Geophilomorph centipedes in the Mediterranean region: revisiting taxonomy opens new evolutionary vistas
Geophilomorph centipedes (Geophilomorpha) are represented in the Mediterranean region by almost 200 species, 77 % of which are exclusive. Taxonomy and nomenclature are still inadequate, but recent investigations are contributing to a better understanding of the evolutionary differentiation of this...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung
2009-12-01
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| Series: | Soil Organisms |
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| Online Access: | https://soil-organisms.org/index.php/SO/article/view/204 |
| _version_ | 1797322692516380672 |
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| author | Lucio Bonato Alessandro Minelli |
| author_facet | Lucio Bonato Alessandro Minelli |
| author_sort | Lucio Bonato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Geophilomorph centipedes (Geophilomorpha) are represented in the Mediterranean region by almost 200 species, 77 % of which are exclusive. Taxonomy and nomenclature are still inadequate, but recent investigations are contributing to a better understanding of the evolutionary differentiation of this group in the region. Since 2000, identity has been clarified for ca. 40 nominal taxa, and unexpected evidence has emerged for the existence of three well-distinct lineages that had remained unrecognised before. Of these, Eurygeophilus has evolved an unusually stout body and needle-like forcipules, and the vicariant pattern of its two species is peculiar in encompassing both the Pyrenees and the Corsica-Sardinia microplate; Diphyonyx has evolved unusually pincer-like leg claws, convergent to those originated independently in two different unrelated geophilomorph lineages; Stenotaenia has maintained a very uniform gross morphology, while differentiating widely in body size and number of trunk segments. The fauna of the Mediterranean region is representative of most major lineages of the Geophilomorpha, and the almost exclusive Dignathodontidae exhibit a remarkable morpho-ecological radiation in the region. Essential to a better understanding of the regional evolutionary history of these centipedes will be assessing the actual species diversity within many of the already recognised lineages, and reviewing in a phylogenetic perspective the nominal taxa currently referred to the composite genera Geophilus and Schendyla.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T05:17:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-571a9ceac209427984e461aa04c0199a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1864-6417 2509-9523 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T05:17:58Z |
| publishDate | 2009-12-01 |
| publisher | Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Soil Organisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-571a9ceac209427984e461aa04c0199a2024-02-06T15:46:03ZengSenckenberg Gesellschaft für NaturforschungSoil Organisms1864-64172509-95232009-12-01813Geophilomorph centipedes in the Mediterranean region: revisiting taxonomy opens new evolutionary vistasLucio Bonato0Alessandro Minelli1Università di PadovaUniversità di Padova Geophilomorph centipedes (Geophilomorpha) are represented in the Mediterranean region by almost 200 species, 77 % of which are exclusive. Taxonomy and nomenclature are still inadequate, but recent investigations are contributing to a better understanding of the evolutionary differentiation of this group in the region. Since 2000, identity has been clarified for ca. 40 nominal taxa, and unexpected evidence has emerged for the existence of three well-distinct lineages that had remained unrecognised before. Of these, Eurygeophilus has evolved an unusually stout body and needle-like forcipules, and the vicariant pattern of its two species is peculiar in encompassing both the Pyrenees and the Corsica-Sardinia microplate; Diphyonyx has evolved unusually pincer-like leg claws, convergent to those originated independently in two different unrelated geophilomorph lineages; Stenotaenia has maintained a very uniform gross morphology, while differentiating widely in body size and number of trunk segments. The fauna of the Mediterranean region is representative of most major lineages of the Geophilomorpha, and the almost exclusive Dignathodontidae exhibit a remarkable morpho-ecological radiation in the region. Essential to a better understanding of the regional evolutionary history of these centipedes will be assessing the actual species diversity within many of the already recognised lineages, and reviewing in a phylogenetic perspective the nominal taxa currently referred to the composite genera Geophilus and Schendyla. https://soil-organisms.org/index.php/SO/article/view/204Geophilomorphadiversityfaunal compositionmorphological evolutiontaxonomic revision |
| spellingShingle | Lucio Bonato Alessandro Minelli Geophilomorph centipedes in the Mediterranean region: revisiting taxonomy opens new evolutionary vistas Soil Organisms Geophilomorpha diversity faunal composition morphological evolution taxonomic revision |
| title | Geophilomorph centipedes in the Mediterranean region: revisiting taxonomy opens new evolutionary vistas |
| title_full | Geophilomorph centipedes in the Mediterranean region: revisiting taxonomy opens new evolutionary vistas |
| title_fullStr | Geophilomorph centipedes in the Mediterranean region: revisiting taxonomy opens new evolutionary vistas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geophilomorph centipedes in the Mediterranean region: revisiting taxonomy opens new evolutionary vistas |
| title_short | Geophilomorph centipedes in the Mediterranean region: revisiting taxonomy opens new evolutionary vistas |
| title_sort | geophilomorph centipedes in the mediterranean region revisiting taxonomy opens new evolutionary vistas |
| topic | Geophilomorpha diversity faunal composition morphological evolution taxonomic revision |
| url | https://soil-organisms.org/index.php/SO/article/view/204 |
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