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. Species in this family are characterized by mandibles with a single pectinate lamella, slender antennae, sternal pores with variable arrangement, a generally slightly or moderately elongate head, frequently undivided coxosternite with two paramedian sclerotized lines, claws without rows of filament, and female gonopods usually being an undivided lamina.
Geophilus is a large, heterogeneous genus of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae largely considered to be synonymous with Brachygeophilus. It is a mostly holarctic genus characterized by a claw-shaped ultimate pretarsus, anterior porefields, complete or nearly complete coxo-pleural sutures at the prosternum, and incomplete chitin-lines. The generic name first appeared in Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopaedia in 1814 as Geophilus electricus.
Geophilus electricus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found across temperate Europe, especially Britain and Ireland. Originally discovered and named Scolopendra electrica in 1758, it was later moved to its own genus, Geophilus. As the first species described in this genus, it is considered by some to be the type species. It is yellowish-orange in color and can grow up to 45 millimeters, with 55 to 75 leg pairs, a distinct carpophagus fossae on the anterior sternites, and a distinctive arrangement of the coxal pores of the last leg pair. Like many geophilomorphans, G. electricus has been known to glow in the dark, most likely as a defensive maneuver.
Geophilus carpophagus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae, widely considered to be a type species of the genus Geophilus. It grows up to 60 millimeters in length, with an orange/tan body bearing a distinctive purplish marbled pattern. Males of this species have 47 to 57 pairs of legs; females have 49 to 59.
Geophilus easoni is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found throughout Britain and Ireland, though its range extends through western France to at least the foothills of the Pyrenees. Until 2001, it was considered synonymous with G. carpophagus, and most pre-2001 records probably refer to G. easoni. It's typically shorter than G. carpophagus, with fewer leg pairs, uniform tan/chestnut coloring, and a greater size and number of coxal pores, as well as a darkly pigmented mid-piece of the labrum which bears blunt teeth. Specimens in north-western Iberia typically have a wider range of leg pairs. It nests on the ground surface under stones and dead wood.
Geophilus arenarius is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in northwest Africa, specifically near Annaba, Algeria. It's frequently misidentified with G. electricus, and as part of the carpophagus species-complex it's 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.
Geophilus proximus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in the northern part of the Palearctic and widespread across the entire Baltic basin, though it reaches as far as the Arctic Circle and has been introduced through human agency to northern, central, and eastern parts of Kazakhstan. It was recorded once with certainty in Britain from Unst in the Shetland Islands; distribution in the rest of Europe is difficult to assess because of frequent misidentifications of the species. Populations from northern Europe are mostly parthenogenetic.
Geophilus impressus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found all over Europe, and has also been recorded in North Africa. It lives frequently in endogean habitats; in Sardinia it's found mostly in Quercus ilex woods, but also in Mediterranean shrub, open habitats, and maquis. It lives anywhere from sea level to 1700 meters above it, sometimes in caves.
Geophilus algarum is a species of centipede in the family Geophilidae found in the littoral zone on the French Atlantic and Channel Coasts. It has one subspecies, G. algarum var. decipiens, which can be identified by lack of a dorsal coxal pore. The male of this species has 53 pairs of legs; females have 53 to 59.
Geophilus mordax, also called the pitted soil centipede, is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in North America, especially Indiana, Arkansas, Louisiana, North and South Carolina, and Florida. It grows up to 50 millimeters in length, though it averages 25–40, has 49–53 leg pairs in males and 49–57 in females, and is bright red in color. G. mordax also bears 3–5 labral teeth, a short and robust apical claw of the second maxillae, an exposed prebasal plate, and a large, consolidated sacculi.
Geophilus smithi is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in Washington, D.C. It grows up to 28 millimeters in length, has 49 leg pairs, 25-30 coxal pores, and coxae of prehensorial legs of about equal length and width.
Geophilus nanus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found on the Iberian Peninsula. It's a poorly defined species described as being pale yellow, 15 mm long, with smooth sternites bearing no furrows, final hip with few pores next to the sternite rim, tergites deeply double-furrowed from the basal shield onward, and 41 leg pairs. It’s apparently related to G. gracilis, differentiated by jaws that do not surpass the forehead or bear chitin lines, and by the 2nd tarsal segment of the final leg pair being just a tiny stub.
Geophilus anonyx is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in Oregon. It was originally placed in the genus Brachygeophilus based on the lack of sternal pores, a character shared with the type species B. truncorum, however it was later moved to Geophilus.
Geophilus okolonae is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in Okolona, Arkansas. It grows up to 40 millimeters long and has 61-63 leg pairs. G. okolonae differs from other North American species by the exposed prebasal plates and absence of coxal pores.
Geophilus nicolanus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found on San Nicholas Island, California. It's dark brown in color and grows up to 62 millimeters long, with 63 leg pairs, a concealed prebasal plate, numerous coxal pores, and a very wide final ventral plate with convex sides.
Geophilus richardi is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in France, Italy, and the Ionian Islands. Females of this species have 33 pairs of legs; males have 29 or 31. This species is one of only two in the family Geophilidae to include centipedes with as few as 29 leg pairs. This species grows up to 10 millimeters long, has no carpophagus pit or pore-fields, and has a gradually tapering, curved pretarsus of the second maxillae. G. richardi lacks typical ventral pores between 2–4mm. The sternites instead bear a small number of pores between 0.5–1mm that differ from micropores, which are unbounded by a cuticular ring. These are possibly the remnants of typical ventral pores, their smaller size being a byproduct of overall miniaturization.
Geophilus pygmaeus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in the Southern Limestone Alps, between the Bergamasque Prealps in the west and the Slovene Prealps in the east, and in the northernmost Dinarides. Past records from other areas are usually false. G. pygmaeus is less than 20 millimeters long and has 41-47 leg pairs. It differs from other European species of Geophilus by the shape of the forcipular apparatus and arrangement of coxal pores.
Geophilus tampophor is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in Oregon. It was originally placed in the genus Brachygeophilus, however it was later moved to Geophilus. Like G. anonyx, it differs from other western American geophiliids by having prehensorial claws armed at the base, however unlike G. anonyx it possesses armed anal claws and a lesser number of legs.
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.
Geophilus claremontus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in Claremont, California, after which it was named. It was incorrectly placed in the genus Brachygeophilus in 1929 by Attems, most likely based on the lack of sternal pores.
