Trigonocryptops Verhoeff, 1906

Schileyko, Arkady, Iorio, Etienne & Coulis, Mathieu, 2024, A synthesis on the scolopendromorph centipedes (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) of Martinique, with description of Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) amicitia n. sp. and new data on some Neotropical scolopendromorphs, Zootaxa 5486 (4), pp. 563-599 : 578

Subgenus Trigonocryptops Verhoeff, 1906

Type-species. Cryptops gigas Kraepelin, 1903 (by subsequent designation of Attems (1930).

Diagnosis. Cephalic plate with complete or (more rarely) incomplete paramedian sutures. Clypeus with setose plate(s), which are delimited by sutures ( Fig. 20 , fig. 21 in Schileyko et al. 2018) and bear 2–10 setae. Pretarsus of maxillae 2 apically pointed, with a ventral projection or without it. Dorsal brush of maxilla 2 as long as or slightly longer than the corresponding pretarsus.Anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite bilobed ( Fig. 20 ), in most species with long enlarged marginal setae; tarsungula long, overlapping each other by at least 1/3 of their length when adducted. Tergite 1 mainly with anterior transverse suture, often with (complete or incomplete) paramedian sutures (fig. 20 in Schileyko et al. 2018). Sternites with well-developed transverse thickening between coxae of legs ( Figs 21, 22 ); at least some anterior sternites with endosternites bordered by trigonal sutures of various configurations (K-, C- and X-shaped, Fig. 21 , figs 23–25 in Schileyko et al. 2018). Anterior corners of the endosternite of some anterior sternites with lateral projections (fig. 23 in Schileyko et al. 2018). In the most species katopleure bipartite. In most species femur of the ultimate legs with 1 well-developed saw tooth (in Cryptops (T.) martinicensis Schileyko, Iorio & Coulis 2018 this character may be a subject of intraspecific variability, see below).

Number of species. 30 (29 species according to Schileyko et al. 2020 plus C. (T.) amicitia n.sp.; thus, the corresponding list of Bonato et al. 2016 should be corrected).

Range (after Schileyko et al. 2020: 7, corrected). Europe: Spain; Northern and Central Africa; South East Asia: India (Nagpur), Vietnam; Australasia: West and North East Australia, Sumba, East Timor, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Fiji; Antilles: Cuba, Martinique; South America: Peru, Southeast Brazil, East Argentina.

Remarks. Schileyko and Stoev (2016) regarded the subgeneric status of Trigonocryptops as questionable. They revised the number of species in Trigonocryptops in the former sense, mentioning (p. 267) that “at the moment Trigonocryptops should include 28 species”, thus including in this subgenus all species described under this name. However, providing below the new diagnosis for this subgenus they wrote: ”Thus, we believe that the recent concept of Trigonocryptops must be reconsidered and only species having anterior sternites with complete trigonal sutures and clypeus with setose plate(s) should be assigned to Trigonocryptops ”. However a few former species of Trigonocryptops may not meet one or both of these diagnostic criteria, thus being not related to this subgenus. Summing up, this large and significant taxon has to be revised (preferably using both morphological and molecular methods) and the corresponding species list should be corrected.

Figures

FIGURES 20–25. Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) amicitia n. sp., holotype, 212-P8G (MNHN). 20. Head, ventrally. Scale bar: 0.2 mm. 21. LBS 3–4, ventrally. Scale bar: 0.3 mm. 22. LBS 13–14, ventrally. Scale bar: 0.4 mm. 23. Head + LBS 1, dorsally. Scale bar: 0.4 mm. 24. LBS 20–21, ventrally. Scale bar: 0.2 mm. 25. Right ultimate leg, medially. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.