Krateraspis

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Krateraspis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Mecistocephalidae
Genus: Krateraspis
Lignau, 1929
Type species
Mecistocephalus meinerti
Sseliwanoff, 1881
Species

Krateraspis is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae. [1] Centipedes in this genus are found in Central Asia. [2] This genus contains only two species, K. meinerti , with 45 pairs of legs, and K. sselivanovi , with 53 leg pairs. The species K. sselivanovi is notable for featuring 53 leg pairs without any intraspecific variation. [3] [4] This number of legs is rarely observed in the family Mecistocephalidae [5] and also appears to be the maximum number evidently fixed by species in the class Chilopoda. [6]

Contents

Discovery

The genus Krateraspis was first proposed by Nikolai G. Lignau in 1929 to contain the species originally described by the Russian myriapodologist Alexey V. Sseliwanoff in 1881 under the name Mecistocephalus meinerti. [7] Sseliwanoff based the original description of this species on a female holotype found in Chinoz, in the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan. This holotype is deposited in the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg. [3]

In 1975, the Russian myriapodologist Lidia P. Titova of the USSR Academy of Sciences described the second species in this genus, Krateraspis sselivanovi. [8] She based the original description of this species on a holotype and 19 paratypes found in the Khatlon region as well as one paratype found in Fayzabad district, both located in Tajikistan. Type specimens for this species are deposited in the Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University. [3]

Phylogeny

A phylogenetic analysis of the family Mecistocephalidae using morphological features places this genus in the subfamily Mecistocephalinae along with the genera Mecistocephalus , Tygarrup , and Takashimaia. This analysis also places the two species in Krateraspis in their own clade with a sister group formed by the genera Mecistocephalus and Takashimaia together on another branch of a phlyogenetic tree. The evidence also indicates that the common ancestor of the subfamily Mecistocephalinae had 45 pairs of legs, as did the common ancestor of each genus in this subfamily, including Krateraspis. Thus, this evidence suggests that K. sselivanovi arrived at 53 leg pairs through a evolutionary process that added eight leg-bearing segments. [9]

Description

The species K. meinerti has 45 pairs of legs and can reach a maximum length of 71 mm. The species K. sselivanovi is similar in size, reaching a maximum length of 67 mm, but has 53 leg pairs. Both species are usually yellow, with the head and antennae a light brown. [3] These centipedes feature relatively stout forcipules. [2]

This genus shares several traits with the three other genera in the subfamily Mecistocephalinae. For example, all four genera feature a small claw at the end of the second maxillae. [3] [9] A set of other traits, however, distinguishes Krateraspis from its close relatives in this subfamily. For example, the clypeus in this genus features only three or four pairs of setae, which are limited to the middle of the anterior part of the clypeus, whereas in the genera Mecistocephalus and Tygarrup, setae are present on the lateral parts of the clypeus. Furthermore, where the anterior part of the side of the head in Mecistocephalus and Takashimaia features a spiculum (a sclerotized pointed projection), this spiculum in absent in the genus Krateraspis. [3] [10]

The two species of Krateraspis may be distinguished from one another not only by the number of legs but also by features of their second maxillae and forcipules. For example, the first article of the second maxillae in K. sselivanovi features a distal bulge on the external side, whereas this bulge is absent in K. meinerti. Furthermore, each article of the forcipule features a denticle in K. meinerti, whereas the second article has no denticle in K. sselivanovi. [3] [10]

Distribution

The species K. meinerti has been recorded in the Turkistan and Jambyl regions in Kazakhstan, the Tashkent region in Uzbekistan, the Jalal-Abad region in Kyrgyzstan, and the Districts of Republican Subordination and the Khatlon and Sughd regions in Tajikistan. This species is distributed from the western Tian Shan to the western branches of the Pamir mountains. [3] The species K. sselivanovi has been found in the western branches of the Pamir mountains in the Districts of Republican Subordination and the Khatlon region of Tajikistan, [3] in Daroot-Korgon in the Allay Valley in the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan, and in the Surxondaryo region of Uzbekistan. [11]

Related Research Articles

Nannarrup is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae; this genus includes a single species, Nannarrup hoffmani, also known as Hoffman's dwarf centipede. This centipede was discovered in Central Park in New York City and was the first new species to be discovered in that park in more than a century. This species is the smallest species in the family Mecistocephalidae, reaching only 10.3 mm in length, and has only 41 pairs of legs, the minimum number recorded in this family.

<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.

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

Oryidae is a monophyletic family of soil centipedes belonging to the superfamily Himantarioidea.

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

Mecistocephalidae is a monophyletic family of centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha. It is the only family in the suborder Placodesmata. Most species in this family live in tropical or subtropical regions, but some occur in temperate regions. This family is the third most diverse in the order Geophiliomorpha, with about 170 species, including about 130 species in the genus Mecistocephalus.

<i>Tygarrup</i> Genus of Mecistocephalidae centipedes

Tygarrup is a genus of centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae, found mainly in southeast Asia and from the Seychelles to Hawaii. Although species in this genus can have either 43 or 45 leg-bearing segments, most of these species have 45 leg pairs. An undescribed Tygarrup species found in the Andaman Islands has 43 leg pairs. Centipedes in this genus are sometimes melanised in patches, and sternal glands are present the males of most species. These centipedes range from 2 cm to 6 cm in length. Tygarrup javanicus is one of the smallest of the mecistocephalid species and has become an invasive in greenhouses in Europe.

Arrup is a genus of centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae, native to Europe and Asia as far as Japan. Centipedes in this genus feature small telopodites on the second maxillae, the head and forcipular segment are elongate, the clypeus is almost completely areolate, and the poison glands in adult males are often deep inside the forcipules. These centipedes range from 1 cm to 5 cm in length. All species in this genus have 41 leg-bearing segments. Most are soil-dwellers but Arrup akiyoshiensis is a troglobiont.

Agnostrup is a genus of centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae, native to Europe and Asia. Centipedes in this genus feature small telopodites without claws on the second maxillae and a robust basal denticle on the forcipular tarsungulum. These centipedes range from 2 cm to 3 cm in length. All species in this genus have 41 leg-bearing segments.

Anarrup is a genus of centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae, native to Europe and Asia as far as Indonesia. Centipedes in this genus feature a clypeus with areolation and setae limited to a short anterior marginal band; the second maxillae have swollen and densely setose telopodites and a coxosternite divided mid-longitudinally. These centipedes range from 6 cm to 8 cm in length. All species in this genus have 41 leg-bearing segments.

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

Ballophilidae is a monophyletic group of centipedes belonging to the order Geophilomorpha and superfamily Himantarioidea. Authorities now dismiss this group as a family, citing phylogenetic analysis, and instead refer to this clade as Ballophilinae, a possible subfamily within the family Schendylidae. Centipedes in this clade differ from others in the family Schendylidae by having bodies tapered toward the anterior tip, short heads, slender forcipules that are well apart, and an undivided lamina for the female gonopods. Centipedes in this clade are found in most tropical regions.

Mecistocephalus is the largest genus of centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae, with about 140 species. This genus is among the most diverse and widespread of all the genera in the order Geophilomorpha. The British entomologist George Newport first proposed this genus in 1843 to contain a group of centipedes marked by an unusual elongation of the head.

Australoschendyla is a genus of centipedes in the family Schendylidae. This genus was described by R. E. Jones in 1996. Centipedes in this genus feature claws on the second maxillae fringed by a single row of filaments, short forcipules, subcircular sternal pore-fields, one or two pores on each coxopleuron, and ultimate legs without claws. These centipedes range from 1 cm to 2 cm in length, have 41 to 47 pairs of legs, and are found in west Australia.

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.

Mecistocephalus ongi is a species of centipede in the Mecistocephalidae family. It was described in 1934 by Japanese myriapodologist Yosioki Takakuwa.

Mecistocephalus spissus is a species of centipede in the Mecistocephalidae family. The American biologist Horatio Curtis Wood first described this species in 1862 based on type material found in Kauai or Oahu in Hawaii. This centipede has only 45 pairs of legs, the minimum number recorded in the genus Mecistocephalus, and was the first species in this genus to be discovered with such a modest number of legs.

Mecistocephalus gigas is a species of soil centipede in the Mecistocephalidae family. This genus was described in 1887 by German entomologist Erich Haase. This centipede features 51 pairs of legs rather than the 49 leg pairs usually observed in the genus Mecistocephalus.

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.

Mecistocephalus angusticeps is species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. This centipede is found in Kenya and Seychelles. This species features only 47 pairs of legs rather than the 49 leg pairs usually observed in the genus Mecistocephalus.

Mecistocephalus evansi is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. This centipede is notable for featuring 51 pairs of legs rather than the 49 leg pairs usually observed in the genus Mecistocephalus. This species was first described by the French myriapodologist Henry W. Brolemann in 1922. He based the original description of this species on a single female specimen found in the Maysan governorate on the Tigris river in Iraq.

Krateraspis sselivanovi is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. This centipede is found in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. This species is notable for featuring 53 leg pairs without any intraspecific variation. This number of legs is rarely observed in the family Mecistocephalidae and also appears to be the maximum number evidently fixed by species in the class Chilopoda.

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). "Krateraspis Lignau, 1929". ChiloBase 2.0 - A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda). Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  2. 1 2 Bonato, Lucio; Edgecombe, Gregory D.; Zapparoli, Marzio (2011). "Chilopoda – Taxonomic overview". In Minelli, Alessandro (ed.). The Myriapoda. Volume 1. Leiden: Brill. pp. 363–443. ISBN   978-90-04-18826-6. OCLC   812207443.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dyachkov, Yurii V.; Bonato, Lucio (2022-04-14). "Morphology and distribution of the Middle Asian centipede genus Krateraspis Lignau, 1929 (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha, Mecistocephalidae)". ZooKeys (1095): 143–164. Bibcode:2022ZooK.1095..143D. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1095.80806 . ISSN   1313-2970. PMC   9023436 . PMID   35836682.
  4. ↑ Dyachkov, Yu. V. (2019). "New data on the family Mecistocephalidae Bollman, 1893 (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha) from Middle Asia". Arthropoda Selecta. 28 (1): 368–373. doi: 10.15298/arthsel.28.3.02 . ISSN   0136-006X. S2CID   216530363.
  5. ↑ Minelli, Alessandro; Bortoletto, Stefano (1988-04-01). "Myriapod metamerism and arthropod segmentation". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 33 (4): 323–343. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1988.tb00448.x. ISSN   0024-4066.
  6. ↑ Minelli, Alessandro; Chagas-Júnior, Amazonas; Edgecombe, Gregory D. (2009). "Saltational evolution of trunk segment number in centipedes". Evolution & Development. 11 (3): 318–322. doi:10.1111/j.1525-142X.2009.00334.x. PMID   19469859. S2CID   40909871.
  7. ↑ Lignau, N. (1929). "Zur Kenntnis der zentralasiatischen Myriopoden". Zoologischer Anzeiger (in German). 85 (5/8): 159–175 [165].
  8. ↑ Titova, L.P. (1975). "Geophilids of the family Mecistocephalidae (Chilopoda) in the fauna of the USSR". Zoologichesckii Zhurnal (in Russian). 54: 39–48.
  9. 1 2 Bonato, Lucio; Foddai, Donatella; Minelli, Alessandro (2003). "Evolutionary trends and patterns in centipede segment number based on a cladistic analysis of Mecistocephalidae (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha)". Systematic Entomology. 28 (4): 539–579. Bibcode:2003SysEn..28..539B. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3113.2003.00217.x. ISSN   0307-6970.
  10. 1 2 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.
  11. ↑ Dyachkov, Yurii V. (2022-12-27). "On new records of Geophilomorpha (Chilopoda) from Middle Asia". Ecologica Montenegrina. 60: 70–79 [74]. doi: 10.37828/em.2022.60.11 . ISSN   2336-9744.
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