Schendylops ramirezi

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Schendylops ramirezi
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Schendylidae
Genus: Schendylops
Species:
S. ramirezi
Binomial name
Schendylops ramirezi
Pereira, 2013

Schendylops ramirezi is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. [1] [2] This centipede is notable as the species with the fewest legs recorded in the order Geophilomorpha for each sex (27 pairs of legs for males, 29 leg pairs for females). [3] This species is also the smallest in the genus Schendylops , reaching only 7 mm (0.28 in) in length. [3]

Contents

Discovery

This species was first described in 2013 by the Argentine myriapodologist Luis Alberto Pereira of the Universidad Nacional de La Plata based on specimens collected in 1999 in Brazil. These specimens include a female holotype, five paratypes (three males and two females), and nineteen other specimens (fifteen females and four males), including five subadults and fourteen juveniles. The species is named for the Argentine arachnologist Martin Javier Ramirez of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales in Buenos Aires, who collected all the specimens. These specimens are deposited at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo. [3]

Description

This species exhibits sexual dimorphism in leg number: All seven male specimens have only 27 leg pairs, and all eighteen female specimens have only 29 pairs. The holotype female (preserved in alcohol) has a pale yellowish color and measures 7 mm (0.28 in) in length and 0.37 mm (0.015 in) in maximum body width. The two female paratypes range from 6.5 to 7 mm (0.26 to 0.28 in) in length, whereas the three male paratypes range from 5 to 6 mm (0.20 to 0.24 in) in length. The five subadults (two females and three males) measure 4.5 mm (0.18 in) in length and the fourteen juveniles (thirteen females and one male) range from 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) in length. Given the small size of these tiny centipedes, the original description refers to S. ramirezi as a "dwarf species." [3]

Only one species of soil centipede other than S. ramirezi, is known to include centipedes with only 27 pairs of legs: Schendylops oligopus . [3] Males of the species S. oligopus have 27 or 29 leg pairs, whereas females of this species have 31 pairs. These males, however, usually have 29 leg pairs and rarely have only 27 pairs. In a large sample of 31 males, only one specimen had only 27 leg pairs. [4]

Furthermore, only one species of soil centipede other than S. ramirez is known to include females with only 29 leg pairs: Dinogeophilus oligopodus , with 29 leg pairs in both sexes. Thus, only S. ramirezi features the minimum number of legs recorded in the order Geophilomorpha for males as well as for females. [3] Only six species in the order Geophilomorpha, including S. ramirezi, S. oligopus, and D. oligopodus, are known to feature centipedes with only 29 leg pairs. [5]

The species S. ramirezi shares a distinctive set of traits with several other species of Schendylops, including S. oligopus. These features include pore-fields limited to the anterior region of the body, but without a pore-field on the sternite of the first leg-bearing segment. Moreover, the fourth segment of the antenna is similar in length to the contiguous segments. [3] [6]

Although S. ramirez and S. oligopus share many features, including a similar number of legs, these two species also differ from one another in numerous respects. For example, whereas S. ramirezi features setae on the coxosternite of the first maxillae and a large seta in the middle of the coxosternite of the second maxillae, all these setae are absent in S. oligopus. Furthermore, while both species are small, S. oligopus is nevertheless larger than S. ramirezi: Females of the species S. oligopus can reach 10 mm in length, and males can reach 8 mm in length. [3]

Distribution

This species is known only from the type locality (Ilha Grande) in Rio de Janeiro State in Brazil. [3]

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.

<i>Geophilus hadesi</i> Species of centipede

Geophilus hadesi is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is a troglobite, spending its entire life cycle in a cave environment. This species and Geophilus persephones are the only two troglobites known in the order Geophilomorpha. The species G. hadesi is named after Hades, god of the underworld in Greek mythology and the husband of Persephone, the namesake of the first troglobite discovered among the soil centipedes. The species G. hadesi has been observed in a cave as far as 1,100 meters below the surface, the deepest underground that any centipede has ever been recorded.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballophilidae</span> Family of centipedes

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. Centipedes in this clade differ from others in the family Schendylidae by having bodies tapered toward the anterior tip, short heads, slender forcipules that are well apart, and an undivided lamina for the female gonopods. Centipedes in this clade are found in most tropical regions.

Geophilus richardi is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae. This centipede is found in France and Monaco in the Western Alps and on the Italian mainland, Sicily, Sardinia, and the Ionian Islands. This species is notable as one of only two in the family Geophilidae to include centipedes with as few as 29 leg pairs.

<i>Ribautia</i> Genus of centipedes

Ribautia is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. This genus was described by French myriapodologist Henry Wilfred Brolemann in 1909. Centipedes in this genus are found in South America, tropical Africa, Madagascar, the Arabian peninsula, Australia, New Zealand, and Melanesia.

Tuoba pallida is a species of soil centipede in the Geophilidae family. This centipede is a littoral species endemic to Australia.

Schendyla is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Schendylidae. These centipedes are found in the west Palearctic region. This genus was described by Danish entomologists Vilhelm Bergsøe and Frederik Vilhelm August Meinert in 1866. This genus now includes more than 20 species.

Plesioschendyla is a monotypic genus of centipedes in the family Schendylidae. It is endemic to New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in Melanesia. Its sole species is Plesioschendyla confossa. It was described by French entomologist Henri Ribaut in 1923.

Pectiniunguis is a genus of centipedes in the family Schendylidae. This genus was described by American naturalist Charles Harvey Bollman in 1889. Centipedes in this genus feature second maxillae with claws fringed by two rows of filaments, transversally elliptical sternal pore-fields on almost all trunk segments, two pores on each coxopleuron, and ultimate legs without claws.

Marsikomerus is a genus of centipedes in the family Schendylidae. It was described by Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems in 1938. Species in this genus are found in Mexico and in the United States.

Schendylops is the largest genus of centipedes in the family Schendylidae, containing more than 60 species. This genus was first proposed by the American biologist Orator F. Cook in 1899 for the type species originally named Schendyla grandidieri in 1897. Most species in this genus are found in the Neotropical region, but a dozen species are found in Africa and Madagascar. These species live in diverse habitats, ranging from sea level to high altitudes, e.g., at 4,500 m (14,800 ft) above sea level in the Andes mountains.

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.

Schendyla antici is a species of soil centipede in the family Schendylidae. This species is notable as one of only six species in the order Geophilomorpha to feature centipedes with only 29 pairs of legs, which is also the minimum number recorded in the genus Schendyla. No other species in this genus features so few legs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

References

  1. ↑ "ITIS - Report: Schendylops ramirezi". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  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). "Schendylops ramirezi Pereira, 2013". ChiloBase 2.0 - A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda). Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pereira, Luis Alberto (2013-01-01). "Discovery of a second geophilomorph species (Myriapoda: Chilopoda) having twenty-seven leg-bearing segments, the lowest number recorded up to the present in the centipede order Geophilomorpha". Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia. 53 (13): 163–185. doi: 10.1590/S0031-10492013001300001 . hdl: 11336/3449 . ISSN   1807-0205.
  4. ↑ Minelli, A.; Foddai, D.; Pereira, L. A.; Lewis, J. G. E. (2000). "The evolution of segmentation of centipede trunk and appendages". Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 38 (2): 103–117. doi: 10.1046/j.1439-0469.2000.382137.x . ISSN   0947-5745.
  5. ↑ Stojanović, Dalibor Z.; Šević, Mirko; Makarov, Slobodan E. (2024-03-07). "A new dwarf schendylid centipede (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Schendylidae) with a low number of legs from Serbia, Balkan Peninsula". Zootaxa. 5419 (3): 401–418. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5419.3.5. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   38480317.
  6. ↑ 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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