| Pachymerium ferrugineum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Chilopoda |
| Order: | Geophilomorpha |
| Family: | Geophilidae |
| Genus: | Pachymerium |
| Species: | P. ferrugineum |
| Binomial name | |
| Pachymerium ferrugineum (C. L. Koch, 1835) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Pachymerium ferrugineum is a species of centipede in the family Geophilidae.
This species includes both a "short form" that can reach 50 mm in length with 41 to 49 pairs of legs and a "long form" that can reach 70 mm in length with 51 or more leg pairs. [2] The number of legs varies widely in this species, ranging from as few as 41 pairs in Northern Europe to as many as 69 pairs in Palestine. [3]
Various studies have been done on the intraspecific variation of Pachymerium ferrugineum to show the significance of the species geographical location to their number of leg-bearing segments. One study published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society showed that these species exhibit more leg-bearing segments in Southern geographical locations versus the Northern regions in North-west Europe. [4] A study conducted in the Aegean region has shown that the leg-bearing segments of Pachymerium ferrugineum in the Cyclades possibly vary due to insular characteristics of the island. [5]
The species can be found in Central Europe, Crete, the Iberian Peninsula, Scandinavia, the shore of the White Sea, as well as in Asian countries such as Japan and Turkey, and on Atlantic islands such as the Azores, and Canary Islands. It is also found in Alaska, Mexico, Hawaii and Easter Island. [1]
Myriapods are the members of subphylum Myriapoda, containing arthropods such as millipedes and centipedes. The group contains about 13,000 species, all of them terrestrial.
The Geophilomorpha, commonly known as soil centipedes, are epimorphic and bear upwards of 27 leg-bearing segments. They are eyeless and blind, and bear spiracles on all leg-bearing segments—in contrast to other groups, which usually bear them only on their 3rd, 5th, 8th, 10th, 12th, and 14th segments—a "mid-body break", accompanied by a change in tagmatic shape, occurring roughly at the interchange from odd to even segments. This group is the most diverse centipede order, with 230 genera. Centipedes in this order each have an odd number of leg-bearing segments ranging from 27 to 191. They also have 14–segmented antennae. This order is a monophyletic group including two suborders: the monophyletic Placodesmata, which contains Mecistocephalidae, and Adesmata, which includes the superfamilies Himantarioidea and Geophiloidea. Segment number is usually fixed by species in the family Mecistocephalidae, unlike the case in other families in this order, in which the segment number usually varies within each species. The name "Geophilomorpha" is from Ancient Greek roots meaning "formed to love the earth."
Geophilus flavus is a terrestrial, soil-dwelling, species of centipede in the Geophilidae family. G. flavus occurs in a range of habitats across central Europe, North America, Australia and other tropical regions. Geophilomorph centipedes, like centipedes generally, are primary predators, hunting predominantly in underground soil burrows or above ground leaf litter. Their consumption behaviours are influenced by environment and seasonal factors. Given their lack of economic value and marginal medical significance, G.flavus remains largely understudied in mainstream research. Some recent studies have detailed the evolutionary development of G.flavus and Geophilidae generally, illustrating developed predatory features like forcipule venom glands.
Haplophilus subterraneus, commonly known as the western yellow centipede is a species of centipede in the family Himantariidae that can be found in Central Europe, Ireland, Newfoundland, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom. It was recorded from a compost heap of the Botanical Garden at the University of Oslo at Teryen, Oslo in 1992 and 1995.
Pachymerium is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. Centipedes in this genus range from about 2 cm to about 8 cm in length and have 37 to 79 pairs of legs. The Chilean species Pachymerium armatum measures only 20 mm in length and has only 37 leg pairs, the minimum number observed in this genus. The Russian species P. minutum is also notable for its small size and its modest number of legs. The Portuguese species P. coiffaiti is notable for its large size and many legs. Females of the large Turkish species P. serratum can reach 78 mm in length and have as many as 79 leg pairs, the maximum number observed in this genus. This genus contains the following species:
The Geophilidae are a polyphyletic, cosmopolitan family of soil centipedes in the superfamily Geophiloidea containing the mostly defunct clades Aphilodontidae, Dignathodontidae, Linotaeniidae, Chilenophilinae, and Macronicophilidae.
Himantariidae is a monophyletic family of centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha and superfamily Himantarioidea, found almost exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere. The number of leg-bearing segments in this family varies within as well as among species and ranges from 47 to 181. These centipedes are very elongated with a high mean number of trunk segments and great variability in this number within species. The maximum number of legs recorded in this family appears in the species Chomatobius bakeri. The minimum number of legs recorded in this family appears in the species Garriscaphus oreines, This family contains these genera:
Himantarium is a genus of centipedes in the family Himantariidae. Centipedes in this genus range from 10 cm to 20 cm in length, have from 87 to 179 pairs of legs, and are found in the Mediterranean region. Both the minimum and the maximum number of legs in this genus appear in the species Himantarium gabrielis, which exhibits a striking degree of intraspecific variation in leg number.
Oryidae is a monophyletic family of soil centipedes belonging to the superfamily Himantarioidea.
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.
Geophilus is a large, heterogeneous genus of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae largely considered to be synonymous with Brachygeophilus. It is a mostly holarctic genus characterized by a claw-shaped ultimate pretarsus, anterior porefields, complete or nearly complete coxo-pleural sutures at the prosternum, and incomplete chitin-lines. The generic name first appeared in Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopaedia in 1814 as Geophilus electricus.
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.
Schendylidae is a family of centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha.
Dignathodontidae is a monophyletic clade of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae found in the Mediterranean region, extending to Macaronesia, Caucasus, and western and central Europe. The clade is characterized by a gradually anteriorly tapered body; a short head with non-attenuated antennae; and a poorly sclerotized labrum with tubercles. The number of legs in this clade varies within as well as among species and ranges from 43 pairs to 153 pairs of legs. Species in this clade tend to have more leg-bearing segments and greater intraspecific variability in this number than generally found in the family Geophilidae.
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. The number of legs in this clade varies within species and ranges from 37 to 113 pairs of legs. Two species in this clade can have as few as 37 leg pairs, Ballophilus pallidus and Leucolinum trinidadense, and one species, Ityphilus grandis, can have as many as 113 pairs. Species in this clade tend to have more leg-bearing segments and greater intraspecific variability in this number than generally found in the family Schendylidae. Four species in this clade are notable for their small sizes: L. trinadadense, Caritohallex minyrrhopus, B. pallidus, and Taeniolinum panamicum.
Gonibregmatidae are a paraphyletic family of soil centipedes belonging to the superfamily Geophiloidea.
Geophilus carpophagus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae, widely considered to be a type species of the genus Geophilus. It grows up to 60 millimeters in length, with an orange/tan body bearing a distinctive purplish marbled pattern. Males of this species have 51 to 55 pairs of legs; females have 53 to 57.
Geophilus proximus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in the northern part of the Palearctic and widespread across the entire Baltic basin, though it reaches as far as the Arctic Circle and has been introduced through human agency to northern, central, and eastern parts of Kazakhstan. It was recorded once with certainty in Britain from Unst in the Shetland Islands; distribution in the rest of Europe is difficult to assess because of frequent misidentifications of the species. Populations from northern Europe are mostly parthenogenetic.
Geophilus richardi is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in France, Italy, and the Ionian Islands. Females of this species have 33 pairs of legs; males have 29 or 31. This species is one of only two in the family Geophilidae to include centipedes with as few as 29 leg pairs. This species grows up to 10 millimeters long, has no carpophagus pit or pore-fields, and has a gradually tapering, curved pretarsus of the second maxillae. G. richardi lacks typical ventral pores between 2–4mm. The sternites instead bear a small number of pores between 0.5–1mm that differ from micropores, which are unbounded by a cuticular ring. These are possibly the remnants of typical ventral pores, their smaller size being a byproduct of overall miniaturization.
Geophilus truncorum is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found across Western Europe, though it reaches as far as Poland, Italy, and Morocco. This centipede is relatively small, growing up to 20mm in length, with a yellow or orangeish brown body and dark yellow or brown head, denser and shorter hair than most Geophilus species, a main plate almost as elongated as in G. flavus (115:100), and distinct carpophagus fossae on the anterior sternites. Males of this species have 35 to 41 pairs of legs; females have 37 to 41.
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