Scolopendridae Leach, 1814

Schileyko, Arkady A., Vahtera, Varpu & Edgecombe, Gregory D., 2020, An overview of the extant genera and subgenera of the order Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda): a new identification key and updated diagnoses, Zootaxa 4825 (1), pp. 1-64 : 26

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4825.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F230F199-1C94-4E2E-9CE4-5F56212C015F
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4402203
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DE092D-FFEB-D713-FF13-FE8F2E2AD94A
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Scolopendridae Leach, 1814
status

Treatment

Family Scolopendridae Leach, 1814 View in CoL View at ENA

Diagnosis. Four ocelli ( Fig. 52 View FIGURES 48–54 ) form a “rhomboid cluster” (the only blind exceptions—the genus Tonkinodentus and a clade of Western Australian Cormocephalus species; see below). Labrum with a single median tooth (fig. 7 of Waldock & Edgecombe 2012). Pretarsus of maxillae 2 not pectinate, robust and straight ( Figs 59 View FIGURES 55–61 , 74 View FIGURES 73–77 , 80 View FIGURES 78–83 ), accompanied by 2 (more rarely by 0 or 1) accessory spine(s). Anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite ( Figs 40, 42 View FIGURES 40–47 , 50 View FIGURES 48–54 , 86 View FIGURES 84–88 ) with tooth-plates (except for the monotypic genus Edentistoma ; Fig. 114 View FIGURES 113–118 ). Forcipular trochantero-prefemur practically always with well-developed process, the latter may be simple or furnished by 1–3 lateral tubercles. Sternites in most genera with longitudinal paramedian sutures. 21 LBS (21, 23, 39, 43 in Scolopendropsis only); spiracles on macrosegments, LBS 7 with or without spiracles. Ultimate LBS ( Fig. 38 View FIGURES 33–39 ) generally considerably shorter than the penultimate one (except for Scolopendropsis , Fig. 45 View FIGURES 40–47 ). Tarsus of locomotory legs with two articles; legs with or without 1 or 2 tibial spurs and 1 tarsal spur. Coxopleuron usually with process ( Fig. 49 View FIGURES 48–54 ). Ultimate legs in most genera and species of “common” shape, rarely “pincer-shaped” or “leaf-shaped” (sensu Schileyko 2009). Prefemur of the ultimate legs without spinous processes but generally with varying number (2–20) of strongly chitinized spines, that are usually small ( Figs 44 View FIGURES 40–47 , 49 View FIGURES 48–54 , 66 View FIGURES 62–67 , 70 View FIGURES 68–72 , 83 View FIGURES 78–83 ) but rarely much enlarged, for example in Kanparka (= Scolopendra ) ( Fig. 56 View FIGURES 55–61 ) or a few forms of Ethmostigmus Pocock, 1898 ( Fig. 105 View FIGURES 102–107 , figs 36, 39 in Schileyko & Stoev 2016). Edgecombe & Bonato (2011: 395) also wrote: “Labral bristle field completely covering distal sclerotisation of epipharynx (except Notiasemus ; [no data on Tonkinodentus ]); elongate, figure eight shaped groups of two smooth depressions surrounding each sensillum on clypeal part or epipharynx. Tufts of bristles on lateral flaps of hypopharynx form a continuous field with identical bristles medially… Poison calyx extending at least as far as proximal part of forcipular trochantero-prefemur… Spermatophore with a ventral invagination.”

Number of subtaxa. 2 subfamilies, 19 genera (“More than 400 species in 21 genera” sensu Edgecombe & Bonato 2011: 397).

Sexual dimorphism. Present rarely.

Range. All tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions.

Remarks. Treated as a family in Edgecombe & Bonato (2011: 395), Kronmüller (2012: 19), Edgecombe et al. (2012: 770), Vahtera et al. (2012a: 4, 2012b: 235, 2013: 578), Schileyko (2014: 174), Schileyko & Stoev (2016: 252), Schileyko (2018: 69), Schileyko & Solovyeva (2019: 138).