Geophilus mordax, also called the pitted soil centipede,[2] is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in North America,[3] especially Indiana, Arkansas, Louisiana, North and South Carolina, and Florida. It grows up to 50 millimeters in length, though it averages 25–40, has 49–53 leg pairs in males and 49–57 in females, and is bright red in color. G. mordax also bears 3–5 labral teeth, a short and robust apical claw of the second maxillae, an exposed prebasal plate, and a large, consolidated sacculi.[4]
| Geophilus mordax | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Chilopoda |
| Order: | Geophilomorpha |
| Family: | Geophilidae |
| Genus: | Geophilus |
| Species: | G. mordax
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| Binomial name | |
| Geophilus mordax Meinert, 1886
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Taxonomy
editG. mordax is often confused with G. ampyx, though it can be differentiated by the presence of a sacculus or pit on each sternite. It is polymorphic and may comprise two separate subspecies, one with lateral coxo-pleural pores on the ultimate legs (G. virginiensis) and the other without (G. louisianae[5] or G. atopleurus). The latter form sometimes bears a "chitinous thickening" on the postero-ventral surface of the coxopleuron, possibly from closed or vestigial pores.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Geophilus mordax Meinert, 1886". ChiloBase 2.0. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Species Geophilus mordax - Pitted Soil Centipede". BugGuide. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ^ "Geophilus mordax Meinert, 1886". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ a b Crabill, Ralph E. (1954). "A conspectus of the northeastern North American species of Geophilus (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha Geophilidae)". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 56: 172–188. Retrieved 5 November 2021 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ DeSisto, Joseph (2014). "A First Survey of the Centipedes of Great Smoky Mountains National Park". Holster Scholar Projects. 16: 5. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
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