Family CHILENOPHILIDAE

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Introduction

The Chilenophilidae are small centipedes, 50–90 mm in length. They have an elongate body made up of 33 or more segments, and slender filiform antennae. This family is frequently lumped with Geophilidae, but they can be distinguished by the following characteristics. (1) The pleuroprosternal suture of chilenophilids is parallel to the margin of the head whereas in geophilids it is oblique to the margin of the head. (2) The maxillipedes of chilenophilids are seen easily from above protruding from underneath the head plate and the base of the claw extends anteriorly at least as far as the basal antennal segment. In geophilids the maxillipedes are not visible from above and the base of the claw does not extend as far as the basal antennal segment. (3) The body of chilenophilids is either broadest anteriorly becoming narrower posteriorly with a prominent head capsule, or boadest midway down the body becoming narrower in both directions with a minute head. The body of geophilids is usually of equal width throughout its length (Hoffmann 1982: 687).

This is a large family consisting of many varied species. Two subfamilies are currently recognised: Chilenophilinae (25 genera, 55–60 species) distributed both in temperate and tropical regions (although not found in South-East Asia), and the Pachymeriinae (15 genera, 50 species) predominantly across the Southern Hemisphere (Hoffmann 1982: 687). Fourteen genera and 25 species are currently listed for Australia.

General References

Hoffmann, R.L. 1982. Chilopoda. pp. 681-688 in Parker, S. (ed.). Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. New York : McGraw-Hill Vol. 2.

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