Krateraspis sselivanovi

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Krateraspis sselivanovi
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Mecistocephalidae
Genus: Krateraspis
Species:
K. sselivanovi
Binomial name
Krateraspis sselivanovi
Titova, 1975

Krateraspis sselivanovi is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. [1] This centipede is found in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. [2] This species 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 Russian myriapodologist Lidia P. Titova of the USSR Academy of Sciences first described this species in 1975. [7] 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 include both sexes and 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 species in a clade with Krateraspis meinerti , the only other species in the genus Krateraspis . The evidence also indicates that the common ancestor of these two species had 45 pairs of legs, as K. meinerti does. Thus, this evidence suggests that K. sselivanovi arrived at 53 leg pairs through a evolutionary process that added eight leg-bearing segments. [8]

Description

This species reaches a maximum length of 67 mm and has 53 leg pairs. This centipede (preserved in an ethanol solution) is usually yellow, with the head, antennae, and forcipular segment (except for the tergite) a light brown. The clypeus features four pairs of setae that are limited to the middle of the anterior part of the clypeus. Each mandible typically features six lamellae, each with five to seven teeth. The ultimate legs are slender and densely covered with setae. [3]

This species shares a distinctive set of features with its close relative K. meinerti. For example, both species feature a mid-longitudinal suture on the sternum between the first maxillae but not between the second maxillae, a small claw at the end of the second maxillae, a forcipular tergite that is only slightly (about 1.5 times) wider than long, sternites without pore fields, and ultimate legs that each end in a small apical spine rather than a claw. Furthermore, K. meinterti also usually features four pairs of clypeal setae (rarely only three pairs) that are limited to the middle of the anterior part of the clypeus, as they are in K. sselivanovi. [3] [9]

The two species of Krateraspis may be distinguished from one another not only by the number of legs but also by features of their 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, the second maxillae in K. meinerti are so long as to extend distinctly beyond the tips of the first maxillae, whereas in K. sselivanovi, the second maxillae only extend about as far as the tips of the first maxillae. Finally, in K. meinerti, each article of the forcipule features a denticle, whereas in K. sselivanovi, each article has a denticle except for the second, which does not. [3] [9]

Distribution

This species has been recorded 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. [2]

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.

Linotaeniidae are a monophyletic clade of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae found mostly in the temperate regions of the Holarctic as well as the south Andes. Species in the clade Linotaeniidae are characterized by a body that usually tapers toward the anterior tip; mandibles with a single pectinate lamella; second maxillae with coxo-sternite usually undivided and claws without projections; forcipular segment short, with tergite remarkably wide, forcipules evidently tapering; coxal organs opening through distinct pores on the ventral surface of the coxo-pleura. The number of legs in this clade varies within as well as among species and ranges from as few as 31 pairs of legs to as many as 83 leg pairs. Compared to most families in the suborder Adesmata, this clade features a modest number of leg-bearing segments and limited variation in this number within each species.

<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.

Zelanophilidae is a family of centipedes belonging to the order Geophilomorpha and superfamily Geophiloidea. Centipedes in this family are found in the Australasian region. This family includes seven species distributed among three genera.

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.

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.

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.

Dicellophilus is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae. This genus was introduced by the American biologist Orator F. Cook in 1896 to contain the species D. limatus, which he explicitly designated as the type species. This genus contains four species and is notable for the highly disjunct geographic distribution of these species.

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.

Krateraspis is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae. Centipedes in this genus are found in Central Asia. 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. 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.

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.

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.

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 sselivanovi Titova, 1975". ChiloBase 2.0 - A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda). Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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. ↑ Titova, L.P. (1975). "Geophilids of the family Mecistocephalidae (Chilopoda) in the fauna of the USSR". Zoologichesckii Zhurnal (in Russian). 54: 39–48.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. 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.
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