New information on several Pyrenean troglobitic species of centipedes is given in this paper. A new species of the genus Lithobius is described: L. poneli Iorio, n. sp., found in the cave Grotte de ...Haiouat de Pelou (Hautes-Pyrénées). Lithobius allotyphlus Silvestri, 1908 has been found again in France after 71 years, and the only previous quotation of this species in Spain probably refers to L. typhlus Latzel, 1886. A syntype of L. reiseri Verhoeff, 1900 is examined and additional details are described for it. The Spanish species quoted as L. reiseri in the past belongs to another species, probably new but further research is necessary and it is tentatively named here "Lithobius sp. of Guipúzcoa". A distribution map is included for each troglobitic Pyrenean endemic quoted in France, together with the bibliography. An identification key is proposed for several Lithobius rather close morphologically. A checklist of the currently known troglobitic centipedes in the Pyrenees and/or their surroundings is given.
The jointed appendage is a key novelty in arthropod evolution and arthropod legs are known to vary enormously in relation to function. Among centipedes, the ultimate legs always are distinctly ...different from locomotory legs, and different centipede taxa evolved different structural and functional modifications. In Geophilomorpha (soil centipedes), ultimate legs do not participate in locomotion and were interpret to serve a sensory function. They can be sexually dimorphic and in some species, male ultimate legs notably appear "hairy". It can be assumed that the high abundance of sensilla indicates a pronounced sensory function. This study seeks for assessing the sensory diversity, however, documents the surprising and unique case of an extensive glandular epithelium in the ultimate legs of three phylogenetically distant species.
The tightly aggregated epidermal glands with stalked ducts - mistakenly thought to be sensilla - were scrutinized using a multimodal microscopic approach comprising histology as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy in Haplophilus subterraneus. Hence, this is the first detailed account on centipede ultimate legs demonstrating an evolutionary transformation into a "secretory leg". Additionally, we investigated sensory structures as well as anatomical features using microCT analysis. Contrary to its nomination as a tarsus, tarsus 1 possesses intrinsic musculature, which is an indication that this podomere might be a derivate of the tibia.
The presence and identity of ultimate leg associated epidermal glands with stalked ducts is a new discovery for myriapods. A pronounced secretory as well as moderate sensory function in Haplophilus subterraneus can be concluded. The set of characters will improve future taxonomic studies, to test the hypotheses whether the presence of these specialized glands is a common feature in Geophilomorpha, and that tarsus 1 may be a derivate of the tibia. As the number of epidermal glands with stalked ducts is sexually dimorphic, their function might be connected to reproduction or a sex-specific defensive role. Our results, in particular the unexpected discovery of 'glandular hairs', may account for a striking example for how deceptive morphological descriptions of epidermal organs may be, if based on non-invasive techniques alone.
Through a combination of morphological and DNA data, a new scolopendrid centipede from southern and southwestern China was revealed: O. tricarinatus sp. nov. The species belong to the politus group ...but has three sharp tergal keels. Validation of phylogenetic status was performed through molecular analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), 16S rRNA, and 28S rRNA sequences from 16 Otostigmus species. Otostigmus tricarinatus sp. nov. was found to be two populations and varied in the number of spines on the ultimate prefemur, the sutures on a sternite, and a pore-free median longitudinal strip in the pore field. The Yunnan-Guizhou plateau population of O. tricarinatus sp. nov. was sister to the clade O. politus politus + O. politus yunnanensis + Guangxi population of O. tricarinatus sp. nov. with strong support from both BI (bayesian inference) and ML (maximum likelihood) analyses (PP = 1, BS = 97%).
Centipede Bites Randich, Haley B; Burnett, Mark W
Journal of special operations medicine,
2021-Winter, Volume:
21, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The genus Scolopendra includes large centipedes that inhabit tropical regions of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands as well as South America and the Southwestern US. They are capable of ...inflicting a clinically significant venomous bite. These multilegged arthropods may enter tents or buildings at night in search of prey and tend to hide in bedding and clothing. Presentation and management are discussed.
Scolopendromorph centipedes (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) are a diverse group of invertebrate communities, which play significant, but often poorly acknowledged or understood roles in the delivery ...of soil ecosystem services. In the present paper we analyze the impact of seasonal and edaphic factors on the species diversity of scolopendromorph centipedes based on the field studies conducted in three selected sites. The study sites included a protected forest ecosystem, an undisturbed isolated hillock and a residential plot at Kozhikode District, Kerala, India. The study was performed from April 2011 to November 2012. Overall 486 individuals belonging to 18 species under the families Cryptopidae and Scolopendridae were collected. The range of Shannon-Wiener diversity was 0.89–2.58 and Simpson diversity was 1.91–13.69. Species diversity is also influenced by variations in seasons and various physico–chemical properties of soil in the study area. General observations on parental care, moulting, hibernation and ectoparasitism were also included.
The Western Ghats (WG) mountain chain in peninsular India is a global biodiversity hotspot, one in which patterns of phylogenetic diversity and endemism remain to be documented across taxa. We used a ...well‐characterized community of ancient soil predatory arthropods from the WG to understand diversity gradients, identify hotspots of endemism and conservation importance, and highlight poorly studied areas with unique biodiversity. We compiled an occurrence dataset for 19 species of scolopendrid centipedes, which was used to predict areas of habitat suitability using bioclimatic and geomorphological variables in Maxent. We used predicted distributions and a time‐calibrated species phylogeny to calculate taxonomic and phylogenetic indices of diversity, endemism, and turnover. We observed a decreasing latitudinal gradient in taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in the WG, which supports expectations from the latitudinal diversity gradient. The southern WG had the highest phylogenetic diversity and endemism, and was represented by lineages with long branch lengths as observed from relative phylogenetic diversity/endemism. These results indicate the persistence of lineages over evolutionary time in the southern WG and are consistent with predictions from the southern WG refuge hypothesis. The northern WG, despite having low phylogenetic diversity, had high values of phylogenetic endemism represented by distinct lineages as inferred from relative phylogenetic endemism. The distinct endemic lineages in this subregion might be adapted to life in lateritic plateaus characterized by poor soil conditions and high seasonality. Sites across an important biogeographic break, the Palghat Gap, broadly grouped separately in comparisons of species turnover along the WG. The southern WG and Nilgiris, adjoining the Palghat Gap, harbor unique centipede communities, where the causal role of climate or dispersal barriers in shaping diversity remains to be investigated. Our results highlight the need to use phylogeny and distribution data while assessing diversity and endemism patterns in the WG.
Soil arthropod communities play an important role in the ecosystem, but have been poorly studied in terms of large‐scale patterns of diversity and distribution from a phylogenetic perspective. We studied centipedes, a group of ancient predatory soil arthropods, across the climatic gradient of the Western Ghats, India, a global biodiversity hotspot with a complex geological history, using extensive primary distribution data and a robust phylogeny. Our results reveal a latitudinal gradient in phylogenetic diversity of centipedes along the mountain range, identify unique hotspots of phylogenetic endemism, provide support to the existence of a past rainforest refuge, and indicate structuring of centipede communities across various subregions.
Due to the limitations of taxon sampling and differences in results from the available data, the phylogenetic relationships of the Myriapoda remain contentious. Therefore, we try to reconstruct and ...analyze the phylogenetic relationships within the Myriapoda by examining mitochondrial genomes (the mitogenome). In this study, typical circular mitogenomes of Mecistocephalus marmoratus and Scolopendra subspinipes were sequenced by Sanger sequencing; they were 15,279 bp and 14,637 bp in length, respectively, and a control region and 37 typical mitochondrial genes were annotated in the sequences. The results showed that all 13 PCGs started with ATN codons and ended with TAR codons or a single T; what is interesting is that the gene orders of M. marmoratus have been extensively rearranged compared with most Myriapoda. Thus, we propose a simple duplication/loss model to explain the extensively rearranged genes of M. marmoratus, hoping to provide insights into mitogenome rearrangement events in Myriapoda. In addition, our mitogenomic phylogenetic analyses showed that the main myriapod groups are monophyletic and supported the combination of the Pauropoda and Diplopoda to form the Dignatha. Within the Chilopoda, we suggest that Scutigeromorpha is a sister group to the Lithobiomorpha, Geophilomorpha, and Scolopendromorpha. We also identified a close relationship between the Lithobiomorpha and Geophilomorpha. The results also indicate that the mitogenome can be used as an effective mechanism to understand the phylogenetic relationships within Myriapoda.
Verhoeff, 1899 is redescribed based on type material and newly collected specimens.
Hoffer, 1937, described from another cave in the same region in Bosnia and Hercegovina, is presented as a junior ...subjective synonym of
(syn. nov.).
is shown to be most closely related to
Jawłowski, 1933, type species of the subgenus Thracolithobius Matic, 1962. The completeness of the chitin-lines on the forcipular coxosternite is discussed as a promising character for interspecific differentiation within Lithobiomorpha. Documentation of hitherto unknown semiaquatic behaviour in
and other cave-dwelling centipede species from Herzegovinian-, Montenegrin- and Pyrenean caves is presented.
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