Abstract
We describe and analyze two examples of naturally occurring morphological anomalies in the geophilomorph centipedes. Recorded abnormalities include a supernumerary hemisclerite in an adult female specimen of Clinopodes flavidus C.L. Koch, and an even number of leg-bearing segments in a subadult male specimen of Clinopodes trebevicensis (Verhoeff). The morphological complexity of these defects makes them hard to explain as the result of healing or regeneration. They are most probably congenital and are interpreted as the effects of perturbation of different morphogenetic processes occurring at different phases of development of the segments in a given trunk region.
Highlights
The typical centipede body plan includes six head segments followed by a pair of maxillipedes, a series of trunk leg-bearing segments with one pair of legs per segment, and the terminal segments (Lewis, 1981; Edgecombe and Giribet, 2007)
According to the evidence available to date (Brölemann, 1894, 1904, 1920; Léger and Duboscq, 1903; Selbie, 1913; Balazuc and Schubart, 1962; Demange and Pereira, 1980; Minelli and Pasqual, 1986; Pereira and Minelli, 1995; Kettle et al, 2000; Simaiakis et al, 2007; Leśniewska et al, 2009a,b), besides minor trunk anomalies and defects confined to the appendages, the occasional occurrence of specimens with trunk segmental anomalies has been documented in natural populations of nine geophilomorph species: Himantarium gabrielis (Linnaeus), Schendyla vizzavonae Léger and Duboscq, Stigmatogaster subterranea (Shaw), S. dimidiata (Meinert), Geophilus procerus Koch, Schendylops pallidus (Kraus), S. titicacaensis (Kraus), S. attemsi (Verhoeff), and Strigamia maritima (Leach)
The centipede material used in this study includes 353 specimens of C. flavidus and 255 specimens of C. trebevicensis, collected by hand in leaf litter, under stones or bark of decayed logs and fallen trees, during the period from 2002 to 2011
Summary
The typical centipede body plan includes six head segments followed by a pair of maxillipedes, a series of trunk leg-bearing segments with one pair of legs per segment, and the terminal segments (Lewis, 1981; Edgecombe and Giribet, 2007). The number of leg-bearing trunk segments (= pairs of walking legs) varies between 27 and 191 (Minelli et al, 2000).
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