Mecistocephalidae

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Mecistocephalidae
Tygarrup javanicus.png
Tygarrup javanicus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Suborder: Placodesmata
Bollman, 1893
Family: Mecistocephalidae
(Bollman, 1893)
Genera

See text

Mecistocephalidae is a monophyletic family of centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha. It is the only family in the suborder Placodesmata. [1] [2] [3] Most species in this family live in tropical or subtropical regions, but some occur in temperate regions. [4] This family is the third most diverse in the order Geophiliomorpha (after Geophilidae and Schendylidae), [5] with about 170 species, [6] including about 130 species in the genus Mecistocephalus . [4]

Contents

Description

Species of this family are characterized by an elongated head with lateral margins converging backwards; first maxillae with relatively elongate coxosternite, and coxal projections much wider than telopodites, both ending with a distinctly hyaline part; second maxillae with small simple claws; elongate forcipular coxosternite with pleurites projecting anteriorly into scapular points and displaced dorsally so that the coxopleural sutures run anteriorly on the dorsal side; metatergites of the posterior part of the trunk distinctly longer than those on the anterior part. [1]

This family differs from all other geophilomorphs insofar as the number of segments in mecistocephalids is generally fixed within each species and the same for each sex. [7] [4] The family includes centipedes with odd numbers of leg-bearing segments ranging from as few as 41 to as many as 101. [4] A majority of the species in the genus Mecistocephalus have 49 pairs of legs, [8] a majority so large that most species in the family Mecistocephalidae have 49 leg pairs, [7] even though only one mecistocephalid species ( Proterotaiwanella sculptulata ) outside the genus Mecistocephalus shares this number. [9] [4]

The next most common numbers are 45 leg pairs, found in most species in the genus Tygarrup [6] as well as in species distributed among five other genera, and 41 leg pairs, found in all species in the genera Agnostrup , Anarrup , Arrup , Nannarrup , and Partygarrupius as well as in two species of Dicellophilus ; [10] fewer mecistocephalid species have 47 leg pairs (e.g., Mecistocephalus angusticeps and M. tahitiensis ) or 51 leg pairs (e.g., M. evansi and M. lifuensis ), [4] [11] found only in the genus Mecistocephalus, [9] and the other remaining numbers are even more rare (e.g., 43 leg pairs, found in Dicellophilus carniolensis [10] ). [7]

Intraspecific variation in the number of leg-bearing segments within each sex has been recorded among the mecistocephalid species with the greatest number of legs: Mecistocephalus diversisternus , which has 57 or 59 leg pairs, M. japonicus , which has 63 or 65 leg pairs, and M. microporus , which has odd numbers of leg pairs ranging from 93 to 101. [12] Other mecistocephalid species with many legs are known from samples too small to provide persuasive evidence of intraspecific invariance (e.g., M. cyclops , with 57 leg pairs in the only known specimen). [13] The mecistocephalid species Krateraspis sselivanovi has 53 leg pairs without intraspecific variation, [9] [14] which appears to be the maximum number evidently fixed by species in the class Chilopoda. [15]

Genera

The family contains the following genera: [16] [10] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geophilomorpha</span> Order of centipedes

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.

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">Schendylidae</span> Family of centipedes

Schendylidae is a family of soil centipedes in the superfamily Himantarioidea and the order Geophilomorpha. These centipedes are found in the Americas, the Palearctic region, Africa, Madagascar, Australia, and southeast Asia, and also on some Pacific islands. This family was first proposed by the American biologist Orator F. Cook in 1896.

<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.

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 lifuensis is a species of soil centipede in the Mecistocephalidae family. This species was first described in 1898 by zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock based on type material found on is Lifou Island in New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in Melanesia. This centipede is notable for featuring 51 pairs of legs rather than the 49 leg pairs usually observed in the genus Mecistocephalus.

Mecistocephalus spissus is a species of soil 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. This species was the first 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, Seychelles, and the Chagos Archipelago. 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.

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.

Mecistocephalus nannocornis is a species of soil centipede in the Mecistocephalidae family. This centipede has only 45 pairs of legs, the minimum number recorded in the genus Mecistocephalus. This centipede was the second species in this genus to be discovered with such a modest number of legs.

Mecistocephalus diversisternus is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. This centipede is notable for featuring 57 or 59 pairs of legs rather than the 49 leg pairs usually observed in the genus Mecistocephalus. This centipede is one of only a few species in the genus Mecistocephalus or in the family Mecistocephalidae with more than 55 leg pairs. This centipede is also one of only a few species in this family to exhibit any variation in leg number among specimens. This species is found from the island of Honshu in Japan to Taiwan.

Mecistocephalus japonicus is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. This centipede is notable for featuring 63 or 65 pairs of legs rather than the 49 leg pairs usually observed in the genus Mecistocephalus. This centipede is one of only a few species in the genus Mecistocephalus or in the family Mecistocephalidae with more than 55 leg pairs. This centipede is also one of only a few species in this family to exhibit any variation in leg number among specimens. This species is found from the island of Honshu in Japan to Taiwan.

References

  1. 1 2 Bonato, Lucio (2014). "Phylogeny of Geophilomorpha (Chilopoda) inferred from new morphological and molecular evidence". Cladistics. The International Journal of the Willi Hennig Society. 30 (5): 485–507. doi: 10.1111/cla.12060 . PMID   34794246. S2CID   86204188 . Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  2. ↑ "Placodesmata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. itis.gov . Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "Placodesmata". www.gbif.org. GBIF . Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bonato, Lucio; Foddai, Donatella; Minelli, Alessandro (2003). "Evolutionary trends and patterns in centipede segment number based on a cladistic analysis of Mecistocephalidae (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha): Evolution of segment number in Mecistocephalidae". Systematic Entomology. 28 (4): 539–579. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3113.2003.00217.x.
  5. ↑ Tuf, Ivan Hadrián; Mock, Andrej; Dvořák, Libor (2018-06-01). "An exotic species spreads through Europe: Tygarrup javanicus (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Mecistocephalidae) is reported from the Slovakia and the Czech Republic". Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology. 21 (2): 560–562. doi:10.1016/j.aspen.2018.03.004. ISSN   1226-8615. S2CID   89794909.
  6. 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. 1 2 3 Minelli, Alessandro; Bortoletto, Stefano (1988-04-01). "Myriapod metamerism and arthropod segmentation". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 33 (4): 323–343 [329-330]. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1988.tb00448.x. ISSN   0024-4066.
  8. ↑ Bonato, L.; Minelli, A. (2004). "The centipede genus Mecistocephalus Newport 1843 in the Indian Peninsula (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha Mecistocephalidae)". Tropical Zoology. 17 (1): 15–63. doi:10.1080/03946975.2004.10531198. ISSN   0394-6975. S2CID   85304657.
  9. 1 2 3 4 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. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1095.80806 . ISSN   1313-2970. PMC   9023436 . PMID   35836682.
  10. 1 2 3 Bonato, Lucio; Dányi, László; Minelli, Alessandro (2010). "Morphology and phylogeny of Dicellophilus, a centipede genus with a highly disjunct distribution (Chilopoda: Mecistocephalidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 158 (3): 501–532. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00557.x.
  11. ↑ Evans, W. Edgar; Brolemann, Henry W. (1923). "VI.—Myriapods collected in Mesopotamia and N.W. Persia". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 42: 54–74. doi:10.1017/S0370164600023841. ISSN   0370-1646.
  12. ↑ Minelli, Alessandro (2020). "Arthropod Segments and Segmentation – Lessons from Myriapods, and Open Questions" (PDF). Opuscula Zoologica (Budapest). 51(S2): 7–21 [10]. doi:10.18348/opzool.2020.S2.7. S2CID   226561862.
  13. ↑ Bonato, Lucio; Minelli, Alessandro (2010). "The geophilomorph centipedes of the Seychelles (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha)" (PDF). Phelsuma. 18: 9–38.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ Minelli, Alessandro; Chagas-Júnior, Amazonas; Edgecombe, Gregory D. (2009). "Saltational evolution of trunk segment number in centipedes". Evolution & Development. 11 (3): 318–322 [319]. doi:10.1111/j.1525-142X.2009.00334.x. PMID   19469859. S2CID   40909871.
  16. ↑ "ITIS - Report: Mecistocephalidae". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
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