Kethopinae Shelley, 2002

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), pp. 1-64 : 10-11

Subfamily Kethopinae Shelley, 2002

Diagnosis. Antenna with normal trichoid sensilla, lacking collared sensilla. Anterior margin of forcipular trochantero-prefemur weakly sclerotized, without processes. LBS 7 without spiracles. Coxopleuron with a relatively short conical process. Ultimate legs cryptopiform sensu Crabill (1960) (in shape of a “pocket knife” sensu Schileyko 2009) i.e. shortened tibia and tarsus 1 with characteristic saw teeth, both these podomeres capable of flexure against each other and tarsus 2 forming a kind of clasping apparatus ( Figs 11, 12 ). According to Lewis (2016b) at least ultimate tibia and tarsus 1 (in two of three species prefemur and femur as well) bear numerous, small and strongly curved spinous processes ( Fig. 12 ) which are similar (and, apparently, homologous) to the typical cryptopid-type saw teeth of tibia and tarsus 1. Ultimate pretarsus claw-shaped.

Number of subtaxa. 2 genera.

Sexual dimorphism. Unknown.

Range. Central California, Northern Utah, Northern and Southern New Mexico (all USA) .

Remarks. Treated as a subfamily in Edgecombe & Bonato (2011: 405), Vahtera et al. (2013: 595), Lewis (2016b: 26). Edgecombe & Bonato (2011: 405) erroneously stated that the ultimate prefemur in Kethopinae is “unarmed” (i.e. bears no spinous processes), but saw teeth are borne on the prefemur of both Kethops utahensis (Chamberlin, 1909) and Thalkethops grallatrix Crabill, 1960 . The most recent account on this subfamily was given by Lewis (2016b: 26–28) who overviewed the scant available literature and wrote on page 28 that apart from Chamberlin’s (1912) “puzzling” drawing ( Fig. 11 ), the only figures of the ultimate legs of Kethopinae are Crabill’s (1958, 1960) figures of the tibia and tarsus 1 and 2 ( Fig. 12 ). In fact, the real structure (and spinulation) of both the ultimate prefemur and femur of Kethopinae is ambiguous as there are no drawings of the ultimate legs among scant and schematic figures of Shelley (2002: 78). In 2008 the third author studied one of Chamberlin’s specimens of K. utahensis , lacking the ultimate legs, from which novel anatomical details were depicted by SEM ( Fig. 13 , fig. 1AB in Edgecombe & Koch 2009, figs 2B, 6C in Koch et al. 2010).

(!) Kethops Chamberlin, 1912

Figs 11, 13

Type species. Newportia utahensis Chamberlin, 1909 (by original designation).

Diagnosis. Sternites distinctly margined by lateral longitudinal sutures, with both median and transverse sutures.

Number of species. 2.

Remarks. Treated as a genus in Edgecombe & Bonato (2011: 405), Bonato et al. (2016), Lewis (2016b: 26). Chamberlin (1912: 156) wrote that sternites are with “Usually two[!] or more weaker and more indefinite transverse sulci”; his corresponding fig. 5 also demonstrates not one but two transverse sutures, which is very unusual for scolopendromorphs.

Figures

FIGURES 7–13. Scolopocryptops melanostoma Newport, 1845; Ad. Rc 7172 7 LBS 23 and ultimate legs, laterally; Ad. Rc 7503 8 anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite + maxillae 2, ventrally; Scolopocryptops ferrugineus (L., 1767); Peru specimen from Markus Koch collection 9 forcipular segment ventrally; Scolopocryptops miersii Newport, 1845; BMNH, BM 1889.4.13.3–5 10 apical part of maxilla 2 laterally; Kethops utahensis (Chamberlin, 1909) 11 figures 4–6 of Chamberlin (1912); Thalkethops grallatrix Crabill, 1960 12 figure 15 of Crabill (1960); Kethops utahensis (Chamberlin, 1909); USNM Mill Creek (Utah) specimen 13 apical part of maxilla 2 ventro-laterally; (20)—leg 20, (am)—anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite, (cp)—coxopleural process, (cst)—forcipular coxosternite, (dms)—dorso-medial spinous process of ultimate prefemur, (p2)— pretarsus of maxilla 2, (pa)—short projection of anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite, (pf)—prefemur, (pla)—pretarsal lamellae, (pt)—process of forcipular trochantero-prefemur, (rl)—right[?] ultimate leg, (S)—? sternite, (st)—saw teeth-like small spinous processes, (t1)—ultimate tarsus 1, (t2)—ultimate tarsus 2, (ti)— ultimate tibia, (us)—ultimate LBS, (ust)—ultimate sternite, (vsp)—ventral spinous process of ultimate prefemur.