Biology:Diamondback soil centipede
| Diamondback soil centipede | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Chilopoda |
| Order: | Geophilomorpha |
| Family: | Geophilidae |
| Genus: | Geophilus |
| Species: | G. vittatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Geophilus vittatus Rafinesque, 1820
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Geophilus vittatus, also known as the diamondback soil centipede,[2] is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae widespread in North America[3] and named for the dark band of diamond-shaped markings across its back. G. vittatus grows up to 52 millimeters in length, though it averages 25–40, and ranges from brown- to orange-yellow in color, with 49–53 leg pairs in females, 49–51 leg pairs in males, and a lack of consolidated carpophagus structures. It can be found under any debris on the forest floor, but mostly under loose bark[4] and occasionally near the sea.[5]
Taxonomy
G. rubens' (Say, 1821) synonymy with G. vittatus was proved by Hoffman & Crabill (1953), and was originally very likely based on a specimen of Strigamia bidens.[6]
Behavior
When threatened, G. vittatus will secrete poisons from its underside.[2] The secretion is proteinaceous and contains two cyanogenetic compounds, mandelonitrile and benzoyl cyanide, as well as two products derived from these compounds as a result of hydrogen cyanide production (benzaldehyde and benzoic acid). Benzoyl cyanide has not been previously recorded from a natural source.[7]
References
- ↑ "Geophilus vittatus (Rafinesque,1820)". https://chilobase.biologia.unipd.it/searches/result_species/4235.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Species Geophilus vittatus - Diamondback Soil Centipede". https://bugguide.net/node/view/904961.
- ↑ "Geophilus vittatus (Rafinesque, 1820)". https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=1092656#null.
- ↑ Crabill, Ralph E. (1954). "A conspectus of the northeastern North American species of Geophilus (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha Geophilidae)". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 56: 172–188. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16179236. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ↑ Barber, A.D (2009). "Littoral myriapods: a review". Soil Organisms 81 (3): 735–760. https://www.senckenberg.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/33_barber.pdf. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ↑ Hoffman, Richard L. (1995). The Centipedes (Chilopoda) of Virginia: A First List (Number 5 ed.). Martinsville, Virginia: Banisteria - Virginia Museum of Natural History. pp. 4–5. https://virginianaturalhistorysociety.com/banisteria/pdf-files/ban5/Banisteria5_Hoffman_Centipeds%20of%20VA.pdf. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ↑ Jones, Tappey H.; Conner, William E.; Meinwald, Jerrold; Eisner, Hans E.; Eisner, Thomas (1976). "Benzoyl cyanide and mandelonitrile in the cyanogenetic secretion of a centipede". Journal of Chemical Ecology 2 (4): 421–429. doi:10.1007/BF00988807. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00988807. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
Wikidata ☰ Q6506765 entry
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