Mesoschendyla cribrifera

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Mesoschendyla cribrifera
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Schendylidae
Genus: Mesoschendyla
Species:
M. cribrifera
Binomial name
Mesoschendyla cribrifera
(Verhoeff, 1937)

Mesoschendyla cribrifera is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. [1] [2] This centipede is found in South Africa. [1] This species features 55 pairs of legs in each sex and measures 34 mm in length. [3]

Contents

Discovery and distribution

This species was first described in 1937 by the German myriapodologist Karl W. Verhoeff. He based the original description of this species on specimens including both sexes. These specimens were found in three different towns (Kamieskroon, Leliefontein, and Garies) in the Namaqualand region of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. [3]

Description

This species features 55 leg pairs in both sexes and can reach 34 mm in length. The body is pale and slender. The teeth on the labrum become indistinct in the middle. The last segment of the antennae features two sensory pits, one on each side, behind the middle of the segment. Behind the head, there is a prebasal plate (a short sclerite in front of the forcipular tergite). Two lappets project from each of the lateral margins of the first maxillae, one from the base and the other from the more distal segment. The claws of the second maxillae expand on the inner side into a very delicate lamella that is smooth and simple on the outer side but appears to be finely striated on the distal and inner margin. [3] [4]

Fine sparse hairs cover the sternites, which usually feature fields of pores from the second through the 25th sternite. These pore-fields are triangular with a wide base on the anterior side and a rounded vertex pointed toward the posterior end. The pore-fields become delicate and progressively less distinct from the 20th to the 25th sternite. The basal element of each of the ultimate legs features one isolated pore. The hairs on the ultimate legs are so minute that these legs appear nearly smooth. [3] [4]

This centipede shares many traits with other species in the genus Mesoschendyla , including pore fields limited to the anterior sternites and a single pore on each of the ultimate legs. [5] This species shares an especially extensive set of traits with M. rossi , another species in the same genus found in Zimbabwe. For example, like both sexes in M. cribrifera, the female holotype of M. rossi features 55 leg pairs. Furthermore, each species features two pairs of lappets on the first maxillae, a prebasal plate, and a labrum without distinct teeth in the middle. Moreover, both species feature two setosensoria (sensory pits) on the 14th (last) segment of the antennae, one on the outer face and the other on the inner face of this segment. [6]

Other traits, however, distinguish M. cribrifera from M. rossi. For example, the posterior end of the sternite on the last leg-bearing segment is rounded in M. cribrifera but truncated with a straight rear margin in M. rossi. Furthermore, the shape of the pore-fields is distinctly triangular in M. cribifera but circular in M. rossi. Moreover, the sensory pits on the 14th segment of each antenna are located on the proximal half of this segment in M. cribrifera, but they are located on the distal quarter of this segment in M. rossi. Finally, the ultimate legs appear smooth in M. cribrifera, but they are bristly with setae in M. rossi. [6]

Related Research Articles

<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.

Queenslandophilus is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae. This genus was described by German myriapodologist Karl Wilhelm Verhoeff in 1925. These centipedes are found in Australia, Japan, and North America.

Australoschendyla is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Schendylidae. This genus was described by the English myriapodologist Richard E. Jones in 1996. Centipedes in this genus feature claws on the second maxillae fringed by a single row of filaments, short forcipules, nearly circular fields of pores on the sternites, one or two pores on the basal element of each of the ultimate legs, 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.

Tasmanophilus spenceri is a species of centipede in the family Zelanophilidae. This centipede is found only in New Zealand and has only 39 pairs of legs, the minimum number recorded in the family Zelanophilidae. This species reaches only 23 mm in length and is the smallest centipede in this family.

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 in any epimorphic order of 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.

Geophilus oligopus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in several European countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovenia, and Romania. Although this centipede has been described as having an Alpine-Dinaric distribution, this species has also been found in the Carpathian mountains and may be more widespread than previously thought.

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.

Dinogeophilus oligopodus is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 mm in length, the smallest size recorded not only in the order Geophilomorpha but also in any epimorphic order of centipedes. This species is also notable as one of only six species in the order Geophilomorpha 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 this order.

Mecophilus tupiniquim is a species of soil centipede in the subfamily Aphilodontinae, a clade formerly known as the family Aphilodontidae but now deemed a subfamily within the family Geophilidae. This centipede is notable for its small size and modest number of legs. This species is found in Brazil.

Arctogeophilus glacialis is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophildae. This centipede is found in Russia, Alaska, and Canada. This species was first described in 1909 by the Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems as the type species for the taxon Arctogeophilus, which was originally described as a subgenus of the genus Geophilus but was elevated to the status of genus in 1910 by the French zoologist Henri Ribaut.

Escaryus is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Schendylidae. These centipedes are notable as schendylids adapted to colder temperatures and restricted to cool climates and high latitudes. With more than 30 species, this genus is easily the largest group of such centipedes in the family Schendylidae. Most schendylids are limited to tropical or subtropical regions.

Escaryus molodovae is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede is found on Sakhalin island in the Russian Far East. This species is notable for its small size, reaching only 14 mm in length.

Escaryus polygonatus is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede is found in the Maritime territory of the Russian Far East. This species was first described in 1973 by the Russian myriapodologist Lidia P. Titova.

Escaryus vitimicus is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede is found in the Republic of Buryatia in the Russian Far East. This species features 37 pairs of legs in each sex and can reach 27 mm in length.

Alloschizotaenia bipora is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This species was first described in 1952 by the Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems.

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.

Escaryus hirsutus is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede is found on Sakhalin island in the Russian Far East. This species was first described in 1973 by the Russian myriapodologist Lidia P. Titova.

Escaryus dentatus is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This centipede is found in the Maritime territory of the Russian Far East. This species was first described in 1973 by the Russian myriapodologist Lidia P. Titova.

Escaryus kirgizicus is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. As the species name suggests, this centipede is found in Kyrgyzstan. This species is known only from high mountains and is notable for being found at one of the highest altitudes recorded for any centipede in the order Geophilomorpha in Central Asia.

Mesoschendyla is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Schendylidae. These centipedes are found in Africa, Madagascar, and Java. The Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems originally proposed Mesoschendyla in 1909 as a subgenus within the genus Schendyla. The genus Mesochendyla is relatively small, containing only eight species. These centipedes resemble their close relatives in the genera Schendylops and Orygmadyla.

References

  1. 1 2 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). "Mesoschendyla cribrifera Verhoeff, 1937". ChiloBase 2.0 - A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda). Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  2. ↑ "ITIS - Report: Mesoschendyla cribrifera". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "South African Geophilomorpha (Myriopoda)". Annals of the South African Museum. Annale van die Suid-Afrikaanse Museum. 32: 95–116 [112–113]. 1937 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. 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.
  5. ↑ Bonato, Lucio; Edgecombe, Gregory D.; Zapparoli, Marzio (2011). "Chilopoda – Taxonomic overview". In Minelli, Alessandro (ed.). The Myriapoda. Volume 1. Leiden: Brill. pp. 363–443 [441]. ISBN   978-90-04-18826-6. OCLC   812207443.
  6. 1 2 Crabill, R.E., Jr. (1968). "Two new species of Mesoschendyla from old world tropics with a key to their congeners (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha. Schendylidae)". Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines. 77 (3–4): 283–288.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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