Scolopendra pinguis Pocock, 1891

Siriwut, Warut, Edgecombe, Gregory D., Sutcharit, Chirasak, Tongkerd, Piyoros & Panha, Somsak, 2016, A taxonomic review of the centipede genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 (Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendridae) in mainland Southeast Asia, with description of a new species from Laos, ZooKeys 590, pp. 1-124 : 36-40

Taxon classification Animalia Scolopendromorpha Scolopendridae

Scolopendra pinguis Pocock, 1891 Figs 7 E–F, 25C, 29, 42 A–B, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47

Scolopendra pinguis Pocock, 1891b: 411, 1894: 312, pl. 19, fig. 4. Kraepelin 1903: 249. Attems 1907: 80, 1914a: 106, 1930b: 27. Lewis 2010b: 109.

Type locality.

1,000-2,000 ft., Carin Mountain, Cheba District, Burma [Kayah-Karen Mountains, Myanmar].

Material.

Type material. This species was described based on one specimen and the holotype was probably destroyed. It was collected during a field expedition to Burma (Myanmar) by Leonardo Fea, the assistant zoologist at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, Genova, Italy. In 1891, Pocock published on the myriapods of Burma based on Fea and Oates’s collections. Subsequently most of Oates’s collection was deposited in the NHMUK while Fea’s collection was sent back to Genova. The holotype of Scolopendra pinguis was explicitly identified as part of Fea’s collection (Pocock 1891: 411). In 1970, the basement of the museum in Genova was flooded and parts of the collection were irreparably damaged. The holotype of Scolopendra pinguis cannot presently be found (M. Tavano, written comm., November 2015) and is presumed to have been lost during that flood.

Additional material.

Thailand - CUMZ 00314, one spm., Phamone Cave, Pangmapha, Maehongson (19°30'01.6"N, 98°16'43.5"E). ZMUC 00101107, one spm., Siribhum Waterfall, Chomthong, Chiang Mai (18°32'49"N, 98°30'57"E), 1315 m, leg. C. Sutcharit, 13/10/2009. ZMUC, four specimens, 0-1.400 m, Doi Suthep National Park, leg. Bergit Degerbol, specimen Nos. 1841, 1828, 694 Loc. 3 and 2026. CUMZ 00313, one spm., Ban Pang Pan, Maetaeng, Chiang Mai (19°12'17.4"N, 98°40'00.7"E). CUMZ 00305, one spm., Phusang Waterfall, Phayao (19°37'10.2"N, 100°21'54.7"E). CUMZ 00307, one spm., Hui Nam-Un, Wiangkhum, Nan (18°30'22.8"N, 100°31'49.1"E). CUMZ 00311, one spm., Tat Ton Waterfall, Chaiyaphum (16°01'05.2"N, 102°01'24.4"E). CUMZ 00303, one spm., Wat Tham Lijia, Sangkhlaburi, Kanchanaburi (15°04'12.8"N, 98°33'56.4"E).

Laos - CUMZ 00304, one spm., Wiang Thong Hot Spring, Mueang Ieam, Houaphanh (20°04'45.2"N, 103°44'33.3"E). CUMZ 00310, two spms., Kra Cham Waterfall, Luang Prabang (19°32'27.3"N, 101°59'02.3"E). CUMZ 00306, one spm., Ban Na-Ton, Muang Khun, Xieng Khouang (17°52'31.4"N, 104°51'44.7"E). CUMZ 00309, one spm., Kao Rao Cave, Bo Kaeow (20°41'56.6"N, 101°05'46.8"E).

Diagnosis.

17 antennal articles, 3-4 basal articles glabrous dorsally. Each tooth-plate with 6 teeth. Tergites 3-20 with paramedian sutures. Complete tergite margination from TT16 (18)-21. Tergite of ultimate leg-bearing segment without depression or suture. Paramedian sutures on anterior 10-30% of sternites. Coxopleural process with 3-7 apical + subapical, 1-2 lateral and 0-1 dorsal spines. Ultimate leg prefemora with 6-12 VL, 1-12 VM, 2-3 M, 3-4 DM and prefemoral process with 3-4 spines. One tarsal spur on legs 1-19(20).

Composite description.

Body length up to 85 mm. Darkish blue colouration on entire body. Cephalic plate dichromatic in some populations. Tergites dark blue or nearly black. Cephalic plate with small punctae on anterior part, median sulcus present. Posterior part of cephalic plate without paramedian sulci.

Antenna usually with 17 articles, basal 3-4 subcylindrical and glabrous dorsally (Fig. 46A), 5-5.5 articles glabrous ventrally. Antennae reach segment 4. Forcipular trochanteroprefemoral process bearing denticles in two groups, one apical and 2-3 inner (Fig. 46D). Tooth-plates wider than long or nearly equivalent, with 6 teeth (Fig. 43C). Tooth-plate with straight, transverse basal suture. Coxosternite smooth, without median suture (Figs 44B, 44D and 46B). Article 2 of second maxillary telopodite with spur.

Anterior margin of T1 underlying cephalic plate (Figs 43A, 44A). Complete paramedian sutures from T3; margination typically from TT16-18 (atypically, only on ter gite of ultimate leg-bearing segment in one specimen: CUMZ 00311). Tergite surface (Figs 43B, 46C) smooth, without median sulci. Tergite of ultimate leg-bearing segment (Figs 45B, 46E) curved and acute posteriorly, without median furrow or depression; ratio of width: length of tergite of ultimate leg-bearing segment 0.82:1. Anterior part of sternites (Figs 44C, 45A, 47A) with short paramedian sutures reaching approximately 20-30% length of sternite (atypically to 60%). Surface of sternites smooth. Sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment (Fig. 45 D–E) with sides converging posteriorly; without depression. Pore-field on coxopleuron reaching to margin of tergite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, dorsal margin of pore field sinuous (Figs 45C, 47C).

Coxopleural process moderately long or short with 3 apical, 0-3 subapical, 0-1 dorsal and 1 lateral spine(s). Pore-free area extending 30-45% length from distal part of coxopleural process to margin of sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment (Figs 45 D–E, 47D).

All legs with small setae on tarsus 2. Tibial spur absent on all legs. One tarsal spur on legs 1-19(20). Ultimate legs: thick and moderately long (Fig. 47D), with ratios of lengths of prefemur and femur 1.3:1, femur and tibia 1:1; tibia and tarsus 2 1.2:1; tarsus 1 and tarsus 2 2.2:1. Prefemora and femora flattened posteriorly, with robust or acute blackish prefemoral spines. Prefemoral spines (Figs 45 F–G, 47B, 47D): 6-12 VL, 1-12 VM, 2-3 M, 3-4 DM, prefemoral process with 3-4(7) spines. Posterior margin of prefemur with short median groove

Genital segments well developed, reaching longer than distance between posterior margin of sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment and distal part of coxopleural process. Sternite of genital segment 1 round and convex posteriorly, with median suture (Fig. 25C). Gonopod present in male (Figs 7E, 25C). Lamina subanalis situated between genitalia and anal valve; lamina analis between anal valve and tergite of genital segment (Fig. 7F). In male, tergite and sternite of genital segment and gonopods with small setae.

Colouration. According to Siriwut et al. (2015a), Scolopendra pinguis exhibits four colour morphs which can classified as either monochromatic or dichromatic (Fig. 42 A–B). All of these patterns are specific to populations, with no mixing or sympatry found in our surveys. The full description of each colour morph is given below:

Colour morph 1A: Monochromatic, all segments including cephalic plate dark blue. Antenna dark blue on basal part, light blue on distal part. Pleuron with pale blue integument, all pleurites black. All legs blue, legs 19-21 dark blue. This morph has been found only in Thailand.

Colour morph 1B: Monochromatic, all segments including cephalic plate dark blue. Antenna dark blue on basal part, light blue on distal part. Pleuron with pale blue integument, all pleurites black. Most legs yellowish on prefemur, other podomeres dark blue with yellowish band bordering articulations; last three legs dark blue or black. This morph has been found only in Thailand.

Colour morph 2A: Dichromatic, cephalic plate dark blue on anterior part, yellowish on posterior part and T1. Antenna dark blue on basal part, light blue on distal part. Pleuron with pale blue integument, all pleurites black. All legs dark blue or black. This morph has been found both in Thailand and North-Central Laos.

Colour morph 2B: Dichromatic, cephalic plate dark blue on anterior part, yellowish on posterior part and T1. Antenna dark blue on basal part, light blue on distal part. Pleuron with pale blue integument, all pleurites black. All legs yellowish on prefemur, other podomeres light blue with yellowish band bordering articulations. This morph has been found both in Thailand and North-Central Laos.

Discussion. Scolopendra pinguis has not been revised since Pocock (1891) described the holotype from Burma. Two additional records from Batavia-Buitenzorg (Bogor, Java) expanded its geographical distribution across Southeast Asia ( Pocock 1894). Kraepelin (1903) confirmed additional material from Buitenzorg; Bogor, Java. Attems’ (1930b) monograph followed Kraepelin’s description and argued that this species is similar to another Javan species, Scolopendra gracillima . This argument has been followed in several subsequent taxonomic reviews ( Schileyko 1995, 2007, Lewis 2010b). Comparative taxonomic characters of these two species (Table 9) can, in the present state of knowledge, be used to defend species validity until further data (e.g., molecular data for both species from Java) can be considered. Another related species from northwestern India, Scolopendra ellorensis Jangi & Dass, 1984, was also noted to be morphologically similar to Scolopendra pinguis . However, this Indian species was decribed from one juvenile specimen (31 mm) that might not permit confident comparison ( Lewis 2010b). Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Scolopendra pinguis revealed a high level of genetic divergence among populations that might suggest regional endemism and the possibility of cryptic species. The latter would be consistent with the marked degree of colour polymorphism noted above.

Distribution.

A native species in Southeast Asia, distributed along the montane ranges between the Thailand-Burma borders (Fig. 29). The updated distribution of Scolopendra pinguis is as follows: Southeast Asia: Myanmar (type locality), Thailand (Kanchanaburi, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Chiyaphume and Loei), Laos (Bo Kaew, Luang Prabang, Vientien and Houaphanh) and Indonesia (Batavia, Buitenzorg [Bogor], Java).