Donatella Foddai

Phylogeny and systematics of the Arrupinae (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha Mecistocephalidae) with the description of a new dwarfed species

We performed a cladistic analysis of the subfamily Arrupinae, based on morphological data (23 characters) from all the 16 species we recognize in the group. Based on this analysis, the following taxonomic and nomenclatural novelties are introduced: Nannarrup hoffmani n. g. n. sp. is described from introduced specimens of unknown origin found living in New York, USA; Agnostrup n. g. (type species Krateraspis striganovae Titova, 1975) is created to include A. striatus (Takakuwa, 1949) (from Taiwanella), A. paucipes (Miyosi, 1955) (from Taiwanella) and A. striganovae (Titova, 1975) (from Krateraspis), all new combinations; Nodocephalus areolatus Shinohara, 1957, N. asiaticus Titova, 1975 and Prolamnonyx mamaevi Titova, 1975 are moved to the genus Arrup (three more new combinations); Partygarrupius Verhoeff, 1939, formerly a subgenus of Tygarrup Chamberlin, 1914, is raised to the status of genus. The peculiar morphology of Nannarrup hoffmani is analysed as a possible instance of miniaturization.

Increase by duplication and loss of invariance of segment number in the centipede Mecistocephalus microporus (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha, Mecistocephalidae)

Abstract Intraspecific variability in the number of trunk segments is demonstrated for the first time in a representative of the Mecistocephalidae, a basal clade within the geophilomorph centipedes. This destabilization of an otherwise species‐constant segment number is interpreted as a result of the recent quasi‐duplication of segments shown by Mecistocephalus microporus Haase, 1887, with respect to its most recent ancestor. The new finding fits well with a recently proposed biphasic model of centipede segmentation. The species is redescribed and two new synonymies are proposed: Megethmus Cook, 1895 as junior synonym of Mecistocephalus Newport, 1843 and Megethmus pluripes Chamberlin, 1920 as a junior synonym of Mecistocephalus microporus Haase, 1887.

On the true identity of Schendylurus (Schendylotyn) integer Chamberlin, 1926, a termitophilous ballophilid centipede (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha)

Schendylurus (Schendylotyn) integer Chamberlin, 1926, originally described as a member of the Schendylidae, is transferred here to the Ballophilidae as Taeniolinum integer n. comb. and redescribed after the type specimen. Taeniolinum setosum guadeloupensis Demange and Pereira, 1985 is elevated to specific rank.

A New Brazilian Schendylid Centipede (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha) with Unusually Structured Antennae

In Schendylops schubarti n. sp. from Brazil: Pernambuco: Tupi the fourth antennal article is charac- terised by unusual chaetotaxy and by elongation. Oddly, the more proximal as well as the more distal articles are not modified. This morphological condition is quite rare in arthropods and thus far unique in centipedes.

Pectiniunguis roigi n. sp., from the Amazonian Rainforest of Ecuador (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Schendylidae)

Pectiniunguis roigi n. sp. (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Schendylidae) is described from Ecuador (Napo: Limoncocha). The new species seems to be closely related to Pectiniunguis ducalis Pereira, Minelli & Barbieri, 1995, Pectiniunguis gaigei (Chamberlin, 1921) and Pectiniunguis geayi (Brölemann & Ribaut, 1911). Additional data complementing Brölemanns (1900) original description are provided for the ? holotype of Pectiniunguis chazaliei (Brölemann, 1900).