Order LITHOBIOMORPHA

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Introduction

Members of the Lithobiomorpha, called stone centipedes, range from 4–40 mm, have 15 pairs of legs, 18 body segments, and filiform antennae of 13 to 100 segments. The body and head are flattened, enabling the animal to invade narrow crevices in search of food (Hoffmann 1982: 681; Edgecombe 2001: 44). Members of this order also have teeth and accessory setae on the mandibles. The body is covered by 15 tergites, which alternate in size. There are no presternites or pretergites (Lewis 1981: 28; Hoffmann 1982: 682).

Most species have ocelli which are present in small lateral clusters numbering between one and 30 ocelli (Hoffmann 1982: 682). Below the eyes on each side is a sensory organ called the Tömösváry organ (Lewis 1981: 27). The front pairs of legs are short and they increase in length towards the back. The final two pairs are longest and are used in mating and capture of prey (Lewis 1981: 27; Hoffmann 1982: 682). Taxonomically significant distal spines may be present on the anal legs of both sexes (Lewis 1981: 30). Females of the Lithobiomorpha lay eggs singly and young are left to fend for themselves after hatching (Hoffmann 1982: 681).

The Lithobiomorpha is a large and diverse order, found predominantly in the temperate zone. In Australia, the species of Lithobius are believed to have been introduced, while the Australian native species Lamyctes emarginatus is an invader in temperate areas of Europe, North America, and Greenland (Edgecombe 2001: 50).

Other diagnostic features include the 'heart-shaped' head with a distinctive ridge along each side (Lewis 1981: 27). The sternum of the 1st maxillae is small and separated from the coxae. The telopodites are robust and biarticulate. The coxae and sternum of the 2nd maxillae are fused. Telopodites (palps) have three or four segments. Lappets are lacking. A terminal claw (generally divided into five digits) is present. The tenacipeds of many male lithobiids have enlarged and modified podomeres, which is a diagnostic feature (Hoffmann 1982: 682). The coxosternite has a median longitudinal cleft along the anterior border that is covered by tooth like projections. The first genital segment of the males is easily recognised due to the large tergite and the trapezoidal sternite on each side of the genital appendages (Lewis 1981: 31). The penis is found on the second genital segment, whereas the female genital segment consists of a small transverse chitinised band and two small lobes (Lewis 1981: 31). Males may have secondary sexual structures or sex specific pheromone organs on the last set of legs (Lewis 1981: 21; Edgecombe 2001: 44). The 1st genital segment of the females has a large tergite and a trapezoidal sternite on each side of the genital appendages (Lewis 1981: 31). In females, the gonopods are represented by a broad basal segment on which two or three large flattened spines are usually found on the inner posterior edge. The female gonopods also have a claw and two or more spurs (for camouflaging eggs in soil), characteristics unique to the Lithobiomorpha (Edgecombe 2001: 45).

General References

Edgecombe, G. 2001. Centipedes: the great Australian bite. Nature Australia Autumn: 42-51

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

Lewis, J.G.E. 1981. The Biology of Centipedes. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press vii 476 pp.

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