An overview of the extant genera and subgenera of the order Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda): a new identification key and updated diagnoses
Author
Schileyko, Arkady A.
schileyko1965@gmail.com
Author
Vahtera, Varpu
varpu.vahtera@gmail.com
Author
Edgecombe, Gregory D.
0000-0002-9591-8011
schileyko1965@gmail.com
text
Zootaxa
2020
2020-08-10
4825
1
1
64
journal article
8703
10.11646/zootaxa.4825.1.1
5ab5f5c8-481e-4d1a-8643-21e72c367278
1175-5326
4402145
F230F199-1C94-4E2E-9CE4-5F56212C015F
Family
Plutoniumidae Bollman, 1893
Synonyms. Theatopidae Verhoeff, 1906;
Theatopinae Verhoeff, 1906
; Theatopsidae Verhoeff, 1907.
Diagnosis.
Eyes absent, light/depigmented spots at their place (
Fig. 34
). Labrum with a single median tooth. Slender pretarsus of maxillae 2 (
Fig. 35
) not pectinate, consisting of two well-distinguishable parts (darker basal and a semi-transparent apical ones), curved and pointed apically. Pretarsus (at least in
Theatops
) is accompanied by welldeveloped ventral projection (
Fig. 35
) which is of the same shape as pretarsus but visibly thinner and shorter (sometimes nearly as long as it; see below); it is never accompanied by accessory spine(s). Anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite with well-developed tooth-plates (
Fig. 36
), forcipular trochantero-prefemur with simple processes of various length. Sternites with a single longitudinal median suture, developed to varying degrees (hardly visible in some
Theatops
). 21 LBS; spiracles (figs 1AB in
Vahtera
et al
. 2012b
) on LBS 2–20 or on macrosegments only (if so LBS 7 with or without spiracles). Ultimate LBS considerably elongated with ultimate tergite nearly twice as long the penultimate one. Coxopleuron virtually without process (
Fig. 37
), sometimes with a single spine at its place. Tarsus of legs 1–19 monopartite; legs with two tibial spurs and one tarsal spur. Ultimate legs forcipulate (
Figs 33, 37
), swollen, strongly sclerotized, truly “pincer-shaped” (sensu
Schileyko 2009
) with all articles much shortened and enlarged, excluding falcate pretarsus which is considerably elongated being at least as long as corresponding tarsus 2 (or much longer; see below). Dorsal and medial surface of both prefemur and femur flat, these articles with or without (
Fig. 37
) ventral spines.
Edgecombe & Bonato (2011: 395)
also wrote: “Poison calyx extending into the forcipular coxosternite… Gizzard with stiff anteriorly/directed projections; projections evenly curved, covered by multifurcating scales that spirally encircle the projection, branching into slender, needle-like spines”.
Number of subtaxa.
2 genera.
Sexual dimorphism.
Unknown.
Range.
Southern Europe
(
Southern Iberian Peninsula
,
Southern Italian Peninsula
, Balkan Peninsula, Sardinia, Sicily); South-West, East and South-East of
USA
,
Northern Mexico
; Central
China
(
Sichuan
,
Hunan
,
Gansu
)
.
Remarks.
Treated as a family in
Edgecombe & Bonato (2011: 395)
,
Edgecombe
et al.
(2012: 770)
,
Vahtera
et al.
(2012a: 9
,
2012b: 229
,
2013: 580
),
Bonato
et al.
(2017: 2)
.