Scolopendropsis Brandt, 1841
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4825.1.1 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F230F199-1C94-4E2E-9CE4-5F56212C015F |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4455421 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DE092D-FFD7-D72D-FF13-FBD8283BDD5E |
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treatment provided by |
Plazi |
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scientific name |
Scolopendropsis Brandt, 1841 |
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(!) Scolopendropsis Brandt, 1841 View in CoL View at ENA
Figs 42–47 View FIGURES 40–47
Synonyms. Rhoda Meinert, 1886: 188 syn. nov.
Type species. Scolopendra bahiensis Brandt, 1841 (by original designation).
Diagnosis. Cephalic plate considerably narrower than tergite 1 ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 40–47 ), with incomplete (but well-developed) posterior median suture extending for 1/2–3/4 of its length ( Fig. 46 View FIGURES 40–47 , fig. 2 in Schileyko 2006), its posterior margin clearly overlapped by tergite 1. Forcipular tooth-plates well-developed ( Fig. 42 View FIGURES 40–47 ), from visibly shorter to longer than trochantero-prefemoral process. Anterior part of pleuron includes a set of longitudinal pleurites coaxial with body axis (fig. 4 in Schileyko 2006); longitudinal pleurites are numerous and so closely stacked to each other that the intersclerite membrane (= membranous part of pleura) is inconspicuous between them (fig. 12 in Chagas-Jr et al. 2008). Spiracles open laterally, edges of peritrema not curved. Number of LBS either fixed as 21 or variable within a species, when variable either 21–23 (in Scolopendropsis bahiensis ) or 39–43 (in S. duplicata Chagas-Jr, Edgecombe & Minelli, 2008). Leg with tarsus 2 approximately twice as long as tarsus 1 ( Fig. 42 View FIGURES 40–47 ), both tarsal spur and pretarsal accessory spines well-developed; tarsal spurs absent in Rhoda thayeri (= Scolopendropsis thayeri (Meinert, 1886) syn. nov.; see below). Pretarsi with abrupt transition from a pale-coloured proximal third to a strongly pigmented distal two-thirds, the latter has a concave ventral surface bounded laterally by sharp marginal ridges. Ultimate segment ( Figs 47 View FIGURES 40–47 ) considerably (sometimes nearly twice) longer than penultimate ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 40–47 ). Coxopleuron lacking processes, with a spine in its place ( Fig. 43 View FIGURES 40–47 ); ultimate sternite with well-developed median longitudinal sulcus/depression. Ultimate legs truly “pincer-shaped” ( Figs 45, 47 View FIGURES 40–47 ), prefemur with spines; pretarsus elongated (but no longer than ultimate tarsus 2) and falcate, lacking accessory spines.
Number of species. 5.
Sexual dimorphism. Unknown.
Remarks. Treated as a genus (“ Scolopendropsis incl. Rhoda ”) in Edgecombe & Bonato (2011: 399). The most recent morphological accounts on this genus are those by Schileyko (2006) and Chagas-Jr et al. (2008).
Schileyko (2006: 15) noted that such an unusual structure/composition of the pleuron (see above) is “unique among Scolopendromorpha ”; in fact the similar morphology is also observed (at least) in Cormocephalus mediosulcatus Attems, 1928 (see Chagas-Jr et al. 2008: 37) and in Scolopendra afer (Meinert, 1886) . Schileyko (2009: 519) stated that the elongation of the ultimate LBS always correlates with the ‘pincer’-shaped ultimate legs ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 40–47 ) and “Such an enlargement may be due to the presence of enlarged muscles, which are necessary to manipulate these appendages”. It should be noted also that such a structure (with their ventral surface concave) of pretarsi of locomotory legs is very unusual among scolopendromorphs, which normally have these pretarsi round/oval in cross-section.
Schileyko (2006) analyzed in details the closest similarity of Scolopendropsis and Rhoda based on several unique synapomorphies, but kept the latter as an independent genus for “formal reasons alone” ( Schileyko 2006: 16). Subsequent studies of this monophyletic group have confirmed the closest relations between Scolopendropsis and Rhoda (Chagas-Jr et al. 2008), and no diagnostic characters serve to separate them. Taking in consideration these facts we consider Rhoda Meinert, 1886 to be a junior synonym of Scolopendropsis Brandt, 1841 syn. nov.
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