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Background: This study deals with the arthropods biodiversity restricted to almond tree plot located in Tafoughalt (Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria). The study of their diet makes it possible to identify the trophic categories in order to carry out a reasoned fight if necessary against harmful species. Methods: To do this, 03 capture methods (sweep net, Barber pots and colored traps) was used. The work is carried out from September 2021 to August 2022. Result: The captures allowed us to identify 108 species of arthropods divided into 05 classes (Arachnida, Crustacea, Myriapoda, Enthognata and Insecta), 16 orders and 54 families. The Coleoptera and Homoptera are the most important of which were with a relative frequency of 54.49% and 25.84% respectively using the sweep net. Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera are abundant in Barber pots, with a relative frequency equal to 29.38%; 25.05% and 19.36% respectively. Species belonging to the order Homoptera and Hymenoptera are the most counted in aerial yellow traps with a frequency of 26.17% and 25.5%, followed by Diptera and Coleoptera with 20.13% and 14.54%. The Shannon diversity index varied according to the sampling method; the values ranged between 3.38 bits for coloured traps, 3.34 bits for the Barber pots and 2.27 bits for the sweep net. According to the trophic status, the highest indices were recorded for phytophagous with 55% captured by sweep net, 45.07% for coloured traps and 39.68% for the Barber pots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthropoda represents the most diverse animal phylum, but clarifying the phylogenetic relationships among arthropod taxa remains challenging given the numerous arthropod lineages that diverged over a short period of time. In order to resolve the most controversial aspects of deep arthropod phylogeny, focusing on the Myriapoda, we conducted phylogenetic analyses based on ten super-matrices comprised of 751 to 1,233 orthologous genes across 64 representative arthropod species, including 28 transcriptomes that were newly generated in this study. Our findings provide unambiguous support for the monophyly of the higher arthropod taxa, Chelicerata, Mandibulata, Myriapoda, Pancrustacea, and Hexapoda, while the Crustacea are paraphyletic, with the class Remipedia supported as the lineage most closely related to hexapods. Within the Hexapoda, our results largely affirm previously proposed phylogenetic relationships among deep hexapod lineages, except that the Paraneoptera (Hemiptera, Thysanoptera, and Psocodea) was recovered as a monophyletic lineage in some analyses. The results corroborated the recently proposed phylogenetic framework of the four myriapod classes, wherein Symphyla and Pauropoda, as well as Chilopoda and Diplopoda, are each proposed to be sister taxa. The findings provide important insights into understanding the phylogeny and evolution of arthropods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in sequencing technologies and bioinformatics have led to breakthroughs in the study of virus biodiversity. Millipedes (Diplopoda, Myriapoda, Arthropoda) include more than 12,000 extant species, yet data on virus diversity in Diplopoda are scarce. This study aimed to explore the virome of the millipedes collected in the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve in Vietnam. We studied 14 species of millipedes and managed to assemble and annotate the complete coding genomes of 16 novel viruses, the partial coding genomes of 10 more viruses, and several fragmented viral sequences, which may indicate the presence of about 54 more viruses in the studied samples. Among the complete and partial genomes, 27% were putative members of the order Picornavirales. Most of the discovered viruses were very distant from the viruses currently present in the relevant databases. At least eight viruses meet the criteria to be recognized as a new species by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, and, for two of them, a higher taxonomic status (genus and even family) can be suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of cephalic morphologies in mandibulates (myriapods and pancrustaceans) was key to their evolutionary success. A group of Cambrian bivalved arthropods called hymenocarines exhibit diagnostic mandibulate traits that illustrate this diversity, but many forms are still poorly known. These include the odaraiids, typified by Odaraia alata from the Burgess Shale (Wuliuan), characterized by its unique tubular carapace and rudder-like tail fan, and one of the largest Cambrian euarthropods at nearly 20 cm in length. Unfortunately, odaraiid cephalic anatomy has been largely unknown, limiting evolutionary scenarios and putting their mandibulate affinities into question. Here, we reinvestigate Odaraia based on new specimens from the Burgess Shale and describe exquisitely preserved mandibles with teeth and adjacent structures: a hypostome, maxillae and potential paragnaths. These structures can be homologized with those of Cambrian fuxianhuiids and extant mandibulates, and suggest that the ancestral mandibulate head could have had a limbless segment but retained its plasticity, allowing for limb re-expression within Pancrustacea. Furthermore, we show the presence of limbs with spinose endites which created a suspension-feeding structure. This discovery provides morphological evidence for suspension feeding among large Cambrian euarthropods and evinces the increasing exploitation of planktonic resources in Cambrian pelagic food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthropod decline has been globally and locally documented, yet they are still not sufficiently protected. Crete (Greece), a Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, is a continental island renowned for its diverse geology, ecosystems and endemicity of flora and fauna, with continuous research on its Arthropod fauna dating back to the nineteenth century. Here we investigate the conservation status of the Cretan Arthropods using Preliminary Automated Conservation Assessments (PACA) and the overlap of Cretan Arthropod distributions with the Natura 2000 protected areas. Moreover, we investigate their endemicity hotspots and propose candidate Key Biodiversity Areas. In order to perform these analyses, we assembled occurrences of the endemic Arthropods in Crete located in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Crete together with literature data. These assessments resulted in 75% of endemic Arthropods as potentially or likely threatened. The hotspots of endemic taxa and the candidate Key Biodiversity Areas are distributed mostly on the mountainous areas where the Natura 2000 protected areas have great coverage. Yet human activities have significant impact even in those areas, while some taxa are not sufficiently covered by Natura 2000. These findings call for countermeasures and conservation actions to protect these insular environments, especially mountain species that lack the space to further escape from threats affecting their habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Evolution of novelty is a central theme in evolutionary biology, yet studying the origins of traits with an apparently discontinuous origin remains a major challenge. Venom systems are a well-suited model for the study of this phenomenon because they capture several aspects of novelty across multiple levels of biological complexity. However, while there is some knowledge on the evolution of individual toxins, not much is known about the evolution of venom systems as a whole. One way of shedding light on the evolution of new traits is to investigate less specialised serial homologues, i.e. repeated traits in an organism that share a developmental origin. This approach can be particularly informative in animals with repetitive body segments, such as centipedes. Results Here, we investigate morphological and biochemical aspects of the defensive telopodal glandular organs borne on the posterior legs of venomous stone centipedes (Lithobiomorpha), using a multimethod approach, including behavioural observations, comparative morphology, proteomics, comparative transcriptomics and molecular phylogenetics. We show that the anterior venom system and posterior telopodal defence system are functionally convergent serial homologues, where one (telopodal defence) represents a model for the putative early evolutionary state of the other (venom). Venom glands and telopodal glandular organs appear to have evolved from the same type of epidermal gland (four-cell recto-canal type) and while the telopodal defensive secretion shares a great degree of compositional overlap with centipede venoms in general, these similarities arose predominantly through convergent recruitment of distantly related toxin-like components. Both systems are composed of elements predisposed to functional innovation across levels of biological complexity that range from proteins to glands, demonstrating clear parallels between molecular and morphological traits in the properties that facilitate the evolution of novelty. Conclusions The evolution of the lithobiomorph telopodal defence system provides indirect empirical support for the plausibility of the hypothesised evolutionary origin of the centipede venom system, which occurred through functional innovation and gradual specialisation of existing epidermal glands. Our results thus exemplify how continuous transformation and functional innovation can drive the apparent discontinuous emergence of novelties on higher levels of biological complexity.

Pseudonannolene Silvestri, 1895 (Spirostreptida, Pseudonannolenidae) is one of the most common genera of millipedes in Brazilian caves. To date, only three troglobitic species are known in a list of 56 species described for the genus. In this study, we report new records of the cave-dwelling species Pseudonannolene ambuatinga Iniesta & Ferreira, 2013 in Minas Gerais state. These records extend its distribution by approximately 600 km2, making it the most widely distributed cave-dwelling millipede in the country. We also provide a new assessment of its conservation status based on the records and threats to its populations.

Background: Evolution of novelty is a central theme in evolutionary biology, yet studying the origins of traits with an apparently discontinuous origin remains a major challenge. Venom systems are a well-suited model for the study of this phenomenon because they capture several aspects of novelty across multiple levels of biological complexity. However, while there is some knowledge on the evolution of individual toxins, not much is known about the evolution of venom systems as a whole. One way of shedding light on the evolution of new traits is to investigate less specialised serial homologues, i.e. repeated traits in an organism that share a developmental origin. This approach can be particularly informative in animals with repetitive body segments, such as centipedes. Results: Here, we investigate morphological and biochemical aspects of the defensive telopodal glandular organs borne on the posterior legs of venomous stone centipedes (Lithobiomorpha), using a multimethod approach, including behavioural observations, comparative morphology, proteomics, comparative transcriptomics and molecular phylogenetics. We show that the anterior venom system and posterior telopodal defence system are functionally convergent serial homologues, where one (telopodal defence) represents a model for the putative early evolutionary state of the other (venom). Venom glands and telopodal glandular organs appear to have evolved from the same type of epidermal gland (four-cell recto-canal type) and while the telopodal defensive secretion shares a great degree of compositional overlap with centipede venoms in general, these similarities arose predominantly through convergent recruitment of distantly related toxin-like components. Both systems are composed of elements predisposed to functional innovation across levels of biological complexity that range from proteins to glands, demonstrating clear parallels between molecular and morphological traits in the properties that facilitate the evolution of novelty. Conclusions: The evolution of the lithobiomorph telopodal defence system provides indirect empirical support for the plausibility of the hypothesised evolutionary origin of the centipede venom system, which occurred through functional innovation and gradual specialisation of existing epidermal glands. Our results thus exemplify how continuous transformation and functional innovation can drive the apparent discontinuous emergence of novelties on higher levels of biological complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large amount of material of the millipede genus Zephronia Gray, 1832 was collected during 2014–2023 from many parts of eastern Thailand. An integrative study of morphological characters and genetic data (COI gene) revealed two new species: Z. chantaburiensis Srisonchai & Wesener, sp. nov. and Z. macula Srisonchai & Wesener, sp. nov. The two new species clearly differ from other congeners by their unique characteristics, especially in their colour pattern and telopod shape. The interspecific genetic distances of the 658 bp COI gene barcoding fragment between these new species and all other species of giant pill-millipede from Thailand, Laos and Cambodia are 12.01–23.49% for Z. chantaburiensis sp. nov. and 17.93–25.13% for Z. macula sp. nov. While relationships among species remain preliminary, the phylogenetic tree shows that species of Zephronia are interspersed with species of Sphaerobelum Verhoeff, 1924 and Prionobelum Verhoeff, 1924. Phylogenetic analyses place both new species in a clade termed Zephronia s.s., which receives support also from morphological data, showing a unique position of the organ of Tömösváry. Z. macula sp. nov. appears to occur over a broad distribution whereas Z. chantaburiensis sp. nov. was found only at the type locality. Given that all known records are in the eastern part of Thailand, we thus regard both species as endemic. Morphological illustrations based on SEM micrographs and a distribution map are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correction notice addresses inaccuracies in the classification of prey taxa in a study on alpine salamanders. The authors have revised the categorization of prey and found that the results did not significantly change. The new analysis shows that Myriapoda and Hemiptera are the most frequently ingested prey categories. The diversity of prey items in the diet remained relatively unchanged. The study also compares the dietary composition among different populations and finds no significant differences. Overall, the main conclusions of the study remain the same. [Extracted from the article]

Scutigeromorph centipedes are conspicuous, yet often ignored myriapods for which little work has been conducted in southern South America. After examining recent and museum collections from Chile and Argentina, two new species of generic uncertainty were identified. A new genus of scutigerid centipede, Edgethreua, is therefore described with two new species, E. chilensis from Central Chile (type species of the genus) and E. goloboffi from Argentinian Patagonia. The new genus is characterised by the presence of scattered setiform bristles with short paired spines and the absence of simple spinulae and spines on all stomatotergites, the presence of a single spine-bristle in the prefemur of the second maxilla, a patch of cuticular ridges and pores surrounding the sensilla of the proximal labral portion of the epipharynx, the morphology of the sensilla of the distal patch of the hypopharynx and the morphology of the female gonopods. A phylogenetic analysis of the new species using two nuclear ribosomal RNA genes (18S and 28S rRNA), two mitochondrial ribosomal RNA genes (12S and 16S rRNA) and the mitochondrial protein-encoding gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I show that the new genus does not cluster with any other described genus of scutigeromorph represented in molecular phylogenies. The data indicate that the new genus is probably sister group to a clade including the genera Lassophora, Ballonema and the subfamily Thereuoneminae, although one analysis suggests a position as sister group to Scutigerinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we focus on some edaphic macroinvertebrates, Oniscidea, Diplopoda, Chilopoda and Symphyla, and their activity-density in relation with a short-term sampling protocol and a series of environmental factors. Our case study targeted the invertebrate community from Ivăneţu Massif near the Rupestral Assembly of Bozioru Mountains and tested the performance of direct sampling using tweezers, sifting leaf-litter with the Winkler sieve, extracting soil samples and using pitfall traps. In order to achieve a more realistic understanding of oniscidean and myriapod diversity patterns we recommend a combination of the abovementioned sampling methods.

Hanseniella chilensis is the only myriapod of the class Symphyla known from Chile. This garden centipede, or pseudocentipede, was described more than 120 years ago based on morphologically incomplete specimens collected in central Chile, a well-known biodiversity hotspot. In this study, we redescribe this species based on morphologically complete specimens collected near the type locality using scanning electron microscope images. Our study provides the description of diagnostic characters hitherto unknown in this species such as macrochaetae of the tergites and spinnerets of the cerci. We also include a new record from central Chile and discuss the presumed presence of this species in Argentina and Madagascar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Lophoproctidae Silvestri, 1897 includes small, blind millipedes adapted to endogeous environments. The genus Lophoproctus has five species with a mostly Mediterranean distribution, with only one species extending eastwards to Central Asia. Lophoproctus lucidus extends from southern France to north-western Africa and was recently reported for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands. However, some populations showed a certain degree of morphological differentiation, suggesting the existence of more than one species. To test this hypothesis, we study Iberian and Canarian populations using scanning electron microscopy and analyse mitochondrial and nuclear sequences of several Lophoproctus species, generating the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus. Our results confirm the existence of an unnamed species that is here formally described and named as Lophoproctus viatorsp. n. The new species can be differentiated morphologically from the other species of the genus and represents an independent evolutionary lineage. We include a key to the morphological identification of Lophoproctus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little information is available regarding centipedes (Chilopoda) and millipedes (Diplopoda) from Honduras, a country located on the following biogeographic provinces: Mosquito (North and East), Chiapas Highlands (Central) and Pacific Lowlands (South). Here, we provide an updated list of centipede and millipede species based on a literature survey and a review of global taxonomic on-line databases of Chilopoda (Chilobase) and Diplopoda (MilliBase). The updated list includes 14 centipede and 21 millipede species. Three centipede and 14 millipede species are endemic. We report and additional three centipede and six millipede species compared to the previous record. Brief comments of taxonomy, biology and distribution of the recorded species are given.

The key points of the main evolutionary line of Articulata, leading from polychaetes to insects, are considered. The far-reaching similarity of the most primitive insects, jumping bristletails, with malacostracans, especially syncarids, leaves no doubt about the origin of the former directly from the latter. The similarity of mayfly nymphs to bristletails indicates that the evolution of Pterygota began with amphibiotic Palaeoptera. Myriapods are secondarily simplified descendants of early hexapods, having lost the division of the body into the thorax and abdomen and other ancestral characters due to transition to a cryptic lifestyle. Entognathous hexapods illustrate the initial stages of myriapodization of bristletails. Following Sharov, insect ancestry can be traced back into deep time via crustaceans to trilobitomorphs, Megacheira, and further to the most ancient arthropods, dinocarids—with grasping antennae but without walking legs! Many structural features of arthropods were formed in Polychaeta—the most primitive Articulata. The group most similar to arthropods are scale worms (Aphroditacea). By analogy with myriapods and entognaths, lobopods and non-arthropodan Ecdysozoa should be interpreted as side branches, which emerged from the dinocarid root of Arthropoda and simplified their body plans. Transformations of body plans occurred through heterochronies and heterotopies (including gamoheterotopies). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive checklist of millipedes of the infraclass Pentazonia is compiled for Indonesia. A total of 80 species assigned to 11 genera, three families and three orders has so far been recorded. Two genera are remarkably species-rich: Castanotherium (36 species) and Hyleoglomeris (15 species). Three genera, Malayomeris, Rajasphaera, Leptoprotopus are monotypic. Most of the species are endemic, recorded only in Indonesia (71 species). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Invertebrates (animals without backbones) make up over 95% of the earth's species yet compared with vertebrates (animals with backbones like fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) our understanding of and efforts relating to the topic of welfare is relatively minimal. We have selected seven of the most economically important and widely recognized invertebrate taxa to focus the topic of animal welfare on. In these pages the reader will learn about coelenterates (jellyfishes, anemones, and corals), mollusks (snails, slugs, squid, and octopi), crustaceans (lobsters, crabs, and shrimp), echinoderms (sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers), chelicerates (spiders, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs), myriapods (centipedes and millipedes), and insects (butterflies, honeybees, and fruit flies). In addition to discussing the welfare of these species, other topics, including anatomy, physiology, husbandry, natural history, and environmental diseases, are reviewed. Invertebrates are a diverse group of animals that make up the majority of the animal kingdom and encompass a wide array of species with varying adaptations and characteristics. Invertebrates are found in nearly all of the world's habitats, including aquatic, marine, and terrestrial environments. There are many misconceptions about invertebrate sentience, welfare requirements, the need for environmental enrichment, and overall care and husbandry for this amazing group of animals. This review addresses these topics and more for a select group of invertebrates with biomedical, economical, display, and human companionship importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millipedes have a long evolutionary history, with the oldest presumed fossils of Diplopoda de Blainville in Gervais, 1844 being from the Silurian and the first definite fossil record originating from Devonian deposits. The phylogeny of Diplopoda is not fully resolved yet, especially not concerning fossil representatives. At the same time, already in the Palaeozoic millipedes showed quite a morphological and presumably also ecological variety. We describe here a new species of a Carboniferous millipede from the Westphalian A of the Netherlands, Lauravolsella willemeni n. gen., n. sp., a possible representative of Archipolypoda (†Archipolypoda Scudder, 1882). The species is based on a single specimen, preserved with part and counterpart, which both show a three-dimensional preservation. The specimen has unusually long tergites, in normal life position covering most of the following segment. These long tergites might have been beneficial when performing defensive enrolling. In extant millipedes, enrolling is usually facilitated by softer areas between the sternites, allowing for a certain degree of ventral compression. In the new fossil, the sclerotic sternites occupy the entire length of the ventral side of the segment, not allowing for any type of compression. The new fossil therefore demonstrates another solution for the mechanical challenges during enrolment and increases the morphological diversity of Carboniferous millipedes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The order Scolopendromorpha includes 700 species of centipedes worldwide. It is the most diverse group of myriapods in Colombia with ~40 species and six subspecies. In this work, the number of centipede species known in the country was updated from a review of specialized literature, as well as databases and specimen records in online digital collections. New records of 19 species and one subspecies were found. Thus, the richness of the group increased to fifty-four species and seven subspecies within three families, five subfamilies, eight genera, and seven subgenera. In addition, 30 of the 32 departments of the Colombian territory registered a representative identified at least at the gender level. Antioquia, Boyacá and Cundinamarca are the departments with the highest species richness.

Millipedes are soil macrodetritivores with considerable roles in decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients. This paper aims to identify the effects of land use on millipedes based on a literature review. Land use changes impact species distribution, diversity, and behavior with consequences for litter decomposition and soil quality. Surrounding landscapes influence the millipedes' community structure. The effects of land use under different ecological contexts and in wetlands and woody riparian zones constitute essential gaps in knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the drivers of intra‐specific genetic diversity in centipedes, a group of ancient predatory soil arthropods. Location: Asia, Australasia and Europe. Time Period: Present. Major Taxa Studied: Centipedes (Class: Chilopoda). Methods: We assembled a database of 1245 mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences representing 128 centipede species from all five orders of Chilopoda. This sequence dataset was used to estimate genetic diversity for centipede species and compare its distribution with estimates from other arthropod groups. We studied the variation in centipede genetic diversity with species traits and biogeography using a beta regression framework, controlling for the effect of shared evolutionary history within a family. Results: A wide variation in genetic diversity across centipede species (0–0.1713) falls towards the higher end of values among arthropods. Overall, 27.57% of the variation in mitochondrial COI genetic diversity in centipedes was explained by a combination of predictors related to life history and biogeography. Genetic diversity decreased with body size and latitudinal position of sampled localities, was greater in species showing maternal care and increased with geographic distance among conspecifics. Main Conclusions: Centipedes fall towards the higher end of genetic diversity among arthropods, which may be related to their long evolutionary history and low dispersal ability. In centipedes, the negative association of body size with genetic diversity may be mediated by its influence on local abundance or the influence of ecological strategy on long‐term population history. Species with maternal care had higher genetic diversity, which goes against expectations and needs further scrutiny. Hemispheric differences in genetic diversity can be due to historic climatic stability and lower seasonality in the southern hemisphere. Overall, we find that despite the differences in mean genetic diversity among animals, similar processes related to life‐history strategy and biogeography are associated with the variation within them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During an inventory of the botanical garden Jean Massart in Auderghem, eight species of Entognatha (six Collembola and two Diplura), 13 Malacostraca (one Amphipoda and 12 Isopoda) and 23 Myriapoda (nine Chilopoda, 12 Diploda and two Symphyla) were observed. The most remarkable species were Porcellio dilatatus Brandt, 1833, Geophilus osquidatum Brölemann, 1909 and Cylindroiulus britannicus (Verhoeff, 1891). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The class Diplopoda is the most diverse within subphylum Myriapoda with about 12,000 known species. In Brazil, it is estimated about 600 described species, with great diversity in the Southeast region. Traditionally, the vernacular nomenclature in the country tends to associate popular names of animals with different local and regional characteristics, either by associating the species with their body characteristics or by the environment in which they live. The present work is focused on qualitatively analyzing the distribution and use of popular names for Diplopoda by regions in Brazil. As result, the vernaculars gongo and piolho-de-cobra have the highest total search volumes, with volume fractions of 1,015 and 714, respectively. Some groups stand out for the shared use of vernaculars, as diplopoda and piolho-de-cobra mostly used by the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, and Rio de Janeiro. The regional maps highlight the use of the vernacular diplopoda and diplopode mainly for the Southeast region of the country, the vernacular embuá partially for the regions North, Northeast, and Southeast, while gongo and gongolo are widely spread in all regions of Brazil. The most observed vernaculars do not relate to any utility or ecosystem service of species with the local populations, in addition to the names themselves not presuming a relation of medical or agricultural importance to species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first record of Vascoblaniulus cabidochei Mauriès, 1967 in Spain, at Illaminako Ateak cave (Navarra). This makes a total of 15 troglobiont millipede species in the Spanish Pyrenees. Vascoblaniulus cabidochei is a highly modified troglobiont millipede species, previously only known from the type material was collected in the 60s of the last century in the Salle de la Verna, Pierre-Saint- Martin cave system, France, and occasional subsequent observations were made in the same cave system. Present records in wet and sprinkled stones in a different Spanish cave, and new observation near the Salle de la Verna, confirm its semi aquatic lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The order Scolopendromorpha includes 700 species of centipedes worldwide. It is the most diverse group of myriapods in Colombia with 40 species and six subspecies. In this work, the number of centipede species known in the country was updated from a review of specialized literature, as well as databases and specimen records in online digital collections. New records of 19 species and one subspecies were found. Thus, the richness of the group increased to fifty-four species and seven subspecies within three families, five subfamilies, eight genera, and seven subgenera. In addition, 30 of the 32 departments of the Colombian territory registered a representative identified at least at the gender level. Antioquia, Boyacá and Cundinamarca are the departments with the highest species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A meta-analysis based on the published literature was conducted to evaluate the breadth of host ranges of arthropod pathogens in the fungal subphylum Entomophthoromycotina. The majority of pathogens in this subphylum infect insects, although arachnids (especially mites), collembola, and myriapods are also used as hosts. Most species (76%) have specialized host ranges and only infect arthropods in one host family. The breadth of host ranges in the Entomophthoromycotina is generally greater for species in more basal groups (Conidiobolaceae and Neoconidiobolaceae), where most species are soil-borne saprobes and few are pathogens. The Batkoaceae is a transitionary family in which all species are pathogens and both generalists and specialists occur. Among pathogen-infecting insects, Hemiptera and Diptera are the most commonly infected insect orders. Within the Hemiptera, hosts in the suborder Sternorrhycha were infected by more fungal species than the Auchenorrhyncha and Heteroptera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The millipede Chondromorpha xanthotricha, supposedly native to Sri Lanka and southern India, is considered a pantropical species occurring in Southeast Asia, North America, Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, Central America and northern South America. Here we report the first record of this species for Brazil, in the central Amazon region of the country, with taxonomic notes and images of male and female specimens.

The millipede fauna inhabiting deep soil are poorly known. They are small and threadlike, slow moving, lacking pigmentation, and rarely encountered due to their obscure underground way of life. One family, the Siphonorhinidae, encompasses four genera and 12 species in a fragmentary distribution in California, southern Africa, Madagascar, the Malay Archipelago, and Indo-Burma. The family is represented in the Western Hemisphere by a single genus, Illacme Cook & Loomis, 1928 from California, with its closest known relative, Nematozonium filum Verhoeff, 1939, from southern Africa. A new species of this family is documented from soil microhabitats in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Illacme socal Marek & Shear, sp. nov. Based on this discovery and the recent documentation of other endogean millipede species, we show that these grossly understudied subterranean fauna represent the next frontier of discovery. However, they are threatened by encroaching human settlement and habitat loss, and conservation of this species and other subterranean fauna is of high importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic and substrate‐borne vibrations are among the most widely used signalling modalities in animals. Arthropods display a staggering diversity of vibroacoustic organs generating acoustic sound and/or substrate‐borne vibrations, and are fundamental to our broader understanding of the evolution of animal signalling. The primary mechanism that arthropods use to generate vibroacoustic signals is stridulation, which involves the rubbing together of opposing body parts. Although stridulation is common, its behavioural context and evolutionary drivers are often hard to pinpoint, owing to limited synthesis of empirical observations on stridulatory species. This is exacerbated by the diversity of mechanisms involved and the sparsity of their description in the literature, which renders their documentation a challenging task. Here, we present the most comprehensive review to date on the systematic distribution and behavioural context of stridulation. We use the megadiverse heteropteran insects as a model, together with multiple arthropod outgroups (arachnids, myriapods, and selected pancrustaceans). We find that stridulatory vibroacoustic signalling has evolved independently at least 84 times and is present in roughly 20% of Heteroptera, representing a remarkable case of convergent evolution. By studying the behavioural context of stridulation across Heteroptera and 189 outgroup lineages, we find that predation pressure and sexual selection are the main behaviours associated with stridulation across arthropods, adding further evidence for their role as drivers of large‐scale signalling and morphological innovation in animals. Remarkably, the absence of tympanal ears in most Heteroptera suggests that they typically cannot detect the acoustic component of their stridulatory signals. This demonstrates that the adoption of new signalling modalities is not always correlated with the ability to perceive those signals, especially when these signals are directed towards interspecific receivers in defensive contexts. Furthermore, by mapping their morphology and systematic distribution, we show that stridulatory organs tend to evolve in specific body parts, likely originating from cleaning motions and pre‐copulatory displays that are common to most arthropods. By synthesising our understanding of stridulation and stridulatory organs across major arthropod groups, we create the necessary framework for future studies to explore their systematic and behavioural significance, their potential role in sensory evolution and innovation, and the biomechanics of this mode of signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthropods constitute a highly diverse group of animals dominated by insects, arachnids, crustaceans and myriapods, the latter consisting of two important classes: Chilopoda and Diplopoda. Diplopods are remarkable for their diversity and disparity and have a long and rich fossil record going back to the Silurian. Here, X-ray microtomography (µCT) reveals the detailed morphology of two diplopods from the Carboniferous (Kasimovian; ca 305 Ma) Lagerstätte of Montceau-les-Mines, namely Amynilyspes fatimae (Pentazonia) and Blanziulus parriati (Juliformia), allowing three-dimensional reconstructions to be made. Important features of amynilyspedids, exemplified by Amynilyspes, are observed for the first time, such as the telopods, 21 pairs of walking legs, 13 tergites and the anal shield. Details of the ocular field, antennae and mandibles provide key information on the sense organs of these ancient myriapods as well as their capacities to process food. The presence of possible spiracles in B. parriati indicates a probable adaptation to living in terrestrial environments. Intraspecific differences seen in the appendages of Amynilyspes fatimae suggest that late Carboniferous pill millipedes had sexually dimorphic features closely similar to those of extant millipedes. Amynilyspes fatimae and B. parriati are interpreted as two detritivore millipedes living in a vegetated and humid environment (e.g. forest, swamp, litter) that are likely to have played the role of recycling plant detritus as do numerous present-day myriapods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species, Samarangopus testudineus sp. nov. from Hunan, South China and S. rotundifolius sp. nov. from Zhejiang, East China, are described and illustrated. Samarangopus testudineus sp. nov. is characterized by unusual testudinal patterns on the dorsal side of the body and well-differentiated marginal protuberances on tergites. Samarangopus rotundifolius sp. nov. features large, round, leaf-shaped marginal protuberances and small, candle-like dorsal protuberances on tergites. Both of these species are compared to similar species in detail. In addition, Eurypauropus japonicus Hagino & Scheller, 1985 is newly recorded from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scutigerella sinensis Jin & Bu, sp. nov. from China is described and illustrated. It is characterized by a deeply emarginated posterior margin of tergite 2, less differentiated marginal setae on all tergites, absence of seta a3 around the antennal base, and 6–8 setae on the first tergite. The complete mitochondrial genome of the new species is also analyzed and compared with the mitogenome of Scutigerella causeyae. In the reconstructed Neighbor-Joining tree based on COI gene sequences, S. sinensis sp. nov. clusters with S. causeyae, however, with big distances. The genetic divergence among S. sinensis sp. nov. and congeners, species of Hanseniella and Scutigerella, and both families of Symphyla was analyzed using COI gene sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is aimed at mimicking the motion of myriapods by using an array of mechanical arms coupled to an array of FitzHugh–Nagumo (FN) neuron circuits. The differential equation depicting the electromechanical system is achieved by using Kirchhoff's and Newton's laws. The system parameters are sensitive to the stability of the system as shown by numerical simulations such that for different ranges of the stimulation current, the array of the FN neuron circuit coupled to a single mechanical arm is either in the non-excitable state, excitable state or in the oscillatory state. For the values of the stimulation current in the excitable state, an action potential (AP) achieved produced an excitation greater enough to actuate significantly the mechanical leg. In the excitable state, the action of the magnetic signal on the single mechanical arm increases the amplitude of the instantaneous displacement of the legs. The array of the coupled electromechanical system in the excitable state produces an AP for the different values of the legs having the same behavior as shown by numerical simulations, which implied that neurons communicate without loss of amplitude when in the permanent regime. This behavior is similar to the instantaneous displacement of the mechanical legs, hence depicting the straightforward motion of myriapods without rotation. Finally, the velocities of the propagation of nerve impulses and that of the displacement of legs are quantitatively the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisms from cyanobacteria to humans have evolved a wide array of photoreceptive strategies to detect light. Sunlight avoidance behavior is common in animals without vision or known photosensory genes. While indirect light perception via photothermal conversion is a possible scenario, there is no experimental evidence for this hypothesis. Here, we show a nonvisual and extraocular sunlight detection mechanism by identifying the broad-range thermal receptor 1 (BRTNaC1, temperature range = 33 to 48 °C) in centipede antennae. BRTNaC1, a heat-activated cation-permeable ion channel, is structurally related to members of the epithelial sodium channel family. At the molecular level, heat activation of BRTNaC1 exhibits strong pH dependence controlled by two protonatable sites. Physiologically, temperature-dependent activation of BRTNaC1 upon sunlight exposure comes from a striking photothermal effect on the antennae, where a slightly acidic environment (pH 6.1) of the body fluid leads to the protonation of BRTNaC1 and switches on its high thermal sensitivity. Furthermore, testosterone potently inhibits heat activation of BRTNaC1 and the sunlight avoidance behavior of centipedes. Taken together, our study suggests a sophisticated strategy for nonvisual sunlight detection in myriapods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A subterranean millipede species, Antrokoreana gujoensis Masuda, 2010, is redescribed based on specimens newly collected around its type locality, in the limestone area of Mino Terrane on Honshu Island, Japan. Males of A. gujoensis were originally described as having no penes, but nonetheless, the examined specimens clearly demonstrate that this species possesses the penes behind leg-pair 2. An emended diagnosis of this species and a key to all eight currently recognized species of Antrokoreana is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomic status of millipedes of the genus Spirobolus Brandt, 1833, referred to as “Yaeyama-maruyasude” from the Yaeyama Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, was unresolved. We assess the taxonomic status of these Yaeyama Spirobolus sp. using an integrated morphological and molecular approach, and describe them as a new species, S. akamma sp. nov., for which partial sequences of the nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, and 16S ribosomal RNA markers are provided. This new species differs from continental China and Taiwan endemic congeners in anterior gonopod morphology (in having an elongate and subtriangular coxa, and a pentagonal mesal sternal process), posterior gonopod morphology (in having a coronoid prefemoral endite with rounded distal end, and an elongate telopodite), and in having four serrations on the cyphopod lateral flange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Caucasus ecoregion is distinguished by its biodiversity. The flora and fauna of the ecoregion became the study area of many zoologists and botanists. Georgia, as a part of it, is important for its valuable and impressive diversity. However, despite many years of scientific research, certain groups, among them centipedes, are not so well studied. This is the first comprehensive summary of current knowledge about centipedes distributed in the territory of Georgia, based on literature data. It provides information about 59 taxa (57 species and two subspecies) known from Georgia, belonging to 16 genera in seven families from four orders. Nineteen species are endemic to the Caucasus, eight of which are Georgian endemics. Among them, two species: Cryptops datviensis Tuf, Barjadze, and Maghradze, 2022, and Harpolithobius birsteini Zalesskaja, 1972, are troglobiotic. Another four species (Lithobius caucasicus Sseliwanoff, 1881; Lamyctes coeculus (Brölemann, 1889); Lithobius semperi (Haase, 1887); and Scolopocryptops nigridus McNeill, 1887) are considered doubtful records. An overview of local and global distribution for each taxon is included. Lithobius fasciatus Muralevitch, 1929, syn. nov. is formally synonymized with Lithobius striatus Muralevitch, 1926. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Based on the results of dietary surveys of the Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola L.) in 11 countries (Great Britain, Scotland, France, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, and Romania), 63 taxa (42 animal and 21 plant) were detected in Woodcock gizzard contents, of which the predominant dietary components were of animal origin. The composition of the dietary components varies only within a narrow spectrum, adapting to seasonal changes in the insect fauna and the supply of the area. Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) represent the dominant proportion, also with larvae of Dermaptera, Myriapoda, Coleoptera taxa, and Diplopoda and Araneidae species being present in significant numbers. The mass fraction of plant components (mainly weed seeds) is low, with occasional occurrence of vegetative plant parts. The narrow species range of animal taxa recorded and the low proportion of plant dietary components clearly indicate that the Woodcock is a specialist species, and the availability of a few major dietary component taxa groups are a limiting factor in case of the Woodcock. Therefore, it is a major determinant of the diurnal, seasonal and annual movement patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides the first data on myriapods in the Truong Sa archipelago (Vietnam). A total of 292 myriapod specimens identified 9 species in 7 genera, 6 families, 5 orders of two classes Chilopoda and Diplopoda were collected from 10 islands in the Spratly archipelago of Khanh Hoa province in Vietnam including Southwest Cay (Song Tu Tay), Sand Cay (Son Ca), Namyit island (Nam Yet), Grierson Reef (Sinh Ton Dong), Sin Cowe island (Sinh Ton), Pearson Reef (Phan Vinh), Central Reef (Truong Sa Dong), Spratly island (Truong Sa), West Reef (Da Tay), and Amboyna Cay (An Bang),,, during two surveys in October–November 2020 and May–June 2021. The class Chilopoda has 276 specimens of seven species, 6 genera, 5 families in three orders (Scolopendromorpha, Geophilomorpha, and Lithobiomorpha); The class Diplopoda has 16 specimens of 2 species, 2 genera, and 2 families in two orders (Polydesmida and Spirobolida). Among the recorded species, Rhysida longipes (Newport, 1845) were commonly recorded on all islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to provide updated information on the myriapodofauna of different habitat types in Douala. Data were collected from September 2018 to February 2019 in four types of vegetation chosen following an urban‐rural gradient: home gardens, fallow land, agrosystems and secondary forest. Sampling took place every 2 weeks using hand collection, pitfall and Winkler technique. Analysis of the diversity within the communities studied consisted in generating indices of α‐ and β‐diversity. A total of 904 individuals of 26 species and three classes were collected. Hand collection was more effective in collecting myriapods (62.3% of individuals collected and 26 species) than pitfall trapping (28.9%; 25 species) and Winkler (8.9%; eight species). The class of diplopods was the richest in species (22 species) and the most abundant (88.4% of the total number of individuals collected). It was followed by chilopods (three species and 7.0%) and symphylans (one species and 4.6%). The myriapodofauna of the forest (Shannon–Weaver index: H' = 2.93) was more diversified than that of agrosystems (H' = 2.22), fallow land (H' = 1.56) and home gardens (H' = 0.97). The secondary forest and agrosystems had the greatest species turnover, while the agrosystems and home gardens had the lowest. This study showed that myriapod diversity is affected by habitat type and season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A crucial step in the evolution of Euarthropoda (chelicerates, myriapods, pancrustaceans) was the transition between fossil groups that possessed frontal appendages innervated by the first segment of the brain (protocerebrum), and living groups with a protocerebral labrum and paired appendages innervated by the second brain segment (deutocerebrum). Appendage homologies between the groups are controversial. Here we describe two specimens of opabiniid-like euarthropods, each bearing an anterior proboscis (a fused protocerebral appendage), from the Middle Ordovician Castle Bank Biota, Wales, UK. Phylogenetic analyses support a paraphyletic grade of stem-group euarthropods with fused protocerebral appendages and a posterior-facing mouth, as in the iconic Cambrian panarthropod Opabinia. These results suggest that the labrum may have reduced from an already-fused proboscis, rather than a pair of arthropodized appendages. If some shared features between the Castle Bank specimens and radiodonts are considered convergent rather than homologous, phylogenetic analyses retrieve them as opabiniids, substantially extending the geographic and temporal range of Opabiniidae. Here, the authors describe two opabiniid-like euarthropods with anterior proboscises from the Middle Ordovician Castle Bank Biota, Wales, UK. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that these specimens may be sister to radiodonts and deuteropods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper reproduction depends on properly functioning gonads (ovaries and testes). Many xenobiotics, including heavy metals, can cause changes in somatic and germ line cells, thus damaging the reproductive capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the heavy metal cadmium on the gonads, including germ line and somatic cells. It is important to determine whether cell death processes are triggered in both types of cells in the gonads, and which gonads are more sensitive to the presence of cadmium in the environment. The research was conducted on the soil-dwelling arthropod Lithobius forficatus (Myriapoda, Chilopoda), which is common for European fauna. Animals were cultured in soil supplemented with Cd for different periods (short- and long-term treatment). Gonads were isolated and prepared for qualitative and quantitative analysis, which enabled us to describe all changes which appeared after both the short- and long-term cadmium treatment. The results of our study showed that cadmium affects the structure and ultrastructure of both gonads in soil-dwelling organisms including the activation of cell death processes. However, the male germ line cells are more sensitive to cadmium than female germ line cells. We also observed that germ line cells are protected by the somatic cells of both gonads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction is presented to the article "Description of all active life stages (except male) of the Pimeliaphilus lindquisti sp. nov. with review of host specificity and world distribution of the genus."

Although morphological variation may have an effect on behaviour, there are only a few studies on julid millipedes in which the influence of the variability of some morphological traits on mating success has been explored. Hence, objectives of this study were to investigate mating behaviour in laboratory conditions and identify traits that could possibly be the target of pre-copulatory selection in the julid species Megaphyllum unilineatum. Behavioural sequences were quantified in three types of tests: a mating arena test, a female choice test, and a male choice test. Although the number of contacts with the first chosen partner (from the mating arena test) was greater than with newly offered individuals in choice tests, values of the sexual selection coefficient did not statistically confirm this preference. In addition, analyses of linear measurements (trunk height and width, length of the whole body, antennae, walking legs, and gonopod flagella) in individuals of different mating status were also conducted, as well as geometric morphometric analyses of size and shape of the antennae, heads, walking legs, and gonopod promeres and opisthomeres in such individuals. Antennal length and shape, head shape, and the walking legs shape, differed significantly, depending on the mating status of females. In males of different mating status, statistical significance was established only in the promere centroid size. The differences in certain behavioural sequences in M. unilineatum are similar to those previously reported in M. bosniense, while such similarity is not detected with respect to morphological variation in the mentioned species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the limitations of taxon sampling and differences in results from the available data, the phylogenetic relationships of the Myriapoda remain contentious. Therefore, we try to reconstruct and analyze the phylogenetic relationships within the Myriapoda by examining mitochondrial genomes (the mitogenome). In this study, typical circular mitogenomes of Mecistocephalus marmoratus and Scolopendra subspinipes were sequenced by Sanger sequencing; they were 15,279 bp and 14,637 bp in length, respectively, and a control region and 37 typical mitochondrial genes were annotated in the sequences. The results showed that all 13 PCGs started with ATN codons and ended with TAR codons or a single T; what is interesting is that the gene orders of M. marmoratus have been extensively rearranged compared with most Myriapoda. Thus, we propose a simple duplication/loss model to explain the extensively rearranged genes of M. marmoratus, hoping to provide insights into mitogenome rearrangement events in Myriapoda. In addition, our mitogenomic phylogenetic analyses showed that the main myriapod groups are monophyletic and supported the combination of the Pauropoda and Diplopoda to form the Dignatha. Within the Chilopoda, we suggest that Scutigeromorpha is a sister group to the Lithobiomorpha, Geophilomorpha, and Scolopendromorpha. We also identified a close relationship between the Lithobiomorpha and Geophilomorpha. The results also indicate that the mitogenome can be used as an effective mechanism to understand the phylogenetic relationships within Myriapoda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently reported specimens of the enigmatic Ediacaran fossil Dickinsonia from Russia show damage and repair that provides evidence of how they grew, and of their biological affinities. Marginal and terminal areas of wilting deformation are necrotic zones separating regenerated growth, sometimes on two divergent axes, rather than a single axis. Necrotic zones of damage to Dickinsonia are not a thick scar or callus, like a wound or amputation. Nor are they smooth transitions to a regenerated tail or arm. The wilted necrotic zone is most like damage by freezing, salt, or sunburn of leaves and lichens, compatible with evidence of terrestrial habitat from associated frigid and gypsic paleosols. Dickinsonia did not regrow by postembryonic addition of modules from a subterminal or patterned growth zone as in earthworms, myriapods, trilobites, crustaceans, and lizards. Rather Dickinsonia postembryonic regrowth from sublethal damage was from microscopic apical and lateral meristems, as in plants and lichens. Considered as fungal, Dickinsonia, and perhaps others of Class Vendobionta, were more likely Glomeromycota or Mucoromycotina, rather than Ascomycota or Basidiomycota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluvial deposits of the uppermost Stockton Formation (Late Triassic), west-central New Jersey have yielded the trace fossils Cruziana tenella and Helminthopsis isp. The ichnotaxa belong to the Scoyenia ichnofacies. On the basis of stratification and primary sedimentary structures, the beds are interpreted as deposits in a meandering stream environment. Worm-like forms, nematodes, notostracans, myriapods, and arthropods are probably responsible for most of the animal traces in moist or wet channel and point bar sediments subject to aerial exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subphylum Myriapoda included four extant classes (Chilopoda, Symphyla, Diplopoda, and Pauropoda). Due to the limitation of taxon sampling, the phylogenetic relationships within Myriapoda remained contentious, especially for Diplopoda. Herein, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of Polydesmus sp. GZCS‐2019 (Myriapoda: Polydesmida) and the mitochondrial genomes are circular molecules of 15,036 bp, with all genes encoded on + strand. The A+T content is 66.1%, making the chain asymmetric, and exhibits negative AT‐skew (−0.236). Several genes rearrangements were detected and we propose a new rearrangement model: "TD (N\R) L + C" based on the genome‐scale duplication + (non‐random/random) loss + recombination. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that Chilopoda and Symphyla both were monophyletic group, whereas Pauropoda was embedded in Diplopoda to form the Dignatha. Divergence time showed the first split of Myriapoda occurred between the Chilopoda and other classes (Wenlock period of Silurian). We combine phylogenetic analysis, divergence time, and gene arrangement to yield valuable insights into the evolutionary history and classification relationship of Myriapoda and these results support a monophyletic Progoneata and the relationship (Chilopoda + (Symphyla + (Diplopoda + Pauropoda))) within myriapod. Our results help to better explain the gene rearrangement events of the invertebrate mitogenome and lay the foundation for further phylogenetic study of Myriapoda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]