Pachymerium is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. Centipedes in this genus feature elongate heads, sternal pores in a pair of anterior groups and a posterior transverse band, and scattered coxal pores; the forcipular coxosternite is broad, and the ultimate article of the forcipule has a conspicuous basal denticle. These centipedes 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:
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.
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. This genus is a mostly holarctic and characterized by a claw-shaped ultimate pretarsus, anterior porefields, complete or nearly complete coxo-pleural sutures at the prosternum, and incomplete chitin-lines. Centipedes in this genus feature slightly elongate heads and labral intermediate parts with tubercles, the forcipules are usually poorly elongate with a single small tubercle at the base of each tarsungulum, and the anterior trunk metasternites usually have an anterior medial socket and a posterior transversally elongate pore-field. The generic name first appeared in Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopaedia in 1814 as Geophilus electricus.
Schendylidae is a family of centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha.
Strigamia is a genus of soil centipedes in the family Linotaeniidae. Members of this family can be identified by their anteriorly tapering bodies, the extra claw on the forcipules, scattered coxal pores, and the distinctly swollen ultimate legs of the males. There are at least 50 described species in Strigamia. Centipedes in this genus can reach 15 cm in length and can have as few as 31 pairs of legs or as many as 83 leg pairs. The species S. hoffmani is notable for its small size as well as for a small number of legs. Other species with notably few legs include the Siberian species S. sibirica and the Romanian species S. lutea.
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.
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.
Ribautia is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. It 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.
Australiophilus is a genus of two species of centipedes, in the family Zelanophilidae. This genus was described by German myriapodologist Karl Wilhelm Verhoeff in 1925. Centipedes in this genus are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Tuoba is a genus of 17 species of centipedes, in the family Geophilidae. It was described by American biologist Ralph Vary Chamberlin in 1920.
Mecistocephalus is a genus of centipedes in the family Mecistocephalidae. It was described by British entomologist George Newport in 1843.
Schendyla is a genus of centipedes in the family Schendylidae. It was described by Danish entomologists Vilhelm Bergsøe and Frederik Vilhelm August Meinert in 1866. Centipedes in this genus feature only a few spines on the claws of the second maxillae, two pores on each coxopleuron, and ultimate legs without claws. These centipedes range from 1 cm to about 4 cm in length and have from 31 to 57 pairs of legs. The species Schendyla verneri is notable for its small size and for having only 31 leg pairs, the minimum recorded in this genus. Other small species with notably few legs in this genus include S. walachica, S. dalmatica, S. dentata, S. gracillima. and S. armata. The species S. monoeci measures only 17.5 mm in length but can have from 51 to as many as 57 leg pairs, the maximum number found in this genus. Descriptions of the species S. vizzavonae report no more than 51 leg pairs, but this species is notable for its relatively large size, reaching 45 mm in length.
Maoriella is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. It was described by Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems in 1903. Species in this genus are found in New Zealand, Australia, and Tahiti.
Pectiniunguis is a genus of centipedes in the family Schendylidae. It 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. These centipedes range from 16 mm to 67 mm in length, have 35 to 73 pairs of legs, and are found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Fiji, and west Africa. The African species Pectiniunguis minutus is notable not only for being the smallest in this genus but also for having as few as 35 leg pairs, the minimum number in this genus. The Brazilian species P. ducalis is notable not only for being the largest in this genus but also for having as many as 73 leg pairs, the maximum number in this genus.
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.
Mecistocephalus waikaneus is a species of centipede in the Mecistocephalidae family. It was described in 1953 by American myriapodologist Ralph Vary Chamberlin. This species is yellow, has 49 pairs of legs, and can reach 30 mm in length.
Otostigminae is a large subfamily of centipedes, containing nearly half of all species in the family Scolopendridae. Members of this subfamily are abundant and widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, mostly in Africa, Asia, and Australia.
