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. Centipedes in this genus range from 1 cm to 8 cm in length. The generic name first appeared in Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopaedia in 1814 as Geophilus electricus.
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 51 to 55 pairs of legs; females have 53 to 57.
Geophilus admarinus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. It's found in southeast Alaska under stones near the low tide mark and is capable of surviving prolonged submersion underwater.
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 virginiensis is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in Virginia. It grows up to 50 millimeters in length, has 49–57 leg pairs, and is tawny yellow in color.
Geophilus ampyx is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in North America, especially South Carolina. It grows up to 52 millimeters in length, though it averages 30–40, has 49–53 leg pairs in males and 51–55 in females, and is bright red in color. G. ampyx also bears five sclerotized and deeply pigmented labral teeth and a nearly entirely exposed prebasal plate. It's often confused with G. mordax, though it can be differentiated by the absence of sacculi.
Geophilus cayugae is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in New York, Virginia, and North Carolina. It grows up to 68 millimeters in length, though it averages 25–40, has 57–65 leg pairs in males and 63–67 in females, and is bright whitish yellow in color. G. cayugae can be identified by its well-developed paxilli, weakly consolidated sacculi, and concealed prebasal plate combined with lack of consolidated prebasal areas. It's found beneath rocks and other debris in high elevation montane regions.
Geophilus oweni is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio. It grows up to 40 millimeters in length, has 67-73 leg pairs in males and 71-77 in females, and varies from bright to faded yellow in color. G. oweni can be identified by its numerous leg pairs, lack of consolidated sacculi, prelabral consolidated areas, and long, thin second maxillary apical claws. G. missouriensis was found to be synonymous with G. oweni.
Geophilus varians is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in North America, particularly from South Carolina to Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. It grows up to 40 millimeters, though it averages 30-35, ranges in color from light faded orange to yellow or whitish yellow with a deeper and brighter head, and has 53-59 leg pairs in males and 55-61 in females, as well as a complete lack of consolidated paxilli and sacculi, concealed prebasal plate, and unusually long ultimate legs.
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 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 atopodon is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in Beulah, New Mexico. Its body is uniformly light brown, up to 25 millimeters long and rather thick, narrowed posteriorly, with 49–51 leg pairs, a discrete frontal plate, and a long claw of the anal legs.
Geophilus becki is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in Cabrillo Beach, California near San Pedro under rocks and kelp at the water's edge. It grows up to 50 millimeters long and is generally orange-yellow in color with clear yellow legs and 61-63 leg pairs.
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 glaber is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found beneath logs and other debris in California. It grows up to 53 millimeters long, with a discrete frontal plate, large anal pores, and slender feet of the last legs. The female of this species has 53 or 55 pairs of legs.
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 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 dentatus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in Hokkaido. It's yellow in color, 25 millimeters in length, with 41-47 leg pairs and two clearly visible terminal pores. It's very similar to G. truncorum, but differs in the number of outer palpi on the 1st maxillae, the presence of denticles in the midpiece of the labrum, and the number of terminal 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.
Geophilus erzurumensis is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found only in Erzurum, Turkey, which it is named after.
