Family ORYIDAE
Introduction
Oryids may reach 220 mm in length and are flat centipedes with an elongate body. The Oryidae have short antennae with basal segments wide, head small and narrow, and ocelli absent. As in all geophilomorphs, the cephalic plate is small, allowing much of the prehensors to be seen from above (Hoffmann 1982: 684). The ventral pore field on the sternites is arranged in four rectangular areas in the sole Australian species (an arrangement that is shared with many other oryids).
Oryidae are inhabitants of soil and forest litter, with one species (Orphnaeus brevilabiatus) believed to have been distributed worldwide through trading routes (Hoffmann 1982: 684).
The family includes three subfamilies: Oryinae (10 genera, 25 species) found in South America and Africa, Trematoryinae (2 genera, 2 species) restricted to Chile, and the single species of the Lamotteophilinae which has been recorded from West Africa (Hoffmann 1982: 685). Only the ubiquitous Orphnaeus brevilabiatus occurs in 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.
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |