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 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, this species has only 29 pairs of legs, one of only two species in the Geophilidae family to have so few leg pairs.
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 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 gracilis is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found most commonly in Britain and Ireland, though specimens have also been recorded in Chile, France, Greece, and Algeria. It lives under mud and stones along the coast near or below the high tide mark, grows up to 30 millimeters in length, has between 51 and 57 leg pairs, and is bright yellow in color with a darker reddish head. It is often confused with G. flavus and, in coastal locations, G. osquidatum.
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 fucorum is a halophilic species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in the French Mediterranean, Corsica, Italy, and Greece. Males of this species have 49 to 53 pairs of legs; females have 53 to 55.
Geophilus osquidatum is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in western Europe, from mainland Spain through western France to Britain and Ireland, though it's also been recorded in Italy, Czech Republic, and Germany. It grows up to 30 millimeters, has 53-63 leg pairs, and is bright yellow with a darker reddish head. Because of this, it's often confused with G. flavus and G. gracilis. Its subspecies, G. osquidatum porosum, was found synonymous with G. flavus. In Britain, G. osquidatum is found in a wide range of habitats including woodland, grassland, and coastal shingle as well as gardens and waste ground.
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 vittatus, also known as the diamondback soil centipede, is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae widespread in North America and named for the dark band of diamond-shaped markings across its back. G. vittatus grows up to 52 millimeters in length, though it averages 25–40, and ranges from brown- to orange-yellow in color, with 49–53 leg pairs in females, 49–51 leg pairs in males, and a lack of consolidated carpophagus structures. It can be found under any debris on the forest floor, but mostly under loose bark and occasionally near the sea.
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 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.
