Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2007-12-21
Page range: 327–341
Abstract views: 35
PDF downloaded: 2

Centipede systematics: progress and problems*

Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
Acari Chilopoda phylogeny taxonomy

Abstract

Breakthroughs in centipede systematics over the past 25 years have included: a stable morphology-based cladogram for ordinal interrelationships that is largely congruent with well-sampled nuclear ribosomal genes; the discovery of mid Palaeozoic crown-group fossils, including Silurian-Devonian stem-group Scutigeromorpha and an extinct order in the Middle Devonian; and, a web-based catalogue of all centipede species globally. Challenges include species delimitation in several groups, conflict between different kinds of molecular data (nuclear coding genes versus ribosomal genes), the inter-familial relationships and classification of the Geophilomorpha in particular, and effecting a synthesis between microanatomical studies of selected ‘model’ species and dense taxonomic sampling in numerical phylogenetic analyses.

References

  1. Anderson L.I. & Trewin, N.H. (2003) An Early Devonian arthropod fauna from the Windyfield Cherts, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Palaeontology, 46, 457–509.

    Arthur, W. & Chipman, A.D. (2005) How does arthropod segment number evolve? – some clues from centipedes. Evolution & Development, 7, 600–607.

    Arthur, W., Foddai, D., Kettle, C., Lewis, J.G.E., Luczynski, M. & Minelli, A. (2001) Analysis of segment number and enzyme variation in a centipede reveals a cryptic species, Geophilus easoni sp. nov., and raises questions about speciation. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 74, 489–99.

    Attems, C. (1926) Chilopoda. In: Kükenthal, W. & Krumbach, T. (Eds), Handbuch der Zoologie, 4 (Myriapoda). Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, pp. 239–402.

    Attems, C. (1928) The Myriapoda of South Africa. Annals of the South African Museum, 26, 1–431.

    Attems, C. (1930) Myriapoda 2. Scolopendromorpha. In: Schulze, F.E. & Kükenthal,W. (Eds), Das Tierreich, 54. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, pp. 1–308.

    Ax, P. (1999) Das System der Metazoa II. Ein Lehrbuch der phylogenetischen Systematik. Gustav Fischer, Stuttgart.

    Bastianello, A. & Minelli, A. (2001) engrailed sequences from four centipede orders: strong sequence conservation, duplications and phylogeny. Development Genes Evolution, 211, 620–623.

    Bonato, L., Foddai, D. & Minelli, A. (2003) Evolutionary trends and patterns in centipede segment number based on a cladistic analysis of Mecistocephalidae (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha). Systematic Entomology, 28, 539–579.

    Bonato, L. & Minelli, A. (2002) Parental care in Dicellophilus carniolensis (C. L. Koch, 1847): new behavioural evidence with implications for the higher phylogeny of centipedes (Chilopoda). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 241, 193–198.

    Bonato, L. & Minelli, A. (2004) The centipede genus Mecistocephalus Newport 1843 in the Indian Peninsula (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha Mecistocephalidae). Tropical Zoology, 17, 15–63,

    Borucki, H. (1996) Evolution und phylogenetisches System der Chilopoda (Mandibulata, Tracheata). Verhandlungen des naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins in Hamburg, 35, 95–226.

    Chipman, A.D., Arthur, W. & Akam, M. (2004a) Early development and segment formation in the centipede, Strigamia maritima. Evolution & Development, 6, 78–89.

    Chipman, A.D., Arthur, W. & Akam, M. (2004b) A double segment periodicity underlies segment generation in centipede development. Current Biology, 14, 1250–1255.

    Dohle, W. (1985) Phylogenetic pathways in the Chilopoda. Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 55, 55–66.

    Eason, E.H. (1982) A review of the north-west European species of Lithobiomorpha with a revised key to their identification. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 74, 9–33.

    Eason, E.H. (1992) On the taxonomy and geographical distribution of the Lithobiomorpha. Berichte des Naturwissenschaftlich-Medizinischen Vereins in Innsbruck Supplement, 10, 1–9.

    Edgecombe, G.D. & Barrow, L. (2007) A new genus of scutigerid centipedes (Chilopoda), from Western Australia, with new characters for morphological phylogenetics of Scutigeromorpha. Zootaxa, 1409, 23–50.

    Edgecombe, G.D., Colgan, D.J. & Sharkey, D. (2006) Phylogeny and biogeography of the Australasian centipede Henicops (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha): a combined morphological and molecular approach. Insect Systematics & Evolution, 37, 241–256.

    Edgecombe, G.D. & Giribet, G. (2003) Relationships of Henicopidae (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha): New molecular data, classification and biogeography. African Invertebrates, 44, 13–38.

    Edgecombe, G.D. & Giribet, G. (2004) Adding mitochondrial sequence data (16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) to the phylogeny of centipedes (Myriapoda, Chilopoda): an analysis of morphology and four molecular loci. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 42, 89–134.

    Edgecombe, G.D. & Giribet, G. (2006) A century later – a total evidence re-evaluation of the phylogeny of scutigeromorph centipedes (Myriapoda, Chilopoda). Invertebrate Systematics, 20, 503–525.

    Edgecombe, G.D. & Giribet, G. (2007) Evolutionary biology of centipedes (Myriapoda: Chilopoda). Annual Reviews of Entomology, 52, 151–170.

    Edgecombe, G.D., Giribet, G. & Wheeler, W.C. (1999) Phylogeny of Chilopoda: Combining 18S and 28S rRNA sequences and morphology. Boletin de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa, 26, 293–331.

    Edgecombe, G.D., Giribet, G. & Wheeler, W.C. (2002) Phylogeny of Henicopidae (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha): a combined analysis of morphology and five molecular loci. Systematic Entomology, 27, 31–64.

    Edgecombe, G.D. & Hollington, L.M. (2005) Morphology and relationships of a new species of Henicops (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha) from New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa, 961, 1–20.

    Edgecombe, G.D., Minelli, A. & Bonato, L. (submitted). A geophilomorph centipede (Chilopoda) from La Buzinie amber (Late Cretaceous: Cenomanian), SW France. Geodiversitas.

    Fahlander, K. (1938) Beiträge zur Anatomie und systematischen Einteilung der Chilopoden. Zoologiska Bidrag från Uppsala, 17, 1–148.

    Farzalieva, G. Sh., Zalesskaja, N.T. & Edgecombe, G.D. (2004) A new genus and species of lithobiomorph centipede (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha, Anopsobiidae) from eastern Kazakhstan. Arthropoda Selecta, 13, 219–224.

    Foddai, D., Bonato, L., Pereira, L.A. & Minelli, A. 2003. Phylogeny and systematics of the Arrupinae (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha Mecistocephalidae) with the description of a new dwarfed species. Journal of Natural History, 37, 1247–1267.

    Foddai, D. & Minelli, A. (2001) Phylogeny of geophilomorph centipedes: old wisdom and new insights from morphology. Fragmenta Faunistica, 43, 61–71.

    Foddai, D., Minelli, A. & Pereira, L.A. (2002). Geophilomorpha. In: Adis, J. (Ed), Amazonian Arachnida and Myriapoda. PENSOFT: Sofia, Moscow, pp. 459–474.

    Foddai, D., Pereira, L.A. & Minelli, A. (2000) A catalogue of the geophilomorph centipedes (Chilopoda) from central and South America including Mexico. Amazoniana, 16, 59–185.

    Giribet, G., Carranza, S., Riutort, M., Baguñà, J. & Ribera, C. (1999) Internal phylogeny of the Chilopoda (Myriapoda, Arthropoda) using complete 18S rDNA and partial 28S rDNA sequences. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 354, 215–22.

    Giribet, G. & Edgecombe, G.D. (2006) Conflict between data sets and phylogeny of centipedes: an analysis based on seven genes and morphology. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 273, 531–538.

    Haase, E. (1881) Beitrag zur Phylogenie und Ontogenie der Chilopoden. Zeitschrift für Entomologie, 8, 93–115.

    Hilken, G. & Rosenberg J. (2006) Ultrastructure of the maxillary organ of Scutigera coleoptrata (Chilopoda, Notostigmophora): description of a multifunctional head organ. Journal of Morphology, 267, 152–65.

    Hoffman, R.L. (1982) Chilopoda. In: Parker, S.P. (Ed), Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. McGraw Hill, New York, pp. 681–688.

    Hollington, L.M. & Edgecombe, G.D. (2004) Two new species of the henicopid centipede Henicops (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha) from Queensland and Victoria, with revision of species from Western Australia and a synoptic classification of Henicopidae. Records of the Australian Museum, 56, 1–28.

    Hughes, C.L. & Kaufman, T.C. (2002) Exploring the myriapod body plan: expression patterns of the ten Hox genes in a centipede. Development, 129, 1225–1238.

    Kettle, C., Johnstone, J., Jowett, T., Arthur, H. & Arthur, W. (2003) The pattern of segment formation, as revealed by engrailed expression, in a centipede with a variable number of segments. Evolution & Development, 5, 198–207.

    Khanna, V. (2001) A check-list of the Indian species of the centipedes (Chilopoda : Scolopendromorpha). Annals of Forestry, 9, 199–219.

    Koch, L.E. (1983) Morphological characters of Australian scolopendrid centipedes, and the taxonomy and distribution of Scolopendra morsitans L. (Chilopoda : Scolopendridae : Scolopendrinae). Australian Journal of Zoology, 31, 79–91.

    Koch, L.E. & Colless, D.H. (1986) Numerical taxonomy of Australian species of nine genera of scolopendrid centipedes (Chilopoda : Scolopendridae). Australian Journal of Zoology, 34, 87–105.

    Koch, M. & Edgecombe, G.D. (2006) The peristomatic structures in Scutigeromorpha (Chilopoda): a comparative study, with new characters for higher-level systematics. Zoomorphology, 125, 187–207.

    Koch, M. & Edgecombe, G.D. (2007) The peristomatic structures of Lithobiomorpha (Myriapoda, Chilopoda): comparative morphology and phylogenetic significance. Journal of Morphology, in press.

    Lewis, J.G.E. (1981) The Biology of Centipedes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Lewis, J.G.E. (2000) Variation in three centipede species of the genus Otostigmus and its bearing on species discrimination (Chilopoda; Scolopendromorpha; Scolopendridae). Journal of Natural History, 34, 433–448.

    Lewis, J.G.E. (2002) A re-examination of 11 species of Otostigmus from the Indo-Australian region described by R. V. Chamberlin based on type specimens in the collections of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard (Chilopoda; Scolopendromorpha; Scolopendridae). Journal of Natural History, 36, 1687–1706.

    Lewis J.G.E. (2003) The problems involved in the characterisation of scolopendromorph species (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha). African Invertebrates, 44, 61–69.

    Lewis, J.G.E. (2006) On the scolopendromorph centipede genus Mimops Kraepelin, 1903, with a description of a new family (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha). Journal of Natural History, 40, 1231–1239.

    Lewis, J.G.E., Edgecombe, G.D. & Shelley, R.M. (2005) A proposed standardised terminology for the external taxonomic characters of the Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda). Fragmenta Faunistica, 48, 1–8.

    Ma H.-G., Song D.-X, & Zhu M.-S. (2007) A new genus and two new species of lithobiid centipedes (Chilopoda : Lithobiomorpha) from China. Zootaxa, 1460, 25–34.

    Matic, Z. (1973) Pseudolithobiidae fam. nov.: una nuova famiglia dell’ordine Lithobiomorpha (Chilopoda, Anamorpha). Fragmenta entomologica, 9, 135–142.

    Müller, C.H.G. & Meyer-Rochow, B. (2006) Fine structural organization of the lateral ocelli in two species of Scolopendra (Chilopoda: Pleurostigmophora): an evolutionary evaluation. Zoomorphology, 125, 13–26.

    Müller, C.H.G. & Rosenberg, J. (2006) Homology of lateral ocelli in the Pleurostigmophora? New evidence from the retinal fine structure in some lithobiomorph species (Chilopoda: Lithobiidae). Norwegian Journal of Entomology, 53, 165–186,

    Mundel P. (1979) The centipedes (Chilopoda) of the Mazon Creek. In: Nitecki, M. (Ed), Mazon Creek Fossils. Academic Press, New York, pp. 361–378.

    Pereira, L.A., Foddai, D. & Minelli, A. (1997) Zoogeographical aspects of Neotropical Geophilomorpha (Chilopoda). Entomologica scandinavica Supplement, 51, 77–86.

    Pereira, L.A., Foddai, D. & Minelli, A. (2000) New taxa of Neotropical Geophilomorpha (Chilopoda). Amazoniana, 16, 1–57.

    Pereira, L.A., Minelli, A. & Barbieri, F. (1995) Description of nine new centipede species from Amazonia and related matters on Neotropical geophilomorphs (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha). Amazoniana, 13, 325–416.

    Pilz, C., Melzer, R.R. & Spelda, J. (2007). Morphometrics and SEM analysis of the species pair Lithobius mutabilis L. Koch, 1862 and L. glacialis Verhoeff, 1937 (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha). Organisms, Diversity & Evolution, 8.

    Regier, J.C. & Shultz, J.W. (2001) A phylogenetic analysis of Myriapoda (Arthropoda) using two nuclear protein-encoding genes. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 132, 469–486.

    Regier, J.C., Wilson, H.M. & Shultz, J.W. (2005) Phylogenetic analysis of Myriapoda using three nuclear protein-coding genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 34, 147–58.

    Rosenberg, J., Müller, C.H.G. & Hilken, G. (2006) Ultrastructural organization of the anal organ in the anal capsule of Craterostigmus tasmanianus Pocock, 1902 (Chilopoda, Craterostigmomorpha). Journal of Morphology, 267, 265–272.

    Schileyko, A.A. (1992) Scolopenders of Viet-Nam and some aspects of the system of Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda Epimorpha). Part 1. Arthropoda Selecta, 1, 5–19.

    Schileyko, A.A. (2006) Redescription of Scolopendropsis bahiensis (Brandt, 1841), the relations between Scolopendropsis and Rhoda, and notes on some characters used in scolopendromorph taxonomy (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha). Arthropoda Selecta, 15, 9–17.

    Schileyko, A.A. & Minelli, A. (1998) On the genus Newportia Gervais, 1847 (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Newportiidae). Arthropoda Selecta, 7, 265–299.

    Schileyko, A.A. & Pavlinov, I.J. (1997) A cladistic analysis of the order Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda). Entomologica scandinavica Supplement, 51, 33–40.

    Schileyko, A.A. & Stagl, V. (2004) The collection of scolopendromorph Centipedes (Chilopoda) in the Natural History Museum in Vienna: a critical re-evaluation of former taxonomic identifications. Annalen des Naturhistorsiches Museum in Wien, 105B, 67–137.

    Schweigert, V.G. & Dietl, G. (1997) Ein fossiler Hundertfüsser (Chilopoda, Geophilida) aus dem Nusplinger Plattenkalk (Oberjura, Südwestdeutschland). Stuttgarter Beitäger zur Naturkunde, B (Geologie und Paläontologie), 254, 1–11

    Shear, W.A. & Bonamo, P.M. (1988) Devonobiomorpha, a new order of centipeds (Chilopoda) from the Middle Devonian of Gilboa, New York State, USA, and the phylogeny of centiped orders. American Museum Novitates, 2927, 1–30.

    Shear, W.A., Jeram, A.J. & Selden, P.A. (1998) Centipede legs (Arthropoda, Chilopoda, Scutigeromorpha) from the Silurian and Devonian of Britain and the Devonian of North America. American Museum Novitates, 3231, 1–16.

    Shelley, R.M. (1997) The Holarctic centipede subfamily Plutoniuminae (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Cryptopidae) (Nomen Correctum Ex Subfamily Plutoniiinae Bollman, 1893). Brimleyana, 24, 51–113.

    Shelley, R.M. (2002) A synopsis of the North American centipedes of the order Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda). Virginia Museum of Natural History Memoir, 5, 1–108.

    Shelley, R.M. (2006) A chronological catalog of the New World species of Scolopendra L., 1758 (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae). Zootaxa, 1253, 1–50.

    Shelley, R.M., Edwards, G.B. & Chagas, Jr., A. (2005) Introduction of the centipede Scolopendra morsitans L., 1758, into northeastern Florida and the first authentic North American record, and a review of its global occurrences. Entomological News, 116, 39–58.

    Shelley, R.M. & Mercurio, R. (2005) Ectonocryptoides quadrimeropus, a new centipede genus and species from Jalisco, Mexico; proposal of Ectonocryptopinae, analysis of subfamilial relationships, and a key to subfamilies and genera of the Scolopocryptopidae (Scolopendromorpha). Zootaxa, 1094, 25–40.

    Shultz, J.W. & Regier, J.C. (1997) Progress toward a molecular phylogeny of the centipede orders (Chilopoda). Entomologica scandinavica Supplement 51, 25–32.

    Uliana, M., Bonato, L. & Minelli, A. (2007) The Mecistocephalidae of the Japanese and Taiwanese islands (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha). Zootaxa, 1396, 1–84.

    Verhoeff, K.W. (1902–1925) Chilopoda. In: Bronn, H.G. (Ed), Klassen und Ordnungen des Tierreichs, 5, Abteilung 2, Buch 1. C.F. Winter’sche Verlagshandlung, Leipzig, pp. 1–725.

    Verhoeff, K.W. (1904) Ueber Gattungen der Spinnenasseln (Scutigeriden). Sitzungs-Berichte der Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin, 1904, 245–285.

    Verhoeff, K.W. (1925) Results of Dr. E. Mjöberg’s Swedish scientific expeditions to Australia 1910–1913. 39. Chilopoda. Arkiv för Zoologi, 26A, 1–62.

    Wilson, H.M. (2001) First Mesozoic scutigeromorph centipede, from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil. Palaeontology, 44, 489–495.

    Wilson, H.M. (2003) A new scolopendromorph centipede (Myriapoda: Chilopoda) from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) of Brazil. Journal of Paleontology, 77, 73–77.

    Wirkner, C.S. & Pass, G. (2002) The circulatory system in Chilopoda: functional morphology and phylogenetic aspects. Acta Zoologica, 83, 193–202.

    Würmli, M. (1974) Systematic criteria in the Scutigeromorpha. In: Blower, J.G. (Ed), Myriapoda. Symposia of the Zoological Society of London, 32. Academic Press, London, pp. 89–98.

    Würmli, M. (1977) Zur Systematik der Gattung Scutigera. Abhandlungen und Verhandlungen des naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins in Hamburg, 20, 123–131.

    Würmli, M. (1978) Synopsis der neotropischen Pselliodidae (Chilopoda: Scutigeromorpha). Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 13, 135–142.

    Würmli, M. (1979) Taxonomic problems in the genus Thereuopoda (Chilopoda Scutigeromorpha: Scutigeridae): the role of postmaturational moultings. In: Camatini, M. (Ed), Myriapod Biology. Academic Press, London, pp. 39–48.

    Zalesskaja, N.T. (1978) Identification key to the lithobiomorph centipedes of the USSR. Nauka, Moscow, pp. 1–211.

    Zalesskaja, N.T. & Schileyko, A.A. (1991) The scolopendromorph centipedes (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha). Nauka, Moscow, pp. 1–110.

    Zapparoli, M. (1993) Chilopodi di Turchia. III. Sulla identità di Ottobius hopanus Chamberlin, 1952 e Osellaebius anatolicus Matic, 1973 (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha). Fragmenta entomologica, 25, 1–9.

    Zapparoli, M. (1994) Chilopodi di Turchia. IV. Specie del genere Lithobius Leach, 1814 s.str. (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha). Fragmenta entomologica, 25, 175–256.

    Zapparoli, M. (1999) The present knowledge of the centipede fauna of Anatolia (Chilopoda). Biogeographia, 20, 106–177.

    Zapparoli, M. (2002) A catalogue of the centipedes from Greece (Chilopoda). Fragmenta entomologica, 34, 1–146.