An updated synthesis of the Geophilomorpha (Chilopoda) of Asian Russia

Bonato L., Bortolin F., De Zen G., Decker P., Lindner E.N., Orlando M., Spelda J., Voigtländer K., Wesener T.

Abstract Strigamia centipedes are widespread in European forest soils. However, a complex and inconsistent taxonomy has developed over time. Based on a modern species concept, we evaluated multiple lines of evidence for speciation among inland populations of Strigamia from the Italian region to the Baltic region, across central Europe. Hypotheses of species delimitation were drawn independently from: (1) morphological differentiation, by means of model-based cluster analyses of 52 specimens, after controlling for allometry and sexual dimorphism; (2) syntopy of morphologically distinct individuals, assumed to be representatives of coexistent species, from > 700 sites; and (3) molecular differentiation, by various methods applied to cytochrome c subunit I sequences of the same 52 specimens. Diagnoses and geographical distributions were revised by re-examining > 2000 specimens and the entire literature. We found preliminary evidence for: a Strigamia acuminata species complex, widespread, including a candidate species from the Eastern Alps differing in the forcipules; a Strigamia carniolensis species complex, hitherto often called Strigamia crassipes, widespread south of the Alps but absent from Sicily; a Strigamia crassipes species complex, hitherto often called Strigamia transsilvanica, more widespread than previously known, including three candidate species co-occurring in the Western Alps and differing in body size and the number of legs despite little genetic divergence; and Strigamia engadina, exclusive to a narrow part of the Central Alps.

Kazantsev S.V.

Dyachkov Y.V., Bonato L.

A comprehensive redescription of the poorly known mecistocephalid genus Krateraspis Lignau, 1929 and its two species is provided, based on the examination of type material and new specimens, as well as the critical evaluation of all published information. Krateraspis is confirmed differing from all other Mecistocephalidae especially for a peculiar pattern of areolation and setation of the clypeus. Records from 24 localities indicate that Krateraspis is limited to a narrow area of Middle Asia, from the Western Tian-Shan to the western offshoots of Pamir Mountains. Two species are morphologically distinguishable: K. meinerti (Sseliwanoff, 1881) and K. sselivanovi Titova, 1975. They differ mainly in details of the clypeus and maxillae, in the pattern of forcipular denticles, and in the number of legs. Tygarrup asiaticus Verhoeff, 1930 is confirmed as a junior synonym of K. meinerti, and a lectotype is designated for the former.

Jonishi T., Nakano T.

Langor D.W., Langor S.D.

Abstract The centipede fauna of Canada is reviewed based on information available in the literature and on examination of some material, and provincial and territorial distributions are provided. About 53 species are known from Canada, representing four orders: Scutigeromorpha (1), Scolopendromorpha (5), Geophilomorpha (19), and Lithobiomorpha (28). British Columbia has the most recorded species (23), followed by Ontario (17) and Newfoundland and Labrador (12). Arctogeophilus glacialis (Attems) and Alaskobius adlatus Chamberlin are newly reported from Canada (Northwest Territories), Schendyla nemorensis (Koch) is newly reported from Ontario, and Lithobius forficatus (Linnaeus) is recorded for the first time from New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Arctogeophilus melanonotus (Wood) is removed from the list of Canadian species.

THOFERN D., DUPÉRRÉ N., HARMS D.

Centipedes (Myriapoda: Chilopoda) are carnivorous arthropods that live in leaf litter and soil habitats on all continents except Antarctica. Roughly 3,300 species have been described to date but the taxonomy is still progressing and requires a thorough documentation of type material and type deposits. In this paper we provide an annotated catalogue of the centipede type collection at the Zoological Museum (ZMH) in Hamburg. This collection comprises 490 type specimens belonging to 141 taxa originally described as species, subspecies and varieties. More than half of these taxa were described by the pioneering myriapodologists Carl Graf Attems (Vienna) and Karl Kraepelin (Hamburg). The collection includes material representing 93 valid species or subspecies and contains specimens predominantly from Australia (33%), Asia (22%), Africa (20%) and South America (20%). Taxonomically, the focus is on the centipede orders Scolopendromorpha (56 valid species) and Geophilomorpha (28 valid species) with fewer types for the Lithobiomorpha (8 species). A total of 48 taxa (34% of type species) have been synonymized since they were originally described and the type material for 12 additional species at the ZMH is lost. We provide a brief historical overview of this collection from its origin at the Museum Godeffroy and the Johanneum in Hamburg, including the most relevant taxonomists and collectors, followed by an annotated taxonomic catalogue with details on all species that are or were represented by type material. 

Dyachkov Y.V., Nedoev K.K.

Cryptops doriae Pocock, 1891 and Scolopendra cingulata Latreille, 1829 are new to the fauna of Uzbekistan, while Polyporogaster porosa (Sseliwanoff, 1881) is new to Turkmenistan. Pachymerium ferrugineum (C.L. Koch, 1835) is new to the Sirdaryo Region, while Bothriogaster signata (Kessler, 1874) is formally new to the Qashqadaryo and Sirdaryo Regions of Uzbekistan. The full lists of the chilopod species from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are provided: 22 and 12 species, respectively.

Nefediev P.S., Nefedieva J.S., Farzalieva G.S.

Dyachkov Y.V.

The genus Polyporogaster Verhoeff, 1899 and the species Polyporogaster porosa (Sseliwanoff, 1881) is new to the fauna of Tajikistan; while Pachymerium ferrugineum (C.L. Koch, 1835) to the Khatlon Region, Krateraspis meinerti (Sseliwanoff, 1881) to the Districts of Republican Subordination; Bothriogaster signata (Kessler, 1874) to the Sughd Region and the Districts of Republican Subordination; Scolopendra canidens Newport, 1844 to the Districts of Republican Subordination and the Khatlon Region; Australobius magnus (Trotzina, 1894) is formally specified for the Khatlon Region and the Districts of Republican Subordination for the first time. The first list of the chilopod species is provided: 22 species in 14 genera, 8 families and 4 orders.

Bragina T.M., Dyachkov Y.V., Farzalieva G.S.

Damasiewicz A., Leśniewska M.

For the first time in Poland, centipedes of a tropical species Tygarrup javanicus (Attems, 1907) (Geophilomorpha) were found in the hothouses with the tropical vegetation of the Botanical Garden in Wrocław. This Asian species has increasingly been reported from European greenhouses. Its spread is facilitated, among other factors, by small body size and parthenogenesis. In Poland one should also expect other exotic species which have already been found in neighbouring countries.

Dyachkov Y.V., Tuf I.H.

Nefediev P.S.

Dyachkov Y.V., Tuf I.H.

Tuf I.H., Mock A., Dvořák L.

Geophilomorph centipedes, due to their soil life style, are frequently transported with plants. This report tries to underline some adaptations that facilitate them being introduced and becoming alien species. Tygarrup javanicus (Attems, 1907), tropical species reported recently from different greenhouses in Central Europe, is used as an example of such a spreading species.

Iorio É., Bonato L.

The geophilid centipede Endogeophilus albertisp. nov. is described and illustrated based on a single specimen collected from Provence, southern France. It is very similar to E. ichnusae Bonato, Zapparoli, Drago & Minelli, 2016, which is known only from three specimens from south-western Sardinia, and was the only species in the genus Endogeophilus Bonato, Zapparoli, Drago & Minelli, 2016. Both species share a remarkably narrow body, very short setae, and an unusually high number of legs, which are relatively stout. All these traits are rare among geophilids and suggest an endogeic life style. Despite of the very few specimens available for comparison and the difficulties to distinguish inter-specific differences from intra-specific variation, the two species differ at least in the shape of the pretarsi of the second maxillae and the shape of the forcipules. A revised diagnosis of the genus Endogeophilus is also provided, with an identification key to all genera of Geophilidae s.l. recorded so far in Europe, based on selected characters to evaluate without anatomical dissection and illustrated with original pictures.

Kiria E., Mumladze L., Barjadze S., Tuf I.H.

Georgia's rich biodiversity, as a key part of the Caucasus hotspot, makes it an ideal destination for scientific research. Nevertheless, knowledge about the species diversity of different animal groups in this area remains limited. In this article we provide information on the nine centipede species (Henia brevis (Silvestri, 1896), H. hirsuta Verhoeff, 1928, H. taurica (Sseliwanoff, 1884), Strigamia caucasia (Verhoeff, 1938), S. pusilla (Sseliwanoff, 1884), Harpolithobius spinipes Folkmanová, 1958, Lithobius antipai Matic, 1969, L. foviceps Muralevitch, 1926, and L. micropodus (Matic, 1980)) newly recorded in Georgia. Three of these species (H. brevis, H. hirsuta, and L. micropodus) are also new records for the Caucasus region. Data on their distribution, maps of the localities, and photos of the specimens studied are also given.

Kniazev S.Y., Nefediev P.S., Farzalieva G.S., Babiy K.A.