Mecistocephalus mater is a species of centipede in the Mecistocephalidae family. It is endemic to Australia, and was first described in 1925 by German myriapodologist Karl Wilhelm Verhoeff.[1][2]

Mecistocephalus mater
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Mecistocephalidae
Genus: Mecistocephalus
Species:
M. mater
Binomial name
Mecistocephalus mater
(Verhoeff, 1925)[1]
Synonyms
  • Lamnonyx mater Verhoeff, 1925

Description

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The original description of this species is based on a female specimen measuring 60 mm in length.[1] This species has 49 pairs of legs.[3]

Distribution

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The species occurs in coastal north-eastern Queensland.[4][1] The type locality is Cedar Creek, on the Atherton Tableland.[2]

Behaviour

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The centipedes are solitary terrestrial predators that inhabit plant litter and soil.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Verhoeff, KW (1925). "Results of Dr. E. Mjöberg's Swedish Scientific Expeditions to Australia 1910-1913. 39. Chilopoda". Arkiv för Zoologi. 17A (3): 1–62 [47].
  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 3 March 2023.
  3. ^ Attems, Carl (1929). Lfg. 52 Myriapoda, 1: Geophilomorpha (in German). De Gruyter. p. 140. doi:10.1515/9783111430638. ISBN 978-3-11-143063-8.
  4. ^ a b "Species Mecistocephalus mater (Verhoeff, 1925)". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2023.