Geophilus oligopus

Last updated

Geophilus oligopus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Geophilidae
Genus: Geophilus
Species:
G. oligopus
Binomial name
Geophilus oligopus
(Attems, 1895)
Synonyms
  • Orinomus oligopusAttems, 1895
  • Geophilus pauropusAttems, 1927
  • Geophilus noricusVerhoeff,1928

Geophilus oligopus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. [1] [2] 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. [3]

Contents

Discovery and taxonomy

This species was first described by the Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems in 1895 under the name Orinomus oligopus. [4] The original description of this species is based on specimens from Mount Hochschwab in the Obersteiermark region of Austria. [3] [5] The type specimens were two adults and a juvenile, parts of which are deposited in the form of two slides in the Natural History Museum in Vienna. [6] Although Attems created the genus Orinomus in 1895 to contain the newly discovered species, [4] he later deemed Orinomus to be a junior synonym of Geophilus . [7]

In 1927, Attems described Geophilus pauropus as a new species found in the Velebit mountains of Croatia. [8] [6] In 1996, however, the Austrian zoologist Erhard Christian deemed G. pauropus to be a junior synonym of G. oligopus, [9] and authorities now consider these centipedes to be the same species. [8] Similarly, in 1928, the German zoologist Karl W. Verhoeff described Geophilus noricus as a new species found in Austria (on Schmittenhöhe mountain and in St. Gilgen, both in Salzburg state, and in Steinach am Brenner in Tyrol state). [10] [5] In 1988, however, the Italian biologist Alessandro Minelli deemed G. noricus to be a junior synonym of G. oligopus, and authorities now consider these centipedes to be the same species. [10]

Description

This centipede ranges from 8 mm to 18 mm in length and is a pale yellow, but the head and forcipules are darker. [3] Both the male and the female of this species can have either 37 or 39 pairs of legs. [11] This species exhibits a set of traits that distinguish this species from similar species in the same genus. For example, the second maxillae in this species each end in a stout tubercle with one or two apical tips. [11] [12] Furthermore, this species features sternal pores that are limited to the anterior part of the trunk. [11] [13] The sternites in this species also feature a carpophagus structure, in which a peg projecting from the posterior margin of one sternite is associated with a pit or socket in the anterior margin of the next sternite. [11] [13] [12]

A cladistic analysis based on the morphology of ten European species of Geophilus places G. oligopus in a clade with G. persephones in a phylogenetic tree. This clade forms a sister group for the species G. insculptus , which emerges as the next closest relative in this analysis. These three species share many traits, including second maxillae that end in tubercles, carpophagus structures on the anterior sternites, and long setae on the head, trunk, and legs. [14]

The species G. oligopus may be distinguished from both of these close relatives, however, based on its pore fields, which are limited to its anterior sternites and absent from the first sternite. In the other two species, these pores appear on all sternites but the last. [14] Moreover, G. persephones has fewer legs (only 29 pairs in the only specimen) than G. oligopus, [14] whereas G. insculptus has more (43 to 53 pairs). [13] The species G. insculptus is also larger (25 mm to 30 mm in length) and has two articles on the first maxillae where G. oligopus has only one article. [14] [13] Furthermore, the internal margin of the ultimate article of the forcipule is serrate in G. oligopus but not in G. persephones. [14] [12]

Related Research Articles

Pachymerium caucasicum is a species of centipede in Geophilidae family. It was described by Carl Attems in 1903 and is endemic to the European part of Turkey. Males of this species have 47 pairs of legs; females have 49 pairs of legs. Authorities now deem P. caucasicum to be a junior synonym of P. ferrugineum.

Pachymerium tabacarui is a species of centipede in Geophilidae family that is endemic to Romania. The original description of this species is based on a female specimen from the Carpathians measuring 15 mm in length with 53 pairs of legs. Some authorities consider this description consistent with a juvenile specimen of P. ferrugineum and therefore deem P. tabacarui to be a junior synonym of that species. A more recent review of this description suggests that P. tabacarui is a junior synonym of Geophilus flavus rather than P. ferrugineum. Extensive investigations in the Carpathian region have failed to collect any more specimens.

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

Himantariidae is a monophyletic family of centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha and superfamily Himantarioidea, found almost exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere. Centipedes in this family feature a short head with a concave labral margin bearing a row of denticles, a single dentate lamella and some pectinate lamellae on each mandible, second maxillae with strongly tapering telopodites and slightly spatulate claws, and a stout forcipular segment with short forcipules and a wide tergite; the ultimate legs usually have no pretarsus, and the female gonopods are distinct and biarticulate.

<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.

<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.

Geophilus arenarius is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in Algeria. As part of the carpophagus species-complex, this species is closely related to both G. carpophagus and G. easoni.

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.

Sepedonophilus is a genus of three species of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. This genus is endemic to Australia, and was first described by Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems in 1909. Centipedes in this genus feature scattered coxal pores and have no sternal pores; the lateral parts of the labrum almost touch medially, and the intermediate part is inconspicuous; the coxosternite of the second maxillae have peculiar anterior projections. These centipedes range from about 2 cm to 5 cm in length and have 49 to 79 pairs of legs. The smallest species in this genus, Sepedonophilus hodites, measures only 18 mm in length and has only 49 leg pairs, the minimum number recorded in this genus, whereas the largest species, S. perforatus, measures 50 mm in length and has 79 leg pairs, the maximum number recorded in this genus.

Queenslandophilus is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. It was described by German myriapodologist Karl Wilhelm Verhoeff in 1925. Centipedes in this genus feature second maxillae with sclerotized ridges on the coxosternite, no sternal pores, and coxopleura many scattered pores; the lateral parts of the labrum almost touch medially, and the ultimate legs most often have claws. These centipedes range from 1 cm to 6 cm in length, have 37 to 75 pairs of legs, and are found in Australia, Japan, and North America. The Japanese species Queenslandophilus monoporus and Q. macropalpus are notable for their small sizes, measuring only 10 mm and 15 mm in length, respectively. The species Q. elongatus, found in California, is notable for its large size, ranging from 40 mm to 63 mm in length. The species Q. macropalpus has only 37 leg pairs, the minimum number recorded in this genus, whereas Q. elongatus has 73 to 75 leg pairs, the maximum number recorded in this genus.

<i>Ribautia</i> Genus of centipedes

Ribautia is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. This genus was described by French myriapodologist Henry Wilfred Brolemann in 1909. Centipedes in this genus are found in South America, tropical Africa, Madagascar, the Arabian peninsula, Australia, New Zealand, and Melanesia.

Geophilus duponti is a species of centipede in the Geophilidae family. It is endemic to Australia, and was first described in 1897 by Italian entomologist Filippo Silvestri.

Tasmanophilus spenceri is a species of centipede in the family Zelanophilidae. This centipede is found only in New Zealand and has only 39 pairs of legs, the minimum number recorded in the family Zelanophilidae. This species reaches only 23 mm in length and is the smallest centipede in this family.

Zelanophilus kapiti is a species of centipede in the Zelanophilidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described in 1922 by New Zealand zoologist Gilbert Archey. Some authorities, including Archey himself, would later deem Z. kapiti to be a junior synonym of a similar species, Z. provocator.

Maoriella is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. It was described by Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems in 1903. Species in this genus are found in New Zealand, Australia, and Tahiti.

Maoriella edentata is a species of centipede in the Geophilidae family. It was first described in 1947 by Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems.

Marsikomerus is a genus of centipedes in the family Schendylidae. It was described by Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems in 1938. Species in this genus are found in Mexico and in the United States.

Pleotarsobius is a monotypic genus of centipedes in the family Henicopidae. It was described in 1909 by Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems. The sole species is Pleotarsobius heterotarsus.

Mecistocephalus glabridorsalis is a species of centipede in the Mecistocephalidae family. It was described in 1900 by Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems. This species has 49 pairs of legs, can reach 85 mm in length, and is yellow with anterior segments and a head that are reddish brown.

Dicellophilus carniolensis is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. This centipede is well known and found in central Europe. This species features 43 pairs of legs, a number rarely found in the family Mecistocephalidae and recorded in only one other genus in this family: In the genus Tygarrup, an undescribed species found in the Andaman Islands also has 43 leg pairs.

Schendylops oligopus is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This species is notable as one of only two species in the order Geophilomorpha known to include centipedes with only 27 pairs of legs, the minimum number recorded in this order. Furthermore, S. oligopus was the first species in this order found to feature so few legs.

References

  1. ↑ Bonato, L.; Chagas Junior, A.; Edgecombe, G.D.; Lewis, J.G.E.; Minelli, A.; Pereira, L.A.; Shelley, R.M.; Stoev, P.; Zapparoli, M. (2016). "Geophilus oligopus (Attems,1895)". ChiloBase 2.0 – A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda). Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  2. ↑ "ITIS – Report: Geophilus oligopus". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  3. 1 2 3 Dányi, László (2007). "Geophilus oligopus (Attems, 1895) a species new to the fauna of Romania and to the whole of the Carpathian Mountains" (PDF). Schubartiana. 2: 39–48.
  4. 1 2 Attems, Carl Graf (1895). "Die Myriopoden Steiermarks" (PDF). Sitzungsberichten der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien (in German). 104: 117–238 [166–167].
  5. 1 2 Attems, Carl (1929). Attems, Karl (ed.). Lfg. 52 Myriapoda, 1: Geophilomorpha (in German). De Gruyter. pp. 188, 356–357. doi:10.1515/9783111430638. ISBN   978-3-11-143063-8.
  6. 1 2 Ilie, Victoria; Schiller, Edmund; Stagl, Verena (2009). Type specimens of the Geophilomorpha (Chilopoda) in the Natural History Museum Vienna (PDF). Kataloge der wissenschaftlichen Sammlungen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien Myriapoda. Wien: Verl. des Naturhistorischen Museums. pp. 50, 53. ISBN   978-3-902421-33-3.
  7. ↑ Attems, C. G. (1903). "Synopsis der Geophiliden". Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Ökologie und Geographie der Tiere (in German). 18: 155–302 [293].
  8. 1 2 Bonato, L.; Chagas Junior, A.; Edgecombe, G.D.; Lewis, J.G.E.; Minelli, A.; Pereira, L.A.; Shelley, R.M.; Stoev, P.; Zapparoli, M. (2016). "Geophilus pauropus Attems, 1927". ChiloBase 2.0 – A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda). Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  9. ↑ Christian, Erhard (1996). "Die Erdläufer (Chilopoda-Geophilida) des Wiener Stadtgebietes" (PDF). Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Österreich (in German). 133: 107–132 [126].
  10. 1 2 Bonato, L.; Chagas Junior, A.; Edgecombe, G.D.; Lewis, J.G.E.; Minelli, A.; Pereira, L.A.; Shelley, R.M.; Stoev, P.; Zapparoli, M. (2016). "Geophilus noricus Verhoeff, 1928". ChiloBase 2.0 – A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda). Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Stojanović, Dalibor Z.; Mitić, Bojan M.; Gedged, Amna M.; Antić, Dragan Ž; Makarov, Slobodan E. (2019-08-23). "Geophilus serbicus sp. nov., a new species from the Balkan Peninsula (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Geophilidae)". Zootaxa. 4658 (3): 556–570. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4658.3.7. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   31716735.
  12. 1 2 3 Bonato, Lucio; Edgecombe, Gregory; Lewis, John; Minelli, Alessandro; Pereira, Luis; Shelley, Rowland; Zapparoli, Marzio (2010-11-18). "A common terminology for the external anatomy of centipedes (Chilopoda)". ZooKeys (69): 17–51. Bibcode:2010ZooK...69...17B. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.69.737 . ISSN   1313-2970. PMC   3088443 . PMID   21594038.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Barber, A.D. (1999). "Geophilus insculptus or Geophilus oligopus?" (PDF). Bulletin of the British Myriapod Group. 15: 16–27.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Foddai, D. (1999-02-01). "A troglomorphic geophilomorph centipede from southern France (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Geophilidae)". Journal of Natural History. 33 (2): 267–287. doi:10.1080/002229399300416. ISSN   0022-2933.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.