| Henia vesuviana | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Chilopoda |
| Order: | Geophilomorpha |
| Family: | Dignathodontidae |
| Genus: | Henia |
| Species: | H. vesuviana |
| Binomial name | |
| Henia vesuviana (Newport, 1845) | |
The white-striped centipede (Henia vesuviana, formerly Chaetechelyne vesuviana), is a species of soil centipede belonging to the family Dignathodontidae. [1]
This is a long and slender species, reaching lengths of up to 95 mm (3.7 in) in mainland Europe. It is one of the few geophilomorph species to be identifiable in the field, with a distinct greyish colouration, orange-yellow head and rear, short terminal legs and thick mid-body. It can have anywhere between 57 and 87 leg pairs, with British specimens tending towards the middle of that range. There also exists sexual dimorphism in leg count, with males generally having fewer legs than females. It gains its common name from the distinct white dorsal blood vessel running along the length of the body. [2]
This species spends the day under cover such as logs and stones, often curled up in a ball with its underside facing outward. [2] It is able to secrete a sticky liquid from the ventral side of its segments when attacked, as demonstrated by an experiment conducted with the devil's coach horse beetle (Ocypus olens). [3] Not much is known of its diet, but it has been observed feeding on a millipede of the family Blaniulidae. [4]
It is distributed throughout Western Europe, as far east as Austria. In the United Kingdom, it is considered Nationally Scarce, but is fairly frequent in the Greater London area [5] and in coastal regions. It has been shown to prefer urban sites and arable soils. [6]
Millipedes are a group of arthropods that are characterised by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments; they are known scientifically as the class Diplopoda, the name derived from this feature. Each double-legged segment is a result of two single segments fused together. Most millipedes have very elongated cylindrical or flattened bodies with more than 20 segments, while pill millipedes are shorter and can roll into a tight ball. Although the name "millipede" derives from Latin for "thousand feet", no species was known to have 1,000 or more until the discovery in 2020 of Eumillipes persephone, which can have over 1,300 legs. There are approximately 12,000 named species classified into 16 orders and around 140 families, making Diplopoda the largest class of myriapods, an arthropod group which also includes centipedes and other multi-legged creatures.
Centipedes are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda, an arthropod group which includes millipedes and other multi-legged animals. Centipedes are elongated segmented (metameric) animals with one pair of legs per body segment. All centipedes are venomous and can inflict painful stings, injecting their venom through pincer-like appendages known as forcipules or toxicognaths, which are actually modified legs instead of fangs. Despite the name, no species of centipede has exactly 100 legs; the number of pairs of legs is an odd number that ranges from 15 pairs to 191 pairs.
Pauropoda is a class of small, pale, millipede-like arthropods in the subphylum Myriapoda. More than 900 species in twelve families are found worldwide, living in soil and leaf mold. Pauropods look like centipedes or millipedes and may be a sister group of the latter, but a close relationship with Symphyla has also been posited. The name Pauropoda derives from the Greek pauros and pous or podus, because most species in this class have only nine pairs of legs as adults, a smaller number than those found among adults in any other class of myriapods.
Myriapods are the members of subphylum Myriapoda, containing arthropods such as millipedes and centipedes. The group contains about 13,000 species, all of them terrestrial.
The marginated tortoise is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is endemic to Greece, Italy, and the Balkans in Southern Europe. It is the largest European tortoise. The marginated tortoise is herbivorous, and brumates for the winter.
The white-tailed mongoose is a species in the mongoose family Herpestidae. It is the only member of the genus Ichneumia.
Cornufer guppyi is a species of frog in the family Ceratobatrachidae. The species is named after British surgeon Henry B. Guppy who collected the holotype from the Shortland Islands. It is found in New Britain Island and in the Solomon Islands archipelago, where it is widespread, though it is missing from Makira island.
Opisthopatus roseus is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. As traditionally defined, this species is rose pink with 18 pairs of legs. Known as the pink velvet worm, it is found only in the Weza Forest, a Mistbelt Forest in South Africa.
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.
Geophilus flavus is a terrestrial, soil-dwelling, species of centipede in the Geophilidae family. G. flavus occurs in a range of habitats across central Europe, North America, Australia and other tropical regions. Geophilomorph centipedes, like centipedes generally, are primary predators, hunting predominantly in underground soil burrows or above ground leaf litter. Their consumption behaviours are influenced by environment and seasonal factors. Given their lack of economic value and marginal medical significance, G.flavus remains largely understudied in mainstream research. Some recent studies have detailed the evolutionary development of G.flavus and Geophilidae generally, illustrating developed predatory features like forcipule venom glands.
Stigmatogaster is a genus of centipedes in the family Himantariidae. Centipedes in this genus feature a relatively slender trunk, transversally slightly elongate sternal pore-fields on almost all trunk segments, and unusual lateral furrows on some trunk metasternites; most coxal organs open into a dorsal pouch covered by the metatergite. These centipedes range from 5 cm to 10 cm in length, have 83 to 111 pairs of legs, and are found in the Mediterranean region. This genus contains the following species:
Dignathodontidae is a monophyletic clade of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae found in the Mediterranean region, extending to Macaronesia, Caucasus, and western and central Europe. The clade is characterized by a gradually anteriorly tapered body, a short head with non-attenuated antennae, and a poorly sclerotized labrum with tubercles. The number of legs in this clade varies within as well as among species and ranges from 43 pairs to 153 pairs of legs. Species in this clade tend to have more leg-bearing segments and greater intraspecific variability in this number than generally found in the family Geophilidae.
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 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 truncorum is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found across Western Europe, though it reaches as far as Poland, Italy, and Morocco. This centipede is relatively small, growing up to 20mm in length, with a yellow or orangeish brown body and dark yellow or brown head, denser and shorter hair than most Geophilus species, a main plate almost as elongated as in G. flavus (115:100), and distinct carpophagus fossae on the anterior sternites. Males of this species have 35 to 41 pairs of legs; females have 37 to 41.
Polyzonium germanicum, also known as the Kentish pinhead is a species of millipede within the genus Polyzonium and family Polyzoniidae.
Praestheceraeus bellostriatus, commonly known as the black-striped flatworm or the striped flatworm, is a species of free-living marine polyclad worm in the family Euryleptidae.
Schendyla dentata is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede is widespread in western Europe. This species is notable not only for its small size, reaching only 12 mm in length, but also for the absence of males in all samples collected. This absence of males suggests that this species reproduces through parthenogenesis.
Mesoschendyla cribrifera is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede is found in South Africa. This species features 55 pairs of legs in each sex and measures 34 mm in length.
Mesoschendyla picturata is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede is found in South Africa. This species is notable for featuring 63 pairs of legs and for reaching 40 mm in length, which are the maximum numbers for leg number and length recorded in the genus Mesoschendyla.
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