Mecistocephalus evansi

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Mecistocephalus evansi
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Mecistocephalidae
Genus: Mecistocephalus
Species:
M. evansi
Binomial name
Mecistocephalus evansi
Brolemann, 1922

Mecistocephalus evansi is a species of soil centipede in the family Mecistocephalidae. [1] This centipede is notable for featuring 51 pairs of legs rather than the 49 leg pairs usually observed in the genus Mecistocephalus . [2] [3] This species was first described by the French myriapodologist Henry W. Brolemann in 1922. [2] He based the original description of this species on a single female specimen found in the Maysan governorate (formerly Amara province) on the Tigris river in Iraq. [4] [2]

Contents

Distribution and habitats

Since the discovery of the first M. evansi specimen in the Maysan governorate in Iraq, this species has been found in other locations in Iraq, Iran, and Israel. [4] Several specimens have been recorded in Israel, mostly from Mediterranean regions of the Galilee, at higher elevations with lower temperatures and more precipitation. The Israeli specimens include those found in Mount Meron and Gush Halav as well as one found in Be’er Sheva in the Negev desert that may be the result of an anthropogenic transfer. [5] This species has also been found in Gakal Cave in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province of Iran, indicating that M. evansi is a troglophile, living not only above-ground but also in subterranean habitats. [6] [7] Finally, more Iraqi specimens have been found in the Basrah governorate, including specimens from the Al-Hartha and Shatt Al-Arab districts. [4] [8] Specimens collected from the Basrah governorate include five males and six females found in 2022 on wet agricultural land, in the soil under palm trees, on the left bank of the Shatt Al-Arab river and in the Al-Hartha district. [4]

Description

This species has 51 pairs of legs and can reach 38 mm in length. [2] [9] The head is more than 1.3 times longer than wide and can be twice as long as wide. [5] [2] The dorsal cephalic plate nearly covers the forcipules. [8] The forcipular coxosternite has no chitin-lines and is more than 1.2 times longer than wide. The first article of the forcipule has a distinct intermediate denticle as well as a distal denticle. The ultimate article of the forcipule lacks a distinct basal denticle. [5] [10]

The body is uniform in width for the first four-fifths of its length, then tapers gradually from about the 40th segment to the last segment. The sternites on the anterior part of the trunk feature a distinct median groove that divides into two short branches at the anterior end. [2] There are no clusters of pores on the ventral surface of the trunk. The posterior end of the last leg-bearing segment has a subtriangular ventral sclerite with a distinctly rounded posterior margin. The ultimate legs have no pretarsus. In adults, the ventral side of the basal element of each ultimate leg has more than twelve scattered pores. [5] [10]

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<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">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>Geophilus</i> Genus of centipedes

Geophilus is a large, heterogeneous genus of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae largely considered to be synonymous with Brachygeophilus. The generic name first appeared in Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopaedia in 1814 as Geophilus electricus. This genus has a Holarctic distribution.

<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.

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.

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.

Pachymerinus is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. It was described by Italian entomologist Filippo Silvestri in 1905. Centipedes in this genus feature elongate heads, elongate forcipules with denticles, scattered coxal pores, and few sternal pores, if any; the intermediate part of the labrum is narrow and has no denticles. These centipedes range from about 3 cm to 8 cm in length, have 47 to 81 pairs of legs, and are found in Chile and southeast Australia. The Australian species Pachymerinus froggatti is notable for its relatively small size, measuring only 28 mm in length. The larger Chilean species P. porteri measures 46 mm in length but can have as few as 47 leg pairs, the minimum number recorded in this genus. The Chilean species P. pluripes measures only 32 mm in length but can have 79 or 81 leg pairs, the maximum number recorded in this genus. The Chilean species P. canaliculatus is known from a female specimen with 75 leg pairs and is notable for its large size, measuring 75 mm in length.

Tuoba is a genus of 17 species of centipedes, in the family Geophilidae. This genus was described by American biologist Ralph Vary Chamberlin in 1920. These centipedes are found in coastal regions and islands in the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans.

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 brevisternalis 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.

Dinogeophilus is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Schendylidae. This genus contains only two species, Dinogeophilus pauropus and D. oligopodus, which range from 4.5 to 5.5 mm in length. These species are notable as the smallest not only in the order Geophilomorpha but also among all epimorphic centipedes. The species D. oligopodus is also notable as one of only six species of soil centipedes to feature only 29 pairs of legs and one of only two species to include females with only 29 pairs, the minimum number recorded for females in the order Geophilomorpha.

Mecophilus is a genus of soil centipedes in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. The species in this genus are among the smallest centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha, reaching only 8 mm in length. This genus is also notable for featuring the fewest legs in the subfamily Aphilodontinae. The species in this genus are found in the Atlantic Forest in south and southeastern Brazil.

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.

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). "Mecistocephalus evansi Brölemann, 1922". ChiloBase 2.0 - A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda). Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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 [55–56]. doi:10.1017/S0370164600023841. ISSN   0370-1646.
  3. ↑ Bonato, L.; Minelli, A. (2004). "The centipede genus Mecistocephalus Newport 1843 in the Indian Peninsula (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha Mecistocephalidae)". Tropical Zoology. 17 (1): 15–63 [56]. Bibcode:2004TrZoo..17...15B. doi:10.1080/03946975.2004.10531198. ISSN   0394-6975. S2CID   85304657.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Dyachkov, Yurii V.; Al-Yacoub, Ghassan A. Ali; Al-Khazali, Azhar M. Mohammed (2023-06-29). "A preliminary annotated checklist of Chilopoda from Iraq". Ecologica Montenegrina. 63: 59–78 [64]. doi:10.37828/em.2023.63.6. ISSN   2336-9744.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Chipman, Ariel D.; Dor, Neta; Bonato, Lucio (2013-05-16). "Diversity and biogeography of Israeli geophilomorph centipedes (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha)". Zootaxa. 3652 (2): 232–248. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3652.2.2. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   26269827.
  6. ↑ Malek-Hosseini, Mohammad Javad; Zamani, Alireza (2017-01-16). "A checklist of subterranean arthropods of Iran". Subterranean Biology. 21: 19–46 [28]. doi: 10.3897/subtbiol.21.10573 . ISSN   1314-2615.
  7. ↑ Zarei, Roghaieh; Rahimian, Hassan; Mirmonsef, Hassan; Bonato, Lucio (2020-05-22). "Geophilomorpha from Alborz Mountains and a checklist of Chilopoda from Iran". Zootaxa. 4780 (1): 132–146 [137]. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4780.1.6. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   33055759.
  8. 1 2 Al-Simary, Jabbar Ali; Al-Abbad, Murtatha Yousif; Al-Qarooni, Imad Hadi (2022). "Survey and identification of centipedes (Arthropoda-Chilopoda) from Basrah Province – southern of Iraq" (PDF). Annals of Forest Research. 65 (1): 1568–1583.
  9. ↑ Attems, Carl (1929). Attems, Karl (ed.). Lfg. 52 Myriapoda, 1: Geophilomorpha (in German). De Gruyter. p. 138. doi:10.1515/9783111430638. ISBN   978-3-11-143063-8.
  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.
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