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AnimaliaacceptedsubfamilyAccepted
Scolopendrinae

Scolopendrinae

Leach, 1814

GBIF:177020725

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ABOUT

Descriptions(2)

Diagnosis. Anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite with tooth-plates; forcipular trochantero-prefemur with welldeveloped process. Sternites with well-developed (usually complete in most sternites) paramedian sutures, in most genera without depressions (may be present in the former Asanadini). Elongated spiracles slit-like, triangular in overwhelming majority of species (oval in some Cormocephalus) with well-developed atrium divided by a typical three-valved “ flap ” (Fig. 51, fig. 8 of Waldock & Edgecombe 2012). LBS 7 without spiracles. Legs (Fig. 48) usually with one (leg 1 sometimes with 2, penultimate leg sometimes lacking) tarsal spur (s). These spurs are totally absent in the Cormocephalus - clade (i. e. Cormocephalus + Hemiscolopendra + Akymnopellis + Campylostigmus) and in the genus Asanada the presence of these spurs may even be subject to intraspecific variability (see below). Ultimate legs in most genera of “ common ” shape (Figs 54, 65, 70), more rarely quasi “ pincer-shaped ” (i. e. much shortened and enlarged except for pretarsus, for example in Asanada and the former genus Kanparka, Figs 81 and 57 respectively) or even truly “ pincer-shaped ” (Scolopendropsis and some species of Cormocephalus (Cormocephalus), Figs 45, 64). Ultimate leg prefemur practically always with some chitinized spines (their number may vary considerably; Figs 44, 49, 56, 72) plus corner spine (Figs 54, 57); claw-shaped pretarsus well-developed. Edgecombe & Bonato (2011: 397) also wrote: “ Posteriorly directed spines along plicae of gizzard. ” Number of subtaxa. 11 genera (“ More than 220 species in 12 genera ” sensu Edgecombe & Bonato 2011: 397). Sexual dimorphism. Present in a few species of both Scolopendra and Akymnopellis and, likely, in Tonkinodentus (see below). Range. All tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions.
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): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4825.1.1
Remarks. Treated as a subfamily in Edgecombe & Bonato (2011: 397), Vahtera et al. (2012 a: 4, 2012 b: 238, 2013: 579), Schileyko (2014: 174), Schileyko & Stoev (2016: 252), Schileyko (2018: 69), Schileyko & Solovyeva (2019: 138).
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): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4825.1.1

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CLASSIFICATION

Taxonomic Classification Tree

AnimaliaArthropodaChilopodaScolopendromorphaScolopendridaeScolopendrinae

MULTIMEDIA

Media Files(6)

FIGURES 40–47. Tonkinodentus lestes Schileyko, 1992; Holotype adt Rc 6358 40 forcipular segment ventrally; Sad. Rc 6555 41 ultimate LBS, legs 20 + ultimate legs dorso-laterally; Scolopendropsis duplicata Chagas-Jr, Edgecombe & Minelli, 2008; Paratype IBSP 2392 or MNRJ 15306 (photo by Dr. Amazonas Chagas-Jr) 42 head, forcipular segment + LBS 1–3 ventrally; Holotype MNRJ 15258 43 ultimate LBS ventrally; Paratype IBSP 2392 or MNRJ 15306 (photo by Dr. Amazonas Chagas-Jr) 44 posterior half of ultimate LBS + ultimate legs ventrally; Scolopendropsis bahiensis Brandt, 1841; Live specimen (photo by Dr. Adriano Kury) 45 general view dorsally; Scolopendropsis duplicata Chagas-Jr, Edgecombe & Minelli, 2008 (photos by Dr. Amazonas Chagas-Jr); Paratype IBSP 2392 or MNRJ 15306 46 head + LBS 1 dorsally 47 ultimate LBS + ultimate legs dorsally; (20)—leg 20, (cx)—coxopleuron, (cst)—forcipular coxosternite, (dv)—distoventrolateral process of femur, (lsc)—sternal median longitudinal sulcus, (sl)—cephalic median longitudinal suture, (pf)—ultimate prefemur, (pr)—trochantero-prefemoral process, (sc)—spine at place of coxopleural process, (su)—spines of ultimate prefemur, (T1)—tergite 1, (t1)—tarsus 1, (t2)— tarsus 2, (ti)—tibia, (tp)—forcipular tooth-plate, (ust)—ultimate sternite, (ut)—ultimate tergite.

Imageimage/png© Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.

FIGURES 48–54. Scolopendra mirabilis Porat, 1876 48 Locomotory legs of mid-body LBS laterally; Scolopendra cingulata Latreille, 1829; Ad. Rc 8007) 49 ultimate LBS + prefemora of ultimate legs ventrally; Scolopendra canidens Newport, 1844; Ad. Rc 6222 50 forcipular segment ventrally; Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1815; Ad. Rc 8010 51 left pleura of LBS 14–15 laterally; Ad. Rc 8010 52 head + LBS 1 dorsally; Sad. CDT 53 forcipular segment ventrally; Ad. Rc 8010 54 LBS 21 + ultimate legs dorso-laterally; (20)—leg 20, (ap)—apical spines of coxopleural process, (csp)—corner spine of ultimate prefemur, (cst)— forcipular coxosternite, (cx)—coxopleuron, (im)—intersclerite membrane, (o)—ocelli, (p)—single pleurites, (pr)—trochantero-prefemoral process, (pts)—pretarsus, (s)—spiracle covered by flap, (su)—ventral spines of ultimate prefemur, (T1)—tergite 1, (T15)—tergite 15, (t1)—tarsus 1, (t2)—tarsus 2, (tas)—tarsal spur, (tp)—forcipular tooth-plate, (ust)—ultimate sternite.

Imageimage/png© Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.

FIGURES 55–61. Kanparka (=Scolopendra) leki Waldock & Edgecombe, 2012; WAM T79350 55 head + LBS 1 dorsally; WAM T99422 56 posterior part of LBS 21 + ultimate legs ventrally 57 LBS 21 + left ultimate leg laterally; Arthrorhabdus mjobergi Kraepelin, 1916; Live specimen (photo by Mark A. Newton, corrected; available at https://marknewton.smugmug. com/, https://www.wildsouthaustralia.info/ Centipedes/Arthrorhabdus-spp/i-NkWPntT/A) 58 generalview dorsally; Arthrorhabdus formosus Pocock, 1891; ZMB 4942 59 apical part of maxilla 2 dorsally; 60 forcipular segment ventrally; Cormocephalus (Campylostigmus) orientalis Ribaut, 1923; BMNH 61 forcipular segment ventrally; (as)—accessory spines, (cp)—coxopleural process, (csp)—corner spine of ultimate prefemur, (cx)—coxopleuron, (db)—dorsal brush, (f)—ultimate femur, (mp)—medial spines of coxopleural process, (ms)—medial spines of ultimate prefemur, femur, tibia, (o)—ocelli, (p2)—pretarsus of maxilla 2, (pf)—ultimate prefemur, (pr)—trochantero-prefemoral process, (pts)—not enlarged ultimate pretarsus, (su)—a few ventral spines of ultimate femur and prefemur, (T1)—tergite 1, (t1)—ultimate tarsus 1, (t2)—ultimate tarsus 2, (ti)—ultimate tibia, (tp)—forcipular tooth-plate, (ust)—ultimate sternite.

Imageimage/png© Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.

FIGURES 62–67. Cormocephalus sp.; Sad. Rc 7468 62 head + LBS 1 dorsally 63 head + forcipular segment ventrally; Cormocephalus guildingii Newport, 1845; Holotype MYRI-016-01 OMNH (photo by Dr. Danner J. Mann) 64 LBS 20, 21 and ultimate legs ventrally; Cormocephalus punctatus Porat, 1871; Ad. Rc 7022 65 ultimate legs laterally; Hemiscolopendra marginata (Say, 1821); Sad. Rc 6494 66 LBS 21, prefemur + femur of left ultimate leg and much reduced (regenerated) right ultimate leg ventrally; Hemiscolopendra marginata (Say, 1821); Sad. Rc 6494 67 head + LBS 1–2 dorsally; (20)—leg 20, (as)—accessory spines, (bp)—basal plates, (cp)—coxopleural process, (cx)—coxopleuron, (f)—ultimate femur, (pf)—ultimate prefemur, (pr)—trochantero-prefemoral process, (ps)—cephalic paramedian sutures, (pts)—pretarsus, (sc)—spine at place of coxopleural process, (stc)—sutures of forcipular coxosternite, (T1)—tergite 1, (tp)—forcipular tooth-plate, (ts)—anterior transverse suture of tergite 1, (ust)—ultimate sternite.

Imageimage/png© Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.

FIGURES 68–72. Hemiscolopendra marginata (Say, 1821); Sad. Rc 6494 68 forcipular segment ventrally 69 left coxopleuron and left ultimate leg laterally; Akymnopellis chilensis (Gervais, 1847); Female Rc 7463 70 left side of ultimate LBS and ultimate legs laterally; BMNH, BM 1904.1.0.29.1–3 71 forcipular segment ventrally; Ad. male Rc 8005 72 LBS 21 and prefemora of ultimate legs ventro-laterally; (cp)—coxopleural process, (g)—gonopods, (pf)—normally developed left prefemur, (pr)—trochantero-prefemoral process, (rpf)—abnormally small (regenerated) right prefemur, (tp)—forcipular tooth-plates, (ust)—ultimate sternite.

Imageimage/png© Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.

FIGURES 78–83. Asanada sokotrana Pocock, 1899; BMNH 1934.2.15.151–154 78 LBS 21 ventrally; Asanada indica Jangi & Dass, 1984; Smaller ad. Rc 7484 79 head + LBS 1 dorsally; Asanada brevicornis Meinert, 1886; BMNH 1889.7.15.21–23 80 apical part of maxilla 2 dorso-laterally; Asanada sokotrana Pocock, 1899; BMNH 1899.7.4.85–86 81 LBS 20–21 and ultimate legs dorsally; Otostigmus (O.) multidens Haase, 1887; Ad. Rc 7510 82 right pleuron of LBS 3 laterally; Otostigmus (O.) multidens nordicus Schileyko, 1995; Ad. Rc 6747 83 left side of ultimate LBS + right ultimate leg medially; (an)—antenna, (cx)—coxopleuron, (f)—ultimate femur, (im)—intersclerite membrane, (p2)—pretarsus of maxilla 2, (pf)—ultimate prefemur, (pts)—non enlarged ultimate pretarsus, (s)—open spiracle with atrium, (su)—spines of ultimate prefemur, (T1)—tergite 1, (t1)—tarsus 1, (t2)—tarsus 2, (ti)—tibia, (ust)—ultimate sternite, (ut)—ultimate tergite.

Imageimage/png© Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.Schileyko, Arkady A.;Vahtera, Varpu;Edgecombe, Gregory D.

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Source Information

An overview of the extant genera and subgenera of the order Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda): a new identification key and updated diagnoses

checklist

This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article 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): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4825.1.1

Abstract

The extant genera and subgenera of the order Scolopendromorpha are critically reviewed and provided with updated diagnoses and a new identification key; the most recent revisions of scolopendromorph genera are concisely summarised. Rhoda Meinert, 1886 and Cryptops (Chromatanops) Verhoeff, 1906 are suggested to be a junior synonyms of Scolopendropsis Brandt, 1841 and Cryptops (Cryptops) Leach, 1814, respectively. The subgeneric status is formally fixed for Cryptops (Paracryptops) Pocock, 1891 and Cormocephalus (Campylostigmus) Ribaut, 1923; the taxonomic status of the former genus Kanparka Waldock & Edgecombe, 2012 is discussed. As a result of synonymies, the number of scolopendromorph genera and subgenera is currently 37. The formal status of the former tribes Scolopendrini Leach, 1814, Asanadini Verhoeff, 1907 and Arrhabdotini Attems, 1930 is briefly discussed; the presence of the sexual dimorphism among the taxa of generic level is overviewed.

Schileyko A A, Vahtera V, Edgecombe G D, plazi (2020). An overview of the extant genera and subgenera of the order Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda): a new identification key and updated diagnoses. Plazi.org taxonomic treatments database. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4825.1.1 accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-06-17.

CC0Published 8/10/2020View dataset
GBIF Usage Key
177020725
Dataset Key
5ab5f5c8-481e-4d1a-8643-21e72c367278
Origin
source
Taxon ID
03DE092DFFEBD711FF13FA472C67DDEA.taxon
Last Crawled
6/10/2026
Last Interpreted
6/10/2026
View on GBIFSource Reference