Report: Geophilidae". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  5. ↑ Calvanese, Victor C. (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): zootaxa.4698.1.1. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4698.1.1. PMID   32229999. S2CID   209592191 . Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  6. ↑ "ITIS - Report: Dignathodontidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  7. ↑ "ITIS - Report: Linotaeniidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "ITIS - Report: Macronicophilidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "ITIS - Report: Zelanophilidae". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  10. 1 2 Minelli, Alessandro (2011-03-21). Treatise on Zoology - Anatomy, Taxonomy, Biology. The Myriapoda. Brill. pp. 414–424. ISBN   978-90-04-18826-6 . Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  11. ↑ Minelli, Alessandro; Bortoletto, Stefano (1988-04-01). "Myriapod metamerism and arthropod segmentation". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 33 (4): 323–343. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1988.tb00448.x. ISSN   0024-4066.
  12. 1 2 Pereira, Luis Alberto (2013-01-01). "Discovery of a second geophilomorph species (Myriapoda: Chilopoda) having twenty-seven leg-bearing segments, the lowest number recorded up to the present in the centipede order Geophilomorpha". Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia. 53 (13): 163–185. doi: 10.1590/S0031-10492013001300001 . hdl: 11336/3449 . ISSN   1807-0205.
  13. ↑ Bonato, Lucio; Minelli, Alessandro; Drago, Leandro; Pereira, Luis Alberto (2015-09-25). "The phylogenetic position of Dinogeophilus and a new evolutionary framework for the smallest epimorphic centipedes (Chilopoda: Epimorpha)". Contributions to Zoology. 84 (3): 237–253. doi: 10.1163/18759866-08403004 . hdl: 11577/3146565 . ISSN   1875-9866.
  14. ↑ Silvestri, Philippus (1898). "Nova Geophiloidea Argentina". Comunicaciones del Museo Nacional de Buenos Aires (in Latin). 1 (2): 39–40 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  15. ↑ Stoev, Pavel; Akkari, Nesrine; Komericki, Ana; Edgecombe, Gregory; Bonato, Lucio (2015). "At the end of the rope: Geophilus hadesi sp. n. – the world's deepest cave-dwelling centipede (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha, Geophilidae)". ZooKeys (510): 95–114. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.510.9614 . PMC   4523767 . PMID   26257537.
  16. ↑ Pereira, Luis Alberto; Minelli, Alessandro (1992). "A new record of Schendyloides alacer (Pocock, 1891) from the Falkland Islands and a redescription of the species (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha)". Bolletino della Società Entomologica Italiana. 124 (2): 83–90.
  17. ↑ Bonato, Lucio; Danyi, Laszlo; Socci, Antonio Augusto; Minelli, Alessandro (2012-12-20). "Species diversity of Strigamia Gray, 1843 (Chilopoda: Linotaeniidae): a preliminary synthesis". Zootaxa. 3593 (1): 1–39 [8]. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3593.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334.
  18. ↑ 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 [11]. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4698.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334.


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