Centipede Species Research Articles

New Chilopoda from the Chagos Archipelago

ABSTRACT The single published record of centipedes from the Chagos Archipelago, British Indian Ocean Territory, is for the scolopendrid Rhysida longipes Newport, 1845, from Eagle Island. Recent collections from Diego Garcia atoll include new records of R. longipes as well as four other centipede species, including the first records of the orders Lithobiomorpha and Geophilomorpha. A new species of the lithobiid Australobius Chamberlin, 1920, A. chagosensis sp. n., is closely allied to species described from southern India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The henicopid Lamyctes is represented by two geographically widespread species, L. mauriesi Demange, 1981 and L. tristani (Pocock, 1893), from which sequence data for the COI barcode marker are presented and analysed phylogenetically. The types of Lamyctes albipes (Pocock, 1894), and L. tristani, from Java and Tristan da Cunha, respectively, are illustrated for the first time to facilitate taxonomic comparisons with Chagos material. Specimens of Mecistocephalus are identified as Mecistocephalus lohmanderi Verhoeff, 1939, closely resembling specimens from the Seychelles. Collections from the archipelago in 1971–1972 also included Mecistocephalus angusticeps (Ribaut, 1914), and Nycternyssa dekania dekania (Verhoeff, 1938). The Chagos centipede fauna reveals affinities to those of the southern Indian Subcontinent, East Africa, Madagascar, the Maldives, the Seychelles, and Java. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:52337A1E-95DF-46C5-9D9A-8F294968A89D

New records of centipedes (Myriapoda: Chilopoda) in the fauna of Georgia, South Caucasus

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.

The second Mecistocephalus centipede without a spiculum: Mecistocephalus aspiculus sp. n. from south China (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Mecistocephalidae)

ABSTRACT A new centipede species, Mecistocephalus aspiculus sp. n. from Guangdong Province in China, is described. It is the second Mecistocephalus species without a spiculum, after Mecistocephalus yanagiharai Takakuwa, 1936. The description is additionally accompanied by a diagnosis and illustrations of the examined material, while the presence of a comma-shaped lateral sclerite near the labrum is proposed as a new diagnostic character. The presence and absence of the spiculum in each genus of the family Mecistocephalidae is also listed briefly to provide insight for further investigation of the evolutionary trends of mecistocephalid species. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E6A2551E-3B7C-4FB7-B603-F2EFA560A576

First record of Scolopendra pinguis Pocock, 1891 (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendridae) from Vietnam

The centipede species Scolopendra pinguis Pocock, 1891 is recorded from Vietnam (Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province) for the first time. The collected specimens are described and illustrated. An updated map of S. pinguis distribution in Southeast Asia is also proved.

Assessing troglomorphic and phylogenetically informative traits in troglobionts: a new cave-dwelling centipede illuminates the evolution of a soil-dwelling lineage (Chilopoda: Geophilidae)

Cave-dwelling species are of special interest in evolutionary biology, because (i) many share particular traits associated with the cave habitat (troglomorphic traits), and (ii) some represent relict lineages that may conserve ancestral traits or possibly transitional traits, which may provide insights into the evolution of other highly derived species. However, these different kinds of characters are hard to assess thoroughly in troglobionts belonging to little known terrestrial arthropod groups. We describe a new species of centipedes from the Areias System caves, Brazil, namely, Plutogeophilus jurupariquibaba gen.n. sp.n., which adds to the few putative troglobionts known among Chilopoda Geophilomorpha. We analyzed a suite of characters in the light of a phylogenetic analysis and by direct comparison with epigean relatives, controlling for interindividual variation and its confounding sources. We found that: (i) troglomorphic traits of P. jurupariquibaba may include large body, elongate antennae, elongate legs and claws, and possibly also elongate setae and large coxal pores; (ii) the cave-dwelling Plutogeophilus is the sister lineage of the soil-dwelling Macronicophilus, whose morphology is highly derived and whose phylogenetic position remained unclear; (iii) compared with other extant geophilids, symplesiomorphic traits and apparently intermediate traits found in Plutogeophilus provide insights on the origin of the morphology of Macronicophilus, suggesting a stepwise modification of labrum, forcipular apparatus and ultimate legs, and the derivation of the unique rounded and spiny tip of the second maxillae from a pointed claw.

Genetic diversity varies with species traits and latitude in predatory soil arthropods (Myriapoda: Chilopoda).

To investigate the drivers of intra-specific genetic diversity in centipedes, a group of ancient predatory soil arthropods. Asia, Australasia and Europe. Present. Centipedes (Class: Chilopoda). We assembled a database of 1245 mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences representing 128 centipede species from all five orders of Chilopoda. This sequence dataset was used to estimate genetic diversity for centipede species and compare its distribution with estimates from other arthropod groups. We studied the variation in centipede genetic diversity with species traits and biogeography using a beta regression framework, controlling for the effect of shared evolutionary history within a family. A wide variation in genetic diversity across centipede species (0-0.1713) falls towards the higher end of values among arthropods. Overall, 27.57% of the variation in mitochondrial COI genetic diversity in centipedes was explained by a combination of predictors related to life history and biogeography. Genetic diversity decreased with body size and latitudinal position of sampled localities, was greater in species showing maternal care and increased with geographic distance among conspecifics. Centipedes fall towards the higher end of genetic diversity among arthropods, which may be related to their long evolutionary history and low dispersal ability. In centipedes, the negative association of body size with genetic diversity may be mediated by its influence on local abundance or the influence of ecological strategy on long-term population history. Species with maternal care had higher genetic diversity, which goes against expectations and needs further scrutiny. Hemispheric differences in genetic diversity can be due to historic climatic stability and lower seasonality in the southern hemisphere. Overall, we find that despite the differences in mean genetic diversity among animals, similar processes related to life-history strategy and biogeography are associated with the variation within them.

Species diversity of centipedes during a year-round survey at two vineyard sites in Northern Israel

Abstract Centipedes (Chilopoda) are mainly predators, which play essential roles in agroecosystems. In this work, pitfall traps were placed monthly during 1998 in two sites of vineyards in Northern Israel: the Geshur and Ramat Magshimim vineyards. The present research refers to the centipedes that were caught in these traps. Specimens of seven species of centipedes were caught in this work. Four centipede species were found in both vineyard sites: Thereuonema syriaca Verhoeff 1905, Scutigera coleoptrata (Linnaeus, 1758), Scutigeridae gen. species, and Hessebius barbipes (Porath, 1893). Two species were found in the Geshur, and not in the Ramat-Magshimim vineyard: Lithobius (Monotarsobius) sp., and Harpolithobius halophilus Verhoeff, 1941. One species was found in the Ramat-Magshimim, and not in the Geshur vineyard: Lithobius carinatus L. Koch, 1862. In the Geshur vineyard, 52 specimens of 6 centipede species were found. In the Ramat Magshimim vineyard, 20 specimens of 5 centipede species were detected. These differences are probably related to the Geshur vineyard being close to natural Mediterranean shrubland, while the Ramat Magshimim vineyard is situated between cultivated areas.

Ecology of soil animals (Diplopoda class, Myriapoda group)

Class Шplays an important role in natural ecosystems, because it supports biodiversity and soil stability, and a change in the number or distribution of centipede species can indicate changes in the environment, such as pollution, soil degradation, climate change, etc. The purpose of the study is to identify the existing species of soil animals of the Diplopoda class, as well as to determine environmental factors that can affect their distribution. Species’ diversity was assessed by collecting individuals and classifying them into order, family, genus, and species. Climatic factors, namely temperature and precipitation, are also determined. As a result of the study, ecological aspects of centipede development were evaluated and their distribution and dependence on environmental factors, such as climatic, edaphic, and trophic factors, were analysed. In the southern region of Albania, 22 species of the Diplopoda class of the Myriapoda group were identified, among which mainly decomposers of organic remains and phytophages. The regions of Llogara and Šhašhica were noted as the regions with the highest diversity of millipedes. In addition, it was established that the variation of species is influenced by the environment, the presence of organic substances, and climatic factors. Temperature and humidity are determining factors influencing the distribution of the Diplopoda class in different biotopes. Species that have a large regional distribution and are most widespread in time throughout the year: Pachyiulus cattarensis, found in the period June-November, Glomeris pulchra – May-July, SeptemberOctober, Pachyiulus varius – May-October. A less active period was noted for the following species: Polydesmus complanatus, Glomeris latermarginata, Typhloiulus albanichus, Pachyiulus hungaricus, Glomeris pustullata. The research, which was carried out, is of practical importance for nature conservation, as the Diplopoda class plays an important role in maintaining ecosystems and biodiversity and can be an indicator of the state of the environment

Sexually dimorphic characters of the ultimate legs in lithobiid centipedes (Myriapoda, Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha): morphology and implications for reproductive behaviour.

Many species of lithobiomorph centipedes present a pronounced sexual dimorphism reflected in remarkable structural modifications on the ultimate legs of males. Most records of these male secondary sexual characters addressed taxonomy, helping to identify and characterize species or diagnose genera, but information on their diversity, detailed morphology and possible function(s) is scarce. In this study, nine species of the two lithobiid genera Lithobius Leach, 1814 and Eupolybothrus Verhoeff, 1907 were investigated, using light and scanning electron microscopy to document the detailed morphology of secondary sexual characters of male ultimate legs. Secondary sexual characters affecting the cuticle of the ultimate legs are described in detail and found to often be associated with sensilla, interpreted here as chemo- and mechanoreceptors, and with clusters of pores, a hitherto undescribed pore-distribution for this group. The tibial nodule of the species Lithobius nodulipes Latzel, 1880, was additionally examined with histological semi-thin sections. These results revealed that the clustered pores are connected to glandular tissue, and are, based on their morphology, interpreted as openings of flexo-canal epidermal glands. The presence of various sensory and glandular structures associated with sexual dimorphism indicates a likely role during courtship and mating. The closely related species examined in this research show comparable dimorphic structures, which are otherwise species-specific. Morphological observations on secondary sexual structures inform on reproductive biology in groups like lithobiomorphs for which there are limited behavioural data. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Development of real-time PCR method for rapid and accurate detection of Centipedes (Scolopendra mutilans) in food.

Centipedes contain pharmacologically active compounds used as important medicinal material. However, the poisons produced by centipedes can cause human diseases; therefore, its use as a food ingredient is prohibited. This is the first report to develop a real-time PCR method for detection of centipedes. The primer and probe targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene were newly designed. The specificity was verified using ten species and was confirmed to amplify only the centipede species. The real-time PCR method exhibited good linearity with a high-determination coefficient (R 2 = 0.999) and a detection limit was 0.001ng. The performance of our method was also verified using five real-time PCR platforms under Universal and Fast PCR conditions. Finally, its applicability to processed food was evaluated using binary insect mixtures, and at least 0.1% of centipedes was detected. Therefore, our method can specifically and sensitively detect centipedes in food, contributing to food safety.

An Eocene fossil plutoniumid centipede: a new species of Theatops from Baltic Amber (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha)

Four specimens of the same species of scolopendromorph centipede from Eocene Baltic amber provide the first fossil occurrence of the family Plutoniumidae, a clade represented by seven extant species. The fossil material, documented by light microscopy and computed microtomography, is assigned to the genus Theatops Newport, 1844, which currently has a disjunct distribution in temperate North America, the Mediterranean region, and central China. The Eocene species is diagnostically distinct from extant congeners and is formally described as Theatops groehni sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis of combined morphological and molecular data for three loci finds T. groehni to be nested within crown-group Plutoniumidae. The discovery of T. groehni constrains the minimal divergence date for crown-group Plutoniumidae and is consistent with hypotheses regarding the extent and nature of tropical to warm temperate European forests during the Eocene. The fossil reinforces the hypothesis that the distribution of Plutoniumidae, once more geographically widespread, has been pruned by extinction. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:ECBF2C04-CA1B-4FBC-A19E-26A0094196EC

Phenotypic description of Egyptian endemic centipedes, genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 with a histological study of its venom glands

Centipedes are widely distributed over all continents. They have significant medicinal value and high toxicity, making them an intriguing subject for evolutionary research. The current study aims to provide the first comprehensive analysis of the morphology, description, and distribution preferences of the Egyptian Scolopendromorpha centipede fauna. According to surveillance research in Egypt, two Scolopendra species have been re-described. Scolopendra canidensNewport.1844 were discovered in only one location, whereas Scolopendra morsitans s Linnaeus,1758 was more abundant. Both venomous glands were histochemically investigated. This study is the first comparative report on the histology and histochemistry of the venom glands of the Egyptian centipede species. Both species’ glands are primarily composed of columnar secretory cells radially arranged side by side and open through pores in a central chitinous duct. Each secretory cell is enclosed in striated muscle fibers. The secretion of both glands takes the shape of small PAS-positive granules, suggesting the presence of neutral polysaccharides. According to this surveillance study, the most abundant species was Scolopendra morsitans s Linnaeus,1758. Scolopendra canidens canidensNewport.1844 were found only on the Northwest coast of Egypt. The findings also revealed that the analyzed species are comparable in terms of their venom morphology and fundamental chemical composition.

First records of Dendrothereua linceci (Wood, 1867) (Chilopoda, Scutigeromorpha, Scutigeridae) in Colombia

We collected nine scutigeromorph centipede specimens in Colombia, which are the first records of Dendrothereua linceci (Wood, 1867) from the country and South America, expanding the the known distribution of the species. With these data, one more species of Scutigeromorpha centipede is added to the chilopod fauna of the region.

CENTIPEDE VENOM TOXINS AND ITS BIOMEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

The present review article explains venoms from various centipede species with their biomedical and pharmacological properties. Centipede venom is a natural source of bioactive proteins, peptides and other small molecules. These use venoms as defense arsenals to paralyze prey. This review paper sketch out important physiological effects like platelet aggregation, anticoagulant, phospholipase A2 and trypsin inhibiting activity. Centipede venom toxins selectively bind Kv2.1 channel and block them. Centipede venom disrupts cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular and nervous systems by targeting the broadly distributed KCNQ channels. It also signifies toxin-voltage-gated integrations and its inhibition. These peptides can be used for developing drugs for treatments as well as bio-insecticides for insect control.

BIOfid Steps Up to Provide Introduced Species Information: The case of myriapods in German greenhouses

The German Specialized Information Service Biodiversity Research (BIOfid) is an infrastructure that provides scientists with information tailored to the specific needs of biodiversity research and related disciplines (Koch et al. 2017). The service, in particular, promotes digital access to legacy literature and enables the retrieval of research-relevant data using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) techniques (Hemati et al. 2016, Abrami et al. 2020, Lücking et al. 2021), and provides a customized semantic search engine (Pachzelt et al. 2021). Thus, historical species records can be found and help to estimate past and present species distributions as well as potential range shifts. Future BIOfid services are planned to specifically address interoperability and linking of research data for rapid integration into national and international databases such as the German Federation for Biological Data (GFBio) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). To this end, for example, BIOfid will contribute to further developing the open-source virtual research environment (VRE) Scratchpads (Smith et al. 2011) and promote its usage in the scientific community. Based on a use case on myriapods, we will test the ability of the two tools mentioned above to accelerate information retrieval and knowledge sharing by professional data mobilization and management methods. Certain myriapod species are known to have been introduced from tropical and subtropical environments to Germany, a country that lies in the north temperate zone. In this regard, we will scour BIOfid´s legacy literature for these species to find spatio-temporal evidence. Moreover, we will explore the usefulness of Myriatrix, a Scratchpads instance specialized on Myriapoda and Onychophora, to collate information on millipede and centipede species introduced to German greenhouses. Data on 35 diplopod and 18 chilopod species in German greenhouses (Decker et al. 2014) have been integrated into Myriatrix using the "Taxon Description" content type provided by Scratchpads. Subsequently, more comprehensive, recent information on the millipede Cylindrodesmus hirsutus Pocock, 1889 (Martínez-Muñoz 2020 onwards) has been incorporated. Finally, we will show how this compiled information can be integrated into GBIF through the Scratchpads' Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) export.

Myriapod genomes reveal ancestral horizontal gene transfer and hormonal gene loss in millipedes

Animals display a fascinating diversity of body plans. Correspondingly, genomic analyses have revealed dynamic evolution of gene gains and losses among animal lineages. Here we sequence six new myriapod genomes (three millipedes, three centipedes) at key phylogenetic positions within this major but understudied arthropod lineage. We combine these with existing genomic resources to conduct a comparative analysis across all available myriapod genomes. We find that millipedes generally have considerably smaller genomes than centipedes, with the repeatome being a major contributor to genome size, driven by independent large gains of transposons in three centipede species. In contrast to millipedes, centipedes gained a large number of gene families after the subphyla diverged, with gains contributing to sensory and locomotory adaptations that facilitated their ecological shift to predation. We identify distinct horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events from bacteria to millipedes and centipedes, with no identifiable HGTs shared among all myriapods. Loss of juvenile hormone O-methyltransferase, a key enzyme in catalysing sesquiterpenoid hormone production in arthropods, was also revealed in all millipede lineages. Our findings suggest that the rapid evolution of distinct genomic pathways in centipede and millipede lineages following their divergence from the myriapod ancestor, was shaped by differing ecological pressures.

Description of an unexpected troglobitic species of the genus Lithobius Leach, 1814 from a Pyrenean cave in France, with a synthesis on the troglobitic centipedes from Pyrenees (Myriapoda: Chilopoda)

Summary 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.

Millipedes and centipedes (Myriapoda: Diplopoda, Chilopoda) in Swiss heated greenhouses, with seven species new for Switzerland

The international plant trade provides opportunities for the introduction of exotic species into tropical greenhouses around the world. The millipede and centipede fauna of greenhouses is barely known in Switzerland. We conducted a survey in greenhouses of nine botanical gardens and other institutions across Switzerland. We captured and identified 1390 individuals belonging to 14 millipede species and 43 individuals belonging to 9 centipede species. Most millipede individuals recorded (80.3%) were non-native as were the species (8/14). Most centipede individuals (55.3%) were non-native, but not the majority of the species (4/10). The species composition varied strongly among greenhouses with species originating from different parts of the world. Seven species already known from greenhouses in other European countries are reported for the first time in Switzerland. These are the millipedes Cylindrodesmus hirsutus Pocock, 1889, Poratia obliterata (Kraus, 1960), Paraspirobolus lucifugus (Gervais, 1836) and the centipedes Mecistocephalus guildingii Newport, 1843, Tygarrup javanicus Attems, 1929, Lamyctes (Lamyctes) coeculus (Brölemann, 1889b), and Cryptops (Cryptops) doriae Pocock, 1891. The relevance of these findings is discussed.

Metal and metalloid bioaccumulation in three centipedes (Chilopoda)

Three centipede species (Clinopodes flavidus, Cryptops anomalans and Eupolybothrus transsylvanicus) were used as bioindicators of trace metal and metalloid pollution in Belgrade, Serbia. The concentrations of 13 elements (the metals Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Cd, Tl, Pb and U and metalloids As, Se) in whole animals and soil were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Differences in the concentrations of some elements in the analyzed species were observed, both in response to the sites and between species. In most cases, the trace element concentrations were higher in centipedes from a polluted site (an industrial area near a busy street with heavy traffic) but C. anomalans and E. transsylvanicus had higher Mn concentrations at an unpolluted site (a deciduous woodland on Mt. Avala). C. flavidus was a good bioindicator for detecting differences between Zn, Se and Cd. C. flavidus and C. anomalans were more efficient in accumulating Zn than E. transsylvanicus. It appears that C. anomalans poorly accumulated Cd, unlike C. flavidus and E. transsylvanicus, which accumulated Cd according to the high bioaccumulation factor (BAF) values. We conclude that the centipedes C. flavidus, C. anomalans and E. transsylvanicus can be used as suitable bioindicators of trace element exposure. Their ability to accumulate trace elements was different and depends on their physiology and lifestyle as well as the route of exposure.

Scolopocryptops longipes sp. nov., a troglobitic scolopocryptopine centipede (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopocryptopidae) from China.

We describe Scolopocryptops longipes sp. nov., a new troglobitic scolopocryptopine centipede species from a karstic area in southern China. The species was found in Shuiba Cave of Libo County, Guizhou Province. The cephalic plate wider than long, with complete margination along the lateral margin of cephalic plate; TT619 with complete paramedian sutures; tibia, tarsus 1 and tarsus 2 of leg 22 each with one spur; prefemur and femur of ultimate legs glabrous, tibia and tarsi with dense bristles. S. longipes is the second troglobitic scolopocryptopine in China and the fourth in the world described thus far.