Maoriella is a genus of centipedes in the family Geophilidae. It was described by Austrian myriapodologist Carl Attems in 1903.[1][2] Species in this genus are found in New Zealand, Australia, and Tahiti.[3]

Maoriella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Geophilidae
Genus: Maoriella
Attems, 1903[1]
Type species
Maoriella aucklandica
Attems, 1903
Synonyms
  • Mesoleptodon Chamberlin, 1920
  • Novaralius Attems, 1947
  • Philogeonus Chamberlin, 1920

Description

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The head and forcipules in this genus are very elongate, the coxosternite of the second maxillae is divided mid-longitudinally without sclerotized ridges, and the sternal pores are arranged in two pairs of groups. Centipedes in this genus range from about 3 cm to 9 cm in length and have 41 to 91 pairs of legs.[3] The large species Maoriella aucklandica can reach 90 mm in length and can have as many as 91 leg pairs, the maximum number in this genus.[4] The small species M. zelanica measures 28 mm in length[5] and can have as few as 41 leg pairs, the minimum number in this genus.[6]

Species

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There are six valid species:[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Attems, C (1903). "Synopsis der Geophiliden". Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abteilung für Systematik. 18: 155–302 [283].
  2. ^ a b Bonato L.; Chagas Junior A.; Edgecombe G.D.; Lewis J.G.E.; Minelli A.; Pereira L.A.; Shelley R.M.; Stoev P.; Zapparoli M. (2016). "ChiloBase 2.0". A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda). Rosario Dioguardi and Giuseppe Cortese, University of Padua. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b Bonato, Lucio; Edgecombe, Gregory D.; Zapparoli, Marzio (2011). "Chilopoda – Taxonomic overview". In Minelli, Alessandro (ed.). The Myriapoda. Volume 1. Leiden: Brill. pp. 363–443. ISBN 978-90-04-18826-6. OCLC 812207443.
  4. ^ Attems, Carl (1929). Lfg. 52 Myriapoda, 1: Geophilomorpha (in German). De Gruyter. p. 279. doi:10.1515/9783111430638. ISBN 978-3-11-143063-8.
  5. ^ Chamberlin, Ralph V. (1920). "The Myriopoda of the Australian region". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 64: 1-269 [48-49] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  6. ^ Crabill, R.E. (1964). "A preliminary review of Maoriella with description of a new species from the Chatham Islands (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Chilenophilidae)". Entomological News. 75 (4): 85-97 [89, 93] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.