Geophilomorpha

Chipman, Ariel D., Dor, Neta & Bonato, Lucio, 2013, Diversity and biogeography of Israeli geophilomorph centipedes (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha), Zootaxa 3652 (2), pp. 232-248 : 244-245

Key to the species of Geophilomorpha in Israel

1. Head more than 1.3 times longer than wide. Forcipular coxosternite with coxopleural sutures running along the sides, approximately subparallel, in their anterior half. Forcipular trochanteroprefemur with a distal denticle. Each coxopleuron with many separate pores, more than a dozen in adults, scattered on most part of the ventral side............................... 2

- Head less than 1.3 times longer than wide. Forcipular coxosternite with coxopleural sutures running fully on the ventral sides, distinctly diverging forwards also in their anterior half. Forcipular trochanteroprefemur without denticles. Each coxopleuron without separate pores scattered on most part of the ventral side, or with less than a dozen separate pores................. 3

2. Forcipular coxosternite more than 1.2 times as long as wide. No chitin-lines. Invariantly 51 pairs of legs in all specimens. Forcipular trochanteroprefemur with a distinct intermediate denticle in addition to the distal one. Forcipular tarsungulum without a distinct basal denticle. No ventral pore-fields along the trunk. A distinct mid-longitudinal sulcus, dividing anteriorly into two branches, on the metasternites of the anterior part of the trunk. Metasternite of the ultimate leg-bearing segment subtriangular, the posterior margin distinctly rounded. Legs of the ultimate pair without pretarsus. Female gonopods in adults two distinct appendages composed of two articles................................................ Mecistocephalus evansi

- Forcipular coxosternite as long as wide or wider than long. Chitin-lines present, even though incomplete. Number of legs variable between specimens. Forcipular trochanteroprefemur without an additional intermediate denticle other than the distal one. Forcipular tarsungulum with a distinct basal denticle. Ventral pore-fields present along the trunk. Metasternites of the anterior part of the trunk without a distinct mid-longitudinal sulcus. Metasternite of the ultimate leg-bearing segment subtrapezoidal, the posterior margin distinctly almost straight. Legs of the ultimate pair with a claw-like pretarsus. Female gonopods in adults an entire short lamina.............................................................. Pachymerium ferrugineum

3 Lateral margins of the forcipular tergite distinctly converging forwards for most part of their length. Ventrally exposed surface of the forcipular coxosternite less than 1.8 times as wide as long................................................. 4

- Lateral margins of the forcipular tergite converging forwards only for the anterior third of their length. Ventrally exposed surface of the forcipular coxosternite more than 1.8 times as wide as long........................................... 12

4 Anterior margin of the forcipular coxosternite with a pair of distinct, sclerotized denticles. Each coxopleuron in the adults with 3–4 ventral pit/s where multiple coxal organs open............................................................ 5

- Anterior margin of the forcipular coxosternite without distinct, sclerotized denticles. Each coxopleuron in the adults with 0–2 ventral pits where multiple coxal organs open................................................................ 6

5. Anterior denticles of the forcipular coxosternite usually distinctly wider than long. The largest sternal pore-fields on the posterior leg-bearing segments extending forward to reach or even extending beyond the mid-length of the metasternites. No coxal pores isolated from the pits............................................................ Clinopodes escherichii

- Anterior denticles of the forcipular coxosternite usually as long as wide or only slightly wider than long. The sternal porefields on the posterior leg-bearing segments limited to 1/3 of the length of the metasternites. One coxal pore on each coxopleuron, isolated from the pits................................................................ Clinopodes verhoeffi

6. Forcipular coxosternite with chitin-lines complete, reaching anteriorly the condyles between coxosternite and trochanteroprefemora. Forcipular trochanteroprefemur more than 1.2 times wider than long.................................... 7

- Forcipular coxosternite without chitin-lines or with chitin-lines fading anteriorly lateral to the condyles between coxosternite and trochanteroprefemora. Forcipular trochanteroprefemur more than 1.2 times wider than long. Forcipular trochanteroprefemur less than 1.2 times wider than long..................................................................... 9

7. Less than 55 pairs of legs on average...................................................... Stenotaenia fimbriata

- More than 55 pairs of legs on average..................................................................... 8

8. More than 75 pairs of legs on average........................................................ Stenotaenia naxia

- Less than 75 pairs of legs on average..................................................... Stenotaenia palaestina

9. Pretarsus of second maxillae with flattened tip. Forcipular coxosternite without chitin-lines. Metasternites of the anterior part of trunk without carpophagus pit, and with longitudinally elongate pore-field. Each coxopleuron with 2 ventral coxal pores. Legs of the ultimate pair without pretarsus. Female gonopods in adults two distinct appendages...................... 10

- Pretarsus of second maxillae with sub-conic, tapering tip. Forcipular coxosternite with chitin-lines. Metasternites of the anterior part of trunk with carpophagus pit, and with transversally elongate pore-field. Each coxopleuron with more than 5 ventral coxal pores in the adults. Legs of the ultimate pair with claw-like pretarsus. Female gonopods in adults an entire short lamina...................................................................................................11

10. Less than 50 pairs of legs on average........................................................... Schendyla sp.

- More than 50 pairs of legs on average................................................. Schendyla cf. carniolensis

11. Less than 45 pairs of legs on average. Maximum width of the carpophagus pits distinctly more than half of the anterior width of the metasternite.................................................................... Geophilus cf. nesiotes

- More than 45 pairs of legs on average. Maximum width of the carpophagus pits about half of the anterior width of the metasternite.......................................................................... Geophilus cf. carpophagus

12 Antennae uniformly wide all along the intermediate and distal third. Pretarsus of second maxillae with subconic, tapering tip. Depth of the medial embayment of the anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite more than 1/3 of the basal distance between the trochanteroprefemora. Metasternites of the anterior part of trunk without transversally elongate pore-field. No coxal pores opening on the dorsal side of coxopleura. Female gonopods in adults an entire short lamina.......................... 13

- Antennae distinctly tapering gradually. Pretarsus of second maxillae with flattened tip. Depth of the medial embayment of the anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite less than 1/3 of the basal distance between the trochanteroprefemora. Metasternites of the anterior part of trunk with transversally elongate pore-field. Some coxal pores opening on the dorsal side of coxopleura. Female gonopods in adults two distinct appendages.......................................................... 14

13. Forcipular trochanteroprefemur wider than long or as long as wide. Forcipular tarsungulum without denticle-like projections. Less than 65 pairs of legs on average. Trunk metasternites with longitudinally elongate pore-field. Telopodite of the ultimate pair composed of five articles, and without pretarsus.............................................. Henia pulchella

- Forcipular trochanteroprefemur longer than wide. Forcipular tarsungulum with denticle-like projections. More than 65 pairs of legs on average. Trunk metasternites without pore-fields, at most scattered pores. Telopodite of the ultimate pair composed of six articles, and with claw-like pretarsus.............................................. Dignathodon microcephalus

14. Forcipular tarsungulum with basal denticle. Less than 80 pairs of legs on average. Metasternite of the ultimate leg-bearing segment distinctly longer than wide, rectangular, with lateral margins almost parallel for most of their length. Legs of the ultimate pair distinctly swollen in comparison with precedent legs.................................... Thracophilus pachypus

- Forcipular tarsungulum without basal denticle. More than 80 pairs of legs on average. Metasternite of the ultimate leg-bearing segment distinctly wider than long, subtrapezoid, with lateral margins distinctly converging backwards for most of their length. Legs of the ultimate pair similar in width to the precedent legs........................................... 15

15. Metasternites of the anterior part of the trunk with sternobothria. Each coxopleuron with a ventral pit where multiple coxal organs open......................................................................... Bothriogaster signata

- Metasternites of the anterior part of the trunk without sternobothria. Each coxopleuron without a ventral pit where multiple coxal organs open.................................................................................... 16

16. Anterior margin of the coxosternite of second maxillae without a medial notch. Trunk metasternites without virguliform fossae................................................................................. Polyporogaster tunetana

- Anterior margin of the coxosternite of second maxillae distinctly notched. Some metasternites of the anterior part of the trunk with virguliform fossae............................................................. Stigmatogaster cf. gracilis