Geophilus carpophagus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Geophilidae
Genus: Geophilus
Species:
G. carpophagus
Binomial name
Geophilus carpophagus
Leach, 1815

Geophilus carpophagus is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae, widely considered to be a type species of the genus Geophilus (along with G. electricus).[1] It grows up to 60 millimeters in length, with an orange/tan body bearing a distinctive purplish marbled pattern (also seen in Henia vesuviana).[2] Males of this species have 51 to 55 pairs of legs; females have 53 to 57.[3]

Taxonomy

Recent studies indicate that G. carpophagus is actually a group of closely related species (dubbed the carpophagus species-complex). So far only three species have been clearly defined; G. carpophagus (Leach, 1814), G. easoni (Arthur, et al., 2001) from Europe, and G. arenarius (Meinert, 1870) from North Africa.[3]

Habitat

Geophilus carpophagus is most commonly found across southeast England, though specimens have also been found in mainland Europe, North Africa, and the Canarie Islands, with a viable population discovered in Finland in 2018.[4] In the north of England, it becomes entirely coastal, where it can be found in cliff sites above the high tide mark. Away from the coast, it is usually found living 1 meter or more above the ground in rocks, walls, buildings, and trees. G. carpophagus seemingly has stronger adhesive abilities than G. easoni, presumably to help with climbing. G. carpophagus nests in drier sites than most other British geophilomorphans, which may be connected to its reduced size and number of coxal pores compared to G. easoni.[5]

Behavior

Geophilus carpophagus has a less aggressive defense response than G. easoni (recoiling instead of rearing and bearing poison claws). In laboratory cultures, mothers that were deliberately disturbed and left their brood would return to coil around it again, a behavior that has never been observed in any other geophilomorph species.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Crabill, Ralph E. (1954). "A conspectus of the northeastern North American species of Geophilus (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha Geophilidae)". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 56: 172–188.
  2. ↑ "Geophilus carpophagus Leach, 1814". British Myriapod and Isopod Group. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  3. 1 2 Gregory, Steve (2015). "Geophilomorph centipedes (Chilopoda: Geophilomorha) from north-west Spain and northern Portugal collected by the British Myriapod and Isopod Group in 2004". Bulletin of the British Myriapod & Isopod Group. 28: 12. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  4. ↑ Vahtera, Varpu; Lehtinen, Pekka T. (2018). "Rediscovery of Geophilus carpophagus Leach (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha) from Finland". Memoranda Soc. Fauna Flora Fennica. 94: 36–38. S2CID 134251384.
  5. 1 2 Arthur, Wallace (2002). "Ecological and Behavioural Characteristics of Geophilus Easoni Arthur et al. and G. Carpophagus Leach" (PDF). Bulletin of the British Myriapod and Isopod Group. 18: 26–32. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
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