A contribution to the centipede fauna of Venezuela (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha

ZOOTAXA

ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)

ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)Copyright © 2014 Magnolia Press

Zootaxa 3821 (1): 151–192

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http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3821.2.1

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:372CEC90-946B-4352-8996-835F33BE05D7

A contribution to the centipede fauna of Venezuela

(Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha)

ARKADY A. SCHILEYKOZoological Museum of the Moscow Lomonosov State University, Bolshaya Nikitskaja Str. 6, Moscow, 125009, Russia.

E-mail: [email protected]

Table of contents

Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Material and methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Systematic part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Order Scolopendromorpha Leach, 1815 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Family Scolopocryptopidae Pocock, 1896 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Subfamily Scolopocryptopinae Pocock, 1896. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Genus Scolopocryptops Newport, 1844 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Scolopocryptops melanostoma Newport, 1845 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Scolopocryptops guacharensis Manfredi, 1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Genus Newportia Gervais, 1847 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Newportia ernsti ernsti Pocock, 1891 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

Newportia longitarsis stechowi Verhoeff, 1938 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Newportia longitarsis guadeloupensis Demange, 1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Newportia monticola Pocock, 1890 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

Newportia sp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

Family Scolopendridae Leach, 1815 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Subfamily Scolopendrinae Leach, 1815 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Scolopendra angulata Newport, 1844 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Subfamily Otostigminae Kraepelin, 1903 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Genus Otostigmus Porat, 1876 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Subgenus Parotostigmus Pocock, 1895. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) pococki Kraepelin, 1903 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) goeldii Brölemann, 1898 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

Genus Rhysida H.C.Wood, 1862 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Rhysida celeris (Humbert & Saussure, 1870) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Family Cryptopidae Kohlrausch, 1881 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Genus Cryptops Leach, 1815 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Subgenus Cryptops s.str. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Cryptops (C.) venezuelae Chamberlin, 1939 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

Remarks to list of species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

Key to Venezuelan Scolopendromorpha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Accepted by A. Minelli: 17 Mar. 2014; published: 20 Jun. 2014 151

Abstract

The descriptions of twelve Venezuelan Scolopendromorpha, a list of species, identification key and detailed list of

localities are presented. Cryptops (C.) venezuelae Chamberlin, 1939, known only from the holotype has been re-described

and Scolopendra conjungens Muralewicz, 1913 reduced to a junior synonym of Scolopendra angulata Newport, 1844 syn.

nov.

Key words: Scolopendromorpha, Venezuela, list of species, key, new synapomorphy, re-descriptions, new synonym

Introduction

The present work continues my studies of the Neotropic Scolopendromorpha (Schileyko & Minelli, 1998; Schileyko, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2013 etc).

Previous data on scolopendromorph fauna of Venezuela was mainly provided by Brölemann (1898a, 1898b), Attems (1930), Chamberlin (1939, 1941, 1942, 1950, 1958), Manfredi (1957), Bücherl (1950, 1959, 1974), González-Sponga (1997, 2000a, 2000b, 2002), Schileyko & Minelli (1998), Chagas (2003, 2013) and Shelley (2006). The last list of species of Venezuela has been provided by Bücherl (1959) comprising 25 species and 12 subspecies belonging to 7 genera.

As the result of the study of 206 specimens of the Scolopendromorpha from 21 localities from 7 states of Venezuela (Fig. 1) 11 taxa of species rank (marked by * asterisk in the list of species; see Appendix 1) and Newportia sp. have been identified.

The systematic part of this paper contains detailed descriptions of the species studied; all of them (except for Newportia sp.) have already been recorded from Venezuela.

Considering all the data the scolopendromorph fauna of Venezuela currently comprises 46 species-rank taxa belonging to 9 genera (see Appendix 1); 18 forms are Venezuelan endemics (marked by (!) in the list) and 4 species are introduced.

Material and methods

Material was collected in both rainy and dry seasons including collecting from small epiphytes on living trees (“MLT” in Material), by hand sorting of the leaves and humus on the soil surface (“LI” or “litter”), using of Tullgren apparatus/funnels (“TU”). Animals listed under “BR” and “ESP” have been taken from bromeliads and dead leaves attached to the trunks of Espeletia (Asteraceae) respectively. The altitude, temperature and associated plants are indicated on labels when possible; “TF” (=“terra firme”) means non-flooded upland forests and “selva nublada” means montane cloud forest.

In Material data are given as on the original labels; “[loc.2]” means that this animal(s) has been collected in locality 2 (see list of localities, Appendix 2). Question marks indicate uncertain/unknown data; additonal information about localities is given in square brackets. The following abbreviations are also used: "leg" for collector, "spec" for the number of individuals with sex undetermined, "ad" for adult, "sad" for subadult, "juv" for juvenile (age was determined based on size and degree of sclerotisation of some outer structures like tarsungula, spines etc).

The main part of the material studied was collected between 1978 and 1988 by Prof. Maurizio G. Paoletti (Padova University, Italy) (“MGP”) who kindly donated this material to be deposited in the Zoological Museum of the Moscow State Lomonosov University (ZMMU). A few specimens were collected and donated to Prof. Paoletti by Dr. Carlos Bordón (Venezuela) and the holotype of Scolopendra conjungens was collected in 1891 by A. Teplow (Russia).

Registration numbers of specimens in the ZMMU collection are indicated; those of specimens, used for descriptions are underlined, e.g., N 7305. Some dozens of specimens (all from ZMMU collection) mainly from Brazil, Cuba, Peru and Dominican Republic were re-examined to clarify the limits of intraspecific variability of investigated species. All these non-Venezuelan samples are referred as “Additional material”.

In the systematic part I have followed the standardized terminology proposed by Bonato et al. (2010).

SCHILEYKO152 · Zootaxa 3821 (1) © 2014 Magnolia Press

FIGURE 1. Map of Venezuela showing States studied.

Systematic part

Order Scolopendromorpha Leach, 1815

Family Scolopocryptopidae Pocock, 1896

Subfamily Scolopocryptopinae Pocock, 1896

Genus Scolopocryptops Newport, 1844

Type-species. Scolopocryptops melanostoma Newport, 1844 (by subsequent designation by Lucas, 1849).

Range. North, Central and South America; China; Japan; Korea; Vietnam; Philippines; Sunda Archipelago; New Guinea; West Africa.

Remarks. The Venezuelan representatives of Scolopocryptops have the following morphological pecularities:1. Mesal surface of forcipular tarsungula with three longitudinal ridges (Fig. 2). Their number (0 or 3) may be

species-specific in Scolopocryptops as all specimens of S. melanostoma examined, S. guacharensis Manfredi, 1957 and S. ferrugineus (L., 1767) have three ridges well-developed, but Vietnamese S. rubiginosus L.Koch, 1878 lacks them having tarsungula round in cross-section.

2. Process of forcipular trochanteroprefemur with a basal transverse suture (Fig. 3), which is much better developed in S. melanostoma than in S. guacharensis.

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Scolopocryptops melanostoma Newport, 1845

Figs 2–7

Otocryptops melanostomus: Attems, 1930: 263;Otocryptops melanostomus: Bücherl, 1950: 194;Otocryptops melanostomus: Bücherl, 1959: 238;Scolopocryptops melanostoma: Chagas, 2010: 164.

Locus typicus: St. Vincent Island, West Indies.Material. Aragua State, Parco Henri Pittier, leg MGP: 1 ad [largest spec ca 45 mm], [loc.2], Rancho Grande,

Bds, 29.08.1980, N 7169; 1 sad, [loc.3], N 18, Portachuello, selva nublada, 1250 m, BR, 02.1987, N 7170; 1 sad + 2 juv, [loc.3], N 15, Portachuello, selva nublada, 1250 m, BR, 02.1987, N 7172. Miranda State, [loc.10], Guatopo [National Park], Los Alpes [del Tuy], N 32, bosque humedo tropical, 600 m, r[otten] log, 02.1987, 1 sad, leg MGP, N 7171. 6 specimens in all.

Additional material. Dominican Republic, St. Cristobal, 1 spec, N 7075. Brazil, Amazônas, km 10 of Manaos, 1 spec, N 7173. E Indonesia, West Papua, S Bird’s Neck, 3 spec.

Description of adult N 7172. Length of body ca 32 mm (maximal length for this species up to 60 mm according to Attems, 1930). Color in ethanol: dark-yellow with cephalic plate + tergite 1 and ultimate segment somewhat darker; forcipular segment brown. The body with very sparse minute setae, tarsi of legs somewhat more setose. Tarsus of legs 22 with some quite long setae; femur of ultimate legs setose dorsally, tibia and (especially) tarsus of these legs densely covered with quite long setae.

Antennae composed of 17 articles; 10 basal articles are flattened dorso-ventrally, the following articles are cylindrical. 6 basal articles with a few long setae, subsequent articles densely pilose.

Cephalic plate without any sutures, coarsely and sparsely punctate (Fig. 4), with sides practically parallel to each other and with both anterior and posterior corners considerably rounded; it is relatively narrow, so the forcipules are clearly visible in dorsal view.

Second maxillae: article 2 of telopodite distally with a short but well-developed dorsal spur. Pretarsus without accessory spines.

Forcipular segment: ventral surface of coxosternite and trochanteroprefemora coarsely and sparsely punctate. Coxosternite with long median suture which reaches middle; some transverse sutures (Fig. 3) cross the median one in anterior third of coxosternite. Short chitin-lines well-developed; they are homologous with those of Geophilomorpha and have been already reported for Scolopendromorpha by Schileyko & Minelli (1998) and Schileyko (2013). Anterior margin of coxosternite strongly sclerotised (dark brown or practically black in color), concave and forming a very obtuse angle (Fig. 3). Anterior margin clearly divided by a median diastema into two very low lobes, without setae or sutures. A weakly pigmented triangular area of cuticle just behind anterior margin of coxosternite. Trochanteroprefemur with large obtuse process, with a well-developed basal suture (Fig. 3). Tarsungula normal, their internal surface with three well-developed longitudinal ridges (Fig. 2).

Tergites: very sparsely punctate. Tergite 1 (Fig. 4) with curved anterior transverse suture and very short fine paramedian sutures just behind it; these sutures branching widely posteriorly. Anterior margin of tergite 1 is covered by the cephalic plate, which covers anterior transverse suture. Tergite 2 very short (as long as 1/3-1/2 of tergite 3), with some transverse sutures anteriorly and rudiments of paramedian sutures anterior to them. Tergites 3-21 with complete paramedian sutures, tergites 22-23 without sutures. Only tergites (6)7-21 marginate. Tergite 23 nearly as long as wide, somewhat narrowed towards the convex posterior margin. All tergites lack lateral longitudinal sutures and median keel.

Sternites coarsely and sparsely punctate. Sternites 2-17 practically rectangular (Fig. 5), sternites 18-22 trapeziform. Sternites 2 and 4 with very short anterior median suture, this suture much longer on sternite 3 (up to 1/3 of the length of this sternite). Paramedian sutures and transverse sutures/depressions absent. Ultimate sternite somewhat wider than long and narrowed towards practically straight posterior margin; its sides curved (Fig. 6).

Legs: with a few short setae, tarsi of legs 1-21 undivided (Fig. 5). Legs 1-18 with lateral and ventral tibial spurs (which are approximately of the same size) and a tarsal spur. Legs 19 with tarsal spur only, legs 20-22 without spurs. Pretarsi of normal length, thin and sharply pointed. Only legs 1-13 with minute accessory spines; in legs 9-13 these spines are rudimentary.


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FIGURES 2–5. Scolopocryptops melanostoma Newport, 1845 2 adult N 7169: forcipular tarsungula, ventral view 3 adult N 7172: forcipular segment and segment 1, ventral view 4 adult N 7172: cephalic plate and segments 1–2, dorsal view 5 adult N 7172: segments of anterior body half, ventral view; (ta)—forcipular tarsungulum, (lr)—mesal longitudinal ridges of forcipular tarsungulum, (cxs)—forcipular coxosternite, (trf)—trochanteroprefemur of forcipules, (ms)—median suture of forcipular coxosternite, (ts)—transverse sutures, (chl)—chitin-lines, (am)—anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite, (md)—median diastema, (ptr)—process of forcipular trochanteroprefemur, (bs)—basal suture, (lpa)—less pigmented triangular area of coxosternite, (tg1)—tergite 1, (st)—sternite, (utl)—undivided tarsus of leg.

Coxopleuron (Figs 6, 7) more than twice as long as sternite 23. Coxopleural processes cylindrical, definitely longer than sternite 23 and diverging slightly. Tip of process pointed but not harpoon-like as in Newportia (see below). Nearly all surface of coxopleuron with coxal pores of various size—only coxopleural process and a relatively wide area bordering the posterior margin of coxopleuron poreless. Coxopleural surface without setae.Posterior margin of pleuron (=pleural part of coxopleuron) of ultimate leg-bearing segment forming an acute angle, its tip rounded (Fig. 7); a minute additional dark spine at dorsal side of this angle.


Ultimate legs: long and slender (Fig. 7), 9–10 mm long, width of prefemur ca 0.5 mm; all articles cylindrical in cross-section. Prefemur slightly flattened dorsally, its distal part is somewhat thicker than basal part. Prefemur with two conical pointed spinous processes at mid length—a large ventral and a much smaller dorso-medial one (Figs 6, 7). Accessory spines absent. Distal part of femur, tibia and tarsus densely setose.

Range. Chagas (2010) recorded this species for Mexico, Central America (Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala to Panama), Puerto Rico in Greater Antilles, Martinique, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad in Lesser Antilles and South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil). He also recorded it from Australasia (Fiji Islands) and Indo-Malaysia (Nicobar Island, Vietnam), Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. I add to this list Dominican Republic (Island Haiti in Greater Antilles) and West Papua (New Guinea).

In Venezuela. Aragua State, Municipio Mario Briceño Iragorry, Henri Pittier National Park. Miranda State, Municipio Acevedo, Guatopo National Park. Zulia State, “Gegend von Ayapaina”.

Variability. Compared to the specimens of melanostoma from West Papua, Venezuelan specimens are smaller but have the coxopleural process comparatively longer (somewhat longer than ultimate sternite) and much more slender.

Discussion. Attems (1930: 259, 263) wrote that S. melanostoma has pretarsi of legs with poorly-developed accessory spines or totally without these spines, using this condition as the diagnostic character for this species in the key. All specimens of melanostoma studied show accessory spines normally developed on legs of anterior body half (usually at legs 1–13), on the remaining legs these spines are rudimentary and sometimes hardly visible.

Scolopocryptops guacharensis Manfredi, 1957

Figs 8–11

Scolopocryptops ferrugineus guacharensis Manfredi, 1957: 176;Scolopocryptops guacharensis: Chagas, 2003: 65.

Locus typicus: Venezuela, Monagas State, Cueva del Güácharo.Material. Venezuela, [Monagas State, Municipio Caripe], [loc.2], Cueva del Guacero [=Güácharo], 08.1978,

leg MGP, 1 ad, N 7167. 1 specimen in all.Material of Scolopocryptops ferrugineus (L., 1767) studied for comparison. Brazil, Mato Grosso, Chapada dos

Guimaraes, 3 subad, NN 7175, 7176. Dominican Republic: Prov. La Vega, 2 spec, NN 6761, 6762; Prov. Barahona, 1 spec, 6763. Jamaica: S Cockpit Country, 1 spec, N 6765; 1 juv, N 6961. Peru: Region Ukayali, Coronel Portillo Province, 60 km E of Pucalpa: 1 ad, N 6690; 1 ad + 2 juv, N 6691; 2 ad, N 6692; Peru, Region Junin, Chanchamayo Province, la Merced, 1 spec, N 7366 [old number 1220]. Cuba: Pinar del Rio, 2 spec, N 6345; Guantanamo, 1 spec, N 7054. West Africa, Guinea, Nimba, 1 spec, N 7321.

Description of adult N 7167. Length of body 42–43 mm. Color in ethanol: entire animal uniformly reddish-brown with antenna and legs somewhat lighter. The body practically without setae; sternites and legs somewhat more setose.

Antennae: distal articles missing in both antenna. 3 basal articles with a few long setae dorsally, 2 basal articles with more numerous long setae ventrally. Subsequent articles densely pilose. All antennal articles cylindrical.

Cephalic plate as long as wide, posteriorly rounded (Fig. 8) and without sutures. Ventral surface of clypeus coarsely punctate with a minute seta disposed in each punctum.

Second maxillae: article 2 of telopodite distally with a well-developed dorsal spur. Pretarsus without accessory spines.

Forcipular segment (Fig. 9): ventral surface of coxosternite and forcipules coarsely punctate; a minute seta is in each punctum. Coxosternite with transverse sutures at left and right side; medial ends of these sutures branching but not connecting to each other. Short chitin-lines well-developed. Anterior margin of a coxosternite strongly sclerotised (dark brown or practically black in color), convex (vs. concave in melanostoma) and forming a very obtuse angle. This margin divided into two parts by a median diastema, each part with 1 median and 1 lateral tooth. Both parts with a common basal suture (Fig. 9); 4(5)+4(5) setae are disposed in a straight line just below this suture. Trochanteroprefemur with well-developed conical process which is slightly curved inwards/mediad and with a thin basal suture. Tarsungula normal, their interior surface with three well-developed parallel longitudinal ridges.




FIGURES 6–9. Scolopocryptops melanostoma Newport, 1845 (adult N 7172) 6 segment 23 and prefemora of ultimate legs, ventral view 7 segment 23 and ultimate legs, lateral view; Scolopocryptops guacharensis Manfredi, 1957 (adult N 7167) 8cephalic plate and segments 1–2, dorsal view 9 forcipular segment and segment 1, ventral view; (ust)—sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (cx)—coxopleuron, (cxp)—coxopleural process, (pm)—posterior margin of pleuron of segment 23, (vsp)—ventral spinous process of ultimate prefemur, (dmsp)—dorso-medial spinous process of ultimate prefemur, (ts)—transverse sutures, (am)—anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite, (ltam)—lateral tooth of anterior margin of coxosternite, (bsam)—basal suture of anterior margin of coxosternite, (ptr)—process of forcipular trochanteroprefemur, (tg1)—tergite 1.


FIGURES 10–13. Scolopocryptops guacharensis Manfredi, 1957 (adult N 7167) 10 leg of midbody segment, lateral view 11

leg 22, lateral view; Newportia longitarsis stechowi Verhoeff, 1938 12 adult N 7304: harpoon-like tip of spinous process of prefemur of ultimate leg, lateral view; Newportia ernsti ernsti Pocock, 1891 13 adult N 7079: cephalic plate and segment 1, dorsal view; (utl)—undivided tarsus of leg, (t)—tibia of leg, (vsp)—ventral spinous process of ultimate prefemur, (ht)—harpoon-like tip of spinous process, (ats)—anterior transverse suture.


Tergites: tergite 1 with a curved anterior transverse suture; anterior margin of tergite 1 covered by the cephalic plate (Fig. 8), which covers anterior transverse suture as well. Tergites 5–7 with very short traces of paramedian sutures at posterior margin, tergites 8–20 with complete paramedian sutures (these sutures are better developed on the middbody tergites); tergites (21)22–23 without paramedian sutures. All tergites without lateral longitudinal sutures and median keel. Tergites 8–9 with poorly defined and tergites 10–21 with normal margination; tergites 22–23 without margination. Tergite 23 long, half as wide as tergite 22; this tergite not narrowed posteriorly, its posterior margin convex.

Sternites 2–4(5) rectangular, the following sternites trapeziform. Sternite 1 with thin paired anterior sutures which diverge posteriorly and half as long as sternite. Sternites 1–21(22) anteriorly with some thin branching transverse sutures, which form an anastomosing pattern much better developed in the anterior body half. Ultimate sternite narrowed towards straight posterior margin.

Legs: practically all legs are detached, 1–21 with undivided tarsi. Legs 1–19 with lateral and ventral tibial spurs (ventral spur is always longer, than lateral one) and one tarsal spur (Fig. 10). Leg 20 with ventral tibial and tarsal spurs, leg 21 with tarsal spur only and leg 22 without any spur (Fig. 11). All legs with a pair of well-developed accessory spines.

Coxopleuron with dense small and very small coxal pores, only tip of conical сoxopleural process and very narrow area bordering the ultimate tergite poreless. Tips of both сoxopleural processes are missing; coxopleural surface without setae. Posterior margin of ultimate pleuron forming a sharp angle, its tip is rounded; an additional dark spine at dorsal side of this angle.

Ultimate legs missing. Range. This species is Venezuelan endemic, occurring Cueva [=cave] del Güácharo of El Güácharo National

Park in Monagas State, Municipio Caripe. Discussion. The only specimen is not well preserved, with practically all legs detached and some soft

structures damaged or missing. Chagas (2003) re-describing S. guacharensis wrote (p. 66), that it “is easily set apart from the related S.

ferrugineus by characters of dental [=tooth] plate, the [tergal] paramedian sutures, length [and pilosity] of the last [=ultimate] leg and tibial spurs of the leg”. However, according my observations the main difference between S.

guacharensis and S. ferrugineus is a shape of tooth margin (=fused tooth-plates) of forcipular segment (I can say nothing about the comparative length of ultimate legs, as described above N 7167 missed them). As a result of study of 20 specimens of S. ferrugineus deposited in collection of ZMMU (see “Additional material”) I can state, that all other characters noted above vary intraspecifically in S. ferrugineus and cannot be used as diagnostic for S.

guacharensis. Also I have not seen any degree of depigmentation (see Chagas, 2003: 67) in N 7167. It should be noted as well, that such conditions as the absence of lateral margination of the ultimate tergite is

very rare in the Scolopendromorpha, being unique for a few species of Scolopocryptopinae (Dinocryptops miersii

(Newport, 1845), Scolopocryptops melanostoma, S. ferrugineus and S. guacharensis). In these forms tergite 23 is bordered laterally only by sutures having no real lateral margination.

Genus Newportia Gervais, 1847

Type-species. Newportia longitarsis (Newport, 1845) (by monotypy).

Range. Neotropics: from Mexico to Paraguay, including Caribbean islands.Remarks. Here I describe a new difference between clade Newportiinae (i.e. genera Newportia and Tidops

Chamberlin, 1915) vs. Scolopocryptopinae and Ectonocryptopinae. The representatives of both Scolopocryptopinae and Ectonocryptopinae have a simple, pointed tip to the spinous processes of ultimate legs and coxopleural process. In the species of Newportiinae, however, as illustrated by Lewis (1989) in his description of Newportia longitarsis virginensis Lewis, 1989, the apical part of these processes are curved caudad and have a harpoon-like tip (Fig. 12). The latter is usually accompanied by a long seta (markedly longer than tip itself) (see fig. 28 in Lewis, 1989). This character is a new synapomorphy for Newportiinae; perhaps the adaptive role of these “harpoons” (at least those on the coxopleural processes) is connected with spinning the web on which the spermatophore is deposited in males or with the taking up of spermatophores in females.


Newportia ernsti ernsti Pocock, 1891

Figs 13–18

Newportia ernsti: Attems, 1930: 281;Newportia ernsti: Bücherl, 1959: 236;Newportia ernsti: Schileyko & Minelli, 1998: 274;Newportia ernsti: Schileyko, 2002: 498;Newportia ernsti: Schileyko, 2013: 14.

Locus typicus: Venezuela, Capital District, Municipio Libertador, Caracas.Material. [Miranda State, Municipio Plaza], [loc.14], leg MGP: 1 ad + 2 sad + 2 juv, 37, Bds, Izcaragua

[Country] Club, digging on the terrace, 750, soil, 22.12.1985, N 7281; 1 sad, 38.2, Izcaragua Club, soil digging, 30 x 30, 07.01.1986, N 7282. [Capital District, El Ávila National Park], [loc.15], N 39, M. Avila, Caracas, top soil litter by hands, m 950, litter, 1 ad + 2 juv, 24.12.1985, leg MGP, N 7079. Aragua State, leg MGP: 1 sad, [loc.6], N 48, Guamita, Parque H. Pittier, rotten wood on top soil, 950, 28.12.1985, N 7284; 1 juv, [loc.3], N 17, Portachuelo, Parco Pittier, 1250, selva nublada, TF, soil, 02.1987, N 7283; 2 juv, [loc.4], 66.1, Rancho Grande, Parco Pittier, close to Lab., on Musa sp. etc., 1200, litter, Musa sp. and others, 05.01.1986, N 7280. 13 specimens in all.

Additional material. Dominican Republic, Prov. La Vega, 2 spec, N 6760. Brazil, Amazônas State, env. Manaos, 11 spec, NN 6700, 6701, 6703, 6707, 6795, 7033, 7053.

Description of adult N 7079. Length of body ca 30 mm (maximal length for this species to 45 mm). Color in ethanol: entire animal uniformly light-yellow. Body with small very sparse setae; tibia and tarsus of both legs and ultimate legs visibly more setose.

Antennae short, some apical articles missing. 4 (5) basal articles with very few long setae, subsequent articles densely pilose. Basal articles cylindrical.

Cephalic plate (Fig. 13) very slightly longer than wide with posterior margin rounded. Incomplete (as long as 1/2 of cephalic plate) paramedian sutures are crossed by hardly visible transverse suture close to the posterior margin of cephalic plate.

Second maxillae: article 2 of telopodite distally with a dorsal spur (usual in Newportia); pretarsus without accessory spines.

Forcipular segment: coxosternite with distinct and long median suture; chitin-lines poorly-developed (“short” according to the Schileyko & Minelli, 1998). Anterior margin of coxosternite concave (Fig. 14) divided by median diastema in two sclerotised lobes. These lobes form a very obtuse angle. Trochanteroprefemur practically without process (“with a median tooth” according to the Schileyko & Minelli, 1998). Tarsungula normal, their interior surface with three parallel longitudinal ridges, which are less developed than in the specimens of Venezuelan Scolopocryptops studied.

Tergites: anterior margin of tergite 1 covered by the cephalic plate. Tergite 1 with curved anterior transverse suture (Fig. 13) and complete paramedian sutures, the latter are divided by anterior transverse suture in anterior (shorter) and posterior (longer) parts. The anterior portions of paramedian sutures of tergite 1 are clearly converging anteriorly. Tergites 3–22 with complete paramedian sutures; tergites 5–21 with very poorly-developed median keel and distinct lateral longitudinal sutures. Tergite 23 lacks sutures, slightly wider than long, somewhat narrowed towards convex posterior margin; its sides curved. Only tergite 23 has distinct lateral margination.

Sternites 2–21 with median sulcus, without transverse sulcus. Sternites 3–21 with short lateral sutures anteriorly; these sutures may be not well-developed. Ultimate sternite nearly as long as wide and narrowed posteriorly; its posterior margin practically straight (or very slightly concave) (Fig. 15). Sternites 2–22 with well-developed endosternites.

Legs: prefemur and femur with a few setae, tibia and tarsus more setose; legs (1?)2–21 with a tarsal spur in a proximal half. Legs 1 and 20 with ventral tibial spur, legs 2–19 with both lateral and ventral tibial spurs, legs 21–22 without tibial spurs. Tarsus of legs 1–21 undivided, tarsus of leg 22 consists of tarsus 1 and 2. All legs with normal pretarsus and two accessory spines.

Coxopleuron (Figs 15, 16) (excluding coxopleural process) longer than sternite 23, nearly completely covered with coxal pores of various size—only coxopleural process and a narrow area bordering posterior margin of coxopleuron remaining poreless. Conical coxopleural process very short, its tip distinctly orientated dorsally forming a kind of claw (Fig. 16). Coxopleural surface without setae. Posterior margin of ultimate pleuron does not form any angle/process.


FIGURES 14–18. Newportia ernsti ernsti Pocock, 1891 14 adult N 7079: head, forcipular segment and segment 1, ventral view 15 adult N 7079: segment 23, ventral view 16 adult N 7079: segment 23, ventro-lateral view 17 adult N 7079: segment 23 and left ultimate leg, ventro-medial view 18 juvenile N 7079: left ultimate leg, medial view; (am)—anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite, (ust)—sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (cx)—coxopleuron, (cxp)—coxopleural process, (pm)—posterior margin of pleuron of segment 23, (ut1)—tarsus 1 of ultimate leg, (ut2)—tarsus 2 of ultimate leg.


Ultimate legs (Figs 17, 18): long and slender (width of prefemur ca 0.6 mm), some apical articles of both left (Fig. 17) and right tarsus 2 are missing, length of the remaining part about 7 mm; juvenile specimen from this sample is 14–15 mm long with ultimate legs of 5–6 mm (Fig. 18). Prefemur, femur, tibia and tarsus 1 strongly flattened dorso-ventrally (not triangular in cross-section). Prefemur, femur and tibia are practically of the same length (or tibia is slightly shorter). Juvenile specimen from this sample has tarsus 1 approximately half as long as tibia and tarsus 2 approximately as long as prefemur and femur combined (Fig. 18). Prefemur with a row of 6 ventro-lateral spinous processes, the most basal one is smaller than others. Femur with 2 small ventro-lateral spinous processes. Tarsus is divided into flattened, enlarged tarsus 1 and tarsus 2 which is cylindrical in cross-section, the secondary articles not well-divided.

Range (from Schileyko & Minelli, 1998). St. Vincent; Haiti; Dominican Republic; Brazil (Amazônas; Pará,Aurá; Mato Grosso: Pernambuco); Peru (Region Loreto, Iquitos).

In Venezuela. Capital District, Municipio Libertador, El Ávila National Park; “Caracas, St. Rosa”. Miranda State, Municipio Plaza, Izcaragua Country Club. Aragua State: Municipio Mario Briceño Iragorry, Henri Pittier National Park. “Territorio Federal Amazônas”, Santa Rosa de Amanadona.

Variation. 1. In adult specimen N 7079 the cephalic transverse suture is definite, but in 2 juveniles of N 7079 and in 3 juveniles of NN 7280, 7283 this suture is poorly-developed (practically not recognizable). The same condition is observed in some Brazilian specimens (for example, juvenile N 6707). This fact reduces the gap between N. e. ernsti and N. e. fossulata Bücherl, 1942.

2. The only specimen of N 7282 has posterior margin of cephalic plate covered by tergite 1 and very unclear cephalic transverse suture.

Remarks. N. ernsti is the only Venezuelan representative of this genus which has legs with both lateral and ventral tibial spurs.

Newportia longitarsis stechowi Verhoeff, 1938

Figs 12, 19–31

Newportia longitarsis stechowi: Schileyko & Minelli, 1998: 279;Newportia longitarsis stechowi: Schileyko, 2013: 49.

Locus typicus: Venezuela, Capital District, environs Caracas, Maracay.Material. Aragua State, Parco Henri Pittier, leg MGP: 1 [large] ad, [loc.3], N 13, Portachuelo, BR, 1250, selva

nublada, 02.1987, N 7250; 1 sad, [loc.3], N 15, Portachuelo, 1250, selva nublada, TF, soil, 02.1987, N 7255; 1 ad + 1 sad, [loc.3], N 15, Portachuelo, BR, 1250’, selva nublada, 02.1987, N 7251; 1 ad, [loc.3], N 14[?], Portachuelo, 54[?], rotted wood on top soil, 1250’, soil, 17, 29.12.1985, N 7249; 1 juv, [loc.3], 54.1, Portachuelo, wood branches recently dropped, 1250, soil (h 14), 17, 29.12.1985, N 7254; 1 ad, [loc.4], N 43, La Cumbre, 1500, selva nublada, BR, 02.1987, N 7252; 1 ad + 1 juv, [loc.4], N 45, La Cumbre, 1500, selva nublada, BR, 02.1987, N 7253; Aragua State, [loc.2], Parco Henri Pittier, Pico Rancho Grande, leg MGP: 1 juv, Bds, lett.[?] 16.08.1980, N 7266; 1 juv, Bds, N 46, [?]i alh[?]i, 27.12.1988, N 7303; 1 [largest] ad + 1 sad + 5 juv [tarsus 2 of 10 articles], Bds, 29.08.1980, N 7258; 1 juv, Bds, [Pico?], humus, 18.08.1980, N 7264; 1 juv, N 01, 1200, selva nublada, BR, 02.1987, N 7262; 1 ad, N 4, 1200, selva nublada, BR, 02.1987, N 7260; 1 juv, N 06, 1200, selva nublada, 02.1987, N 7268; 1 ad, N 9, 1200, selva nublada, BR, 02.1987, N 7257; 1 sad, N 09, 1200, selva nublada, TF, soil, 02.1987, N 7261; 1 ad, 1200, selva nublada, BR, 02.1987, N 7267; 1 ad, muro - sott(o) muschio[?], 29.08.1980, N 7256; 1 juv, N 44.1, 1450, hand dissecting Bromeliacae, 27.12.1985, N 7263; 1 ad, N 5, selva nublada, 1200 m, 02.1987, N 7080; 1 juv, [Pico?], ayrantiira[?], lettiera, 18.08.1980, N 7265; 1 sad, 43 terra, Bds, 27.12.1985, N 7259. Miranda State, [loc.9], N 27, Guatopo, La Macanilla, 700, bosque humedo tropical, BR, soil, 1 sad + 1 juv, 02.1987, leg MGP, N 7302. Trujillo State, Boconó, Ande, leg MGP: 3 ad + 1 juv, [loc.18], N 54, Guaramacal, 3000, Paramo, ESP, 02.1987, N 7296; 3 ad + 1 juv, [loc.18], N 56, Guaramacal, 3000, Paramo, ESP Morc. [Espeletia moritziana ?], 02.1987, N 7299; 2 ad, [loc.18], N 57, Guaramacal, 3000, Paramo, 02.1987, N 7295; 2 ad, [loc.18], N 66, Guaramacal, 2890, Subparamo, BR, 02.1987, N 7294; 1 sad, [loc.18], N 77, Guaramacal, 2500, bosque humedo montano, BR in(?), 02.1987, N 7290; 2 sad + 3 juv, [loc.18], N 78, Guaramacal, 2500, bosque humedo montano, BR, 02.1987, N 7291; 1 juv, [loc.19], N 79, La Cristalina, 2500, Subparamo, BR in, 02.1987, N 7292; 1 sad, [loc.19], N 84, La Cristalina, 2500, Subparamo, litter and under stones, 02.1987, N 7301; 2 ad + 2 sad + 2 juv,


[loc.19], N 85, La Cristalina, 2500, Subparamo, rotten wood, 02.1987, N 7293; 1 sad, [loc.18], N 81, Guaramacal, 2500, Subparamo, BR, 02.1987, N 7298; 2 ad, [loc.17], N 87, Guaramacal, La Laguna, 2000, bosque humedo montano, stones + logs, 02.1987, N 7297; 1 juv, [loc.17], N 93, Guaramacal, La Laguna, 2000, bosque humedo montano, litter on soil, 02.1987, N 7289; 1 ad, [loc.17], N 96, Guaramacal, La Laguna, 2000, bosque humedo montano, BR, 02.1987, N 7288; 3 ad + 1 sad, [loc.17], N 97, Guaramacal, La Laguna, 2000, bosque humedo montano, BR in, 02.1987, N 7300. Federal State [=Capital District, El Ávila National Park], Monte Avila, leg MGP: 2 ad, [loc.16], 39, Caracas, top soil litter by hands, m 950, litter, Bds, 24.12.85, N 7305; 1 ad, [loc.15], Bds, M. Avila cima [=top], 24.08.1980, N 7304. 71 specimens in all.

Additional material. Dominican Republic, Prov. La Vega, 1 sad, N 6759.Description of adult N 7300. Length of body ca 35 mm (maximal length for this subspecies to 60 mm). Color

in ethanol: entire animal uniformly light-yellow with cephalic plate and forcipular segment somewhat darker. Antennae: very short, reaching the middle of tergite 2 when reflexed. 4(5) basal articles with very few long

setae, subsequent articles densely pilose. Basal articles cylindrical.Cephalic plate with posterior corners rounded (Fig. 19), its posterior margin with very short paramedian

sutures.Forcipular segment: coxosternite without any visible sutures but short chitin-lines (Fig. 20); its anterior margin

is slightly convex and divided by median diastema into two sclerotized, low convex lobes (Fig. 20). Each lobe is with a very small lateral tubercle and one long seta. Trochanteroprefemur without process. Tarsungula normal, their interior surface with three parallel longitudinal ridges, which are less developed than in specimens of Venezuelan Scolopocryptops studied.

Tergites: anterior margin of tergite 1 covered by the cephalic plate. This tergite with curved anterior transverse suture and incomplete paramedian sutures stretching from the transverse suture to the posterior margin of this tergite (Fig. 19); these sutures somewhat diverging anteriorly. Tergite 2 very short, i.e. as long as 1/3 of tergite 3.Tergite 3 with thin oblique sutures. Tergites 2–22 with complete paramedian sutures and lateral longitudinal sutures; tergite 23 lacks sutures. Tergites 3–21 with well-developed median keel; tergites 1–22 with very weak margination, only tergite 23 distinctly marginate. Tergite 23 (Fig. 21) slightly wider than long, somewhat narrowed towards the posterior margin which varies from very slightly concave to practically straight; its sides curved.Pretergites hidden.

Sternites trapeziform the shape is better seen in anterior segments. Sternites 2(3)–21 with incomplete lateral sutures (Fig. 22), which are much better developed in midbody segments. Sternites 2(3)–21 with shallow median sulcus; in some sternites very weak incomplete transverse sulcus may be present between the coxae. Ultimate sternite (Fig. 23) practically as long as wide and narrowed towards concave posterior margin. Endosternites well-developed at sternites 2–20.

Legs: with a few short setae. Legs 1–22 with lateral tibial spur, tarsal spurs absent. Legs 1–22 with undivided tarsus (Fig. 22) and two small accessory spines. Pretarsi short and pointed.

Coxopleuron (Fig. 23) (excluding coxopleural process) much longer than sternite 23, conical coxopleural process long and thin. Coxopleuron with coxal pores of various size, more scattered in posterior half; coxopleural process and an elongated area bordering coxopleuron medially poreless. Coxopleural surface without setae. Posterior margin of ultimate pleuron forming an obtuse angle, its tip slightly elongated producing a small process (Fig. 23).

Ultimate legs (Fig. 24): relatively short, 9–10 mm long, width of prefemur ca 0.5 mm and covered with minute setae—less dense on tibia and more dense on tarsus. Prefemur triangular in cross-section, with a row of 4 ventral, apically curved spinous processes (Fig. 23); the most proximal process much smaller than the 3 others. Femur cylindrical, with 2 small spinous processes medially—one close to its base and another at mid length (Fig. 21). Cylindrical tibia practically as long as prefemur or femur. Tarsus 1 somewhat thicker and half as long as tarsus 2 (Fig. 24), which consists of 8 distinct articles. Tarsus 1 cylindrical and as long as 1/2 of tibia or 3 basal articles of tarsus 2.

Complementary description of two adults (N 7305) differing from N 7300 in the following details.Length of body ca 33 and ca 31 mm. Antennae: short, reaching the middle of tergite 3 when reflexed. 1–2 basal articles with a few long setae,

remaining articles densely pilose—the density increasing between articles 3 and 6. Cephalic plate without any traces of paramedian sutures.


FIGURES 19–22. Newportia longitarsis stechowi Verhoeff, 1938 (adult N 7300) 19 cephalic plate and segment 1, dorsal view 20 forcipular segment and segments 1–2, ventral view 21 segments 22–23, prefemora and femora of ultimate legs, dorsal view 22 segments of anterior body half, ventral view; (ats)—anterior transverse suture, (chl)—chitin-lines, (utg)— tergite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (sls)—sternal lateral sutures, (smsl)—sternal median sulcus, (spf)—spinous processes of ultimate femur.


FIGURES 23–25. Newportia longitarsis stechowi Verhoeff, 1938 23 adult N 7300: segment 23 and prefemora of ultimate legs, ventro-lateral view 24 adult N 7300: ultimate legs, ventro-lateral view 25 larger adult N 7305: head and forcipular segment, ventral view; (cx)—coxopleuron, (pm)—posterior margin of pleuron of segment 23, (ust)—sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (vsp)—ventral spinous processes of ultimate prefemur, (spf)—spinous processes of ultimate femur, (ut1)—tarsus 1 of ultimate leg, (ut2)—tarsus 2 of ultimate leg, (ptm2)—telopodite of second maxilla, (am)—anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite.


FIGURES 26–29. Newportia longitarsis stechowi Verhoeff, 1938 26 larger adult N 7305: segment 23 and prefemora and femora of ultimate legs, ventral view 27 larger adult N 7305: tarsus of left ultimate leg 28 adult N 7304: segments 22–23, ventro-lateral view 29 adult N 7304: prefemur + tarsus of left ultimate leg, ventral view; (ust)—sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (cx)—coxopleuron, (cxp)—coxopleural process, (vsp)—ventral spinous processes of ultimate prefemur, (spf)—spinous processes of ultimate femur, (ut1)—tarsus 1 of ultimate leg, (ut2)—tarsus 2 of ultimate leg, (up)—prefemur of ultimate legs.


FIGURES 30–34. Newportia longitarsis stechowi Verhoeff, 1938 30 the first adult of N 7294: segment 23, prefemora and femora of ultimate legs, lateral view 31 the second adult of N 7294: prefemur of right ultimate leg, lateral view; Newportia

longitarsis guadeloupensis Demange, 1981 (juvenile N 7279) 32 cephalic plate and segments 1–3, dorsal view 33 forcipular segment, ventral view 34 left ultimate leg, lateral view; (vsp)—ventral spinous processes of ultimate prefemur, (ut1)—tarsus 1 of ultimate leg, (ut2)—tarsus 2 of ultimate leg, (am)—anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite, (cx)—coxopleuron, (tg1)—tergite 1.


Forcipules: sclerotized anterior margin of coxosternite forms practically straight line (Fig. 25); minute lateral tubercle present at each side of coxosternite.

Tergites: tergite I with a curved anterior transverse suture and a small shallow depression just behind its middle. This depression meets the anterior ends of short (ca 1/3 length of this tergite) parallel paramedian sutures. Tergites 2–22 with complete paramedian sutures, tergites 3–20(21) with lateral longitudinal sutures (which are longer on posterior tergites). Tergites 6(7)–21 with median keel. Only tergite 23 has well-developed margination; its posterior margin slightly convex. Pretergites present on tergites 3–22.

Sternites 1–20 with incomplete but well-developed lateral sutures (not longer than ½ of sternal length). Endosternites well-developed at sternites 1–20.

Legs: prefemur, femur and tibia with a few short setae, tarsus more setose. Accessory spines of legs 1–22 rudimentary.

Coxopleuron (excluding coxopleural process) longer than sternite 23, conical coxopleural process (Fig. 26) long (much wider at base than in N 7300). Coxopleuron with numerous coxal pores of various size—only posteriorhalf of coxopleural process and wide elongated area bordering coxopleuron medially poreless. Posterior margin of ultimate pleuron forming a rectangle, its tip a small process.

Ultimate legs: both specimens have apical part of tarsus 2 missing (no more than 7 articles remain) except one leg of larger specimen which is not normally developed (see below). Prefemur with a row of four ventral spinous processes except for right prefemur of larger specimen, which abnormally has three (Fig. 26). Tarsus consists of distinct (except left leg of larger specimen; see below) cylindrical articles.

Variation. Adult specimen of N 7251 has anterior transverse suture of tergite 1 not curved but obtusely angled.Length of antenna varies from very short (reaching the middle of tergite 2 when reflexed in N 7300) to short

(reaching the posterior margin of tergite 3 in N 7304).Investigation of 30 specimens of N. longitarsis stechowi from 9 Venezuelan localities (Schileyko & Minelli,

1998: 283) demonstrated very wide variability in the length of paramedian sutures on tergite 1. The length of these sutures in recently studied material varies from half-complete to extremely short (practically absent). For example, both large adults of N 7297 have very short sutures. Very rarely the posterior ends of one or both paramedian sutures of tergite 1 are bifurcate. In the largest (ca 58 mm) specimens (N 7258) the paramedian sutures of tergite 1 are half-complete, shortly branching just behind the anterior transverse suture. Posterior margin of cephalic plate in this specimen is covered by tergite 1 with very short posterior paramedian sutures. In these aspects this specimen is similar to N. adisi Schileyko & Minelli, 1998 (see fig. 17 in Schileyko, 2013), from which it is readily distinguishable by shape of the forcipular tooth-plates and absence of sutures on the forcipular coxosternite.

There is variability in the structure of the ultimate legs: in adult specimens they are much more slender than in juveniles. In a few representatives of this subspecies (for example N 7305, see above) the tibia and tarsus of ultimate legs are quite densely covered with short setae. Adult specimen N 7304 has the coxopleura (Fig. 28), legs of posterior segments and ultimate legs (Fig. 29) densely covered by long setae; a few posterior tergites in this specimen are setose as well.

Sometimes the ventral spinous processes of prefemur of ultimate legs are much larger than usual (Fig. 30). The number of these processes is rarely less than 4—for example, both specimens of N 7294 have right prefemur with 3 (i.e. as in N. l. guadeloupensis) and left prefemur with 4 unusually large ventral spinous processes. In one of these specimens two processes of right prefemur have a common base (Fig. 31) and in another specimen tarsus 2 consists of 5 articles (result of regeneration?). Of four specimens of N 7296 one juvenile and one subadult have 4+4 prefemoral spinous processes, the second subadult has 3+4 and the third subadult has 3+3 ones.

Normally developed tarsus 2 of ultimate legs in N. l. stechowi consists of 7–10 articles, much more rarely of 6 articles (four specimens, N 7296). Interestingly, enlargement of prefemoral spinous processes correlates with a lower (6–7) number of articles of tarsus 2. One of two specimens of N 7297 has tarsus 2 consisting of 4 articles (seems to be a result of regeneration), of which the apical article is unusually long. The left ultimate leg of the larger specimen of 7305 has a rare peculiarity—its tarsus 2 is indistinctly divided (Fig. 27) as in the Scolopendrides-group of species (see also Schileyko, 2013: 7). However, this leg evidently is a result of regeneration being considerably shorter and thinner than the normally developed right one.

Range. Grenada. Colombia: Bogota; Camelia; Cruz Verde; Tambo; Cafetal Camelia; Cali. In Venezuela. Capital District, Municipio Libertador, “Maracay env. Caracas”; El Ávila National Park, Pico El

Ávila. Aragua State, Rancho Grande. Mérida State: Municipio Libertador, Sierra de La Culata, Páramo El Escorial;


Municipio Santos Marquina, Sierra Nevada National Park, La Mucuy Alta. Trujillo State, Municipio Boconó, Guaramacal National Park, Laguna de Los Cedros. Mérida State: Paramo de Piedra Blanca; laguna de Mucuboje; Pico del Aguile. [? State], Cueva Casas de Piedra.

Newportia longitarsis guadeloupensis Demange, 1981

Figs 32–34

Newportia longitarsis guadeloupensis: Schileyko & Minelli, 1998: 277;Newportia longitarsis guadeloupensis: Schileyko, 2013: 49.

Locus typicus: Guadeloupe: Matouba.Material. [Trujillo State], [loc.17], N 89, Boconó, Guaramacal [National Park], La Laguna, 2000, bosque

humedo montano, soil, 4 juv, leg MGP, 02.1987, N 7279. 4 specimens in all.Description of juvenile N 7279. Length of body 8–9 mm; maximal length for this species 40 mm (Demange,

1981). Color in ethanol: entire animal slightly yellow. Both anterior and posterior ends with sparse minute setae, the legs (including ultimate ones) more setose and setae are much longer.

Antennae composed of 17 articles (Fig. 32), reaching the posterior margin of tergites 3 when reflexed. 3 basal articles with a few long setae, subsequent articles densely pilose. Basal articles cylindrical.

Cephalic plate slightly longer than wide (Fig. 32), rectangular in shape, with rounded corners; paramedian sutures absent.

Forcipules: coxosternite without any sutures but chitin-lines. Anterior margin of coxosternite weakly bilobed (Fig. 33). Tarsungula normal. Schileyko & Minelli (1998) noted that specimens from Mérida have forcipular coxosternite with chitin-lines and forcipular trochanteroprefemur without a process.

Tergites: anterior margin of tergite 1 (Fig. 32) covered by the cephalic plate. Tergite 1 with anterior transverse suture and incomplete paramedian sutures stretching from the transverse suture to the posterior tergal margin; these sutures diverging anteriorly. Tergites 3–21 with well-developed median keel. Tergites 2–22 with complete paramedian sutures, tergites 4(5)–21(22) with lateral longitudinal sutures (which are better developed in the mid body region). Tergite 23 wider than long, not narrowed towards slightly convex posterior margin; its sides curved.

Sternites trapeziform; sternites 6–16(17) with incomplete lateral sutures, which are much better developed in the mid body region. Sternites 3–18(19) with short longitudinal median sulcus. Ultimate sternite distinctly narrowed towards straight posterior margin. Endosternites clearly visible at sternites 4–20.

Legs (1)2–20 with lateral tibial spur; the tarsi of legs 1–22 undivided. Pretarsi long and pointed.Coxopleuron (excluding coxopleural process) longer than sternite 23, the pore-field elongated, with 10–12

pores. Coxopleural process long and conical, poreless and without setae; each process with two long ventro-lateral seta. Posterior margin of ultimate pleuron forming an obtuse angle, its tip in the shape ofa short pointed process.

Ultimate legs (Fig. 34) ca 2.5 mm long, width of prefemur ca 0.2 mm. Prefemur with a row of 3 ventral spinous processes, the most basal process is somewhat smaller than the other two. Femur medially with 1 small spinous process close to base. Tibia cylindrical, approximtely as long as femur. Tarsus clearly divided; tarsus 1 clavate, approximately as long as 3 basal articles of tarsus 2, which consists of 9 distinct articles.

Range. Guadeloupe: Matouba. In Venezuela. Mérida State: Paramo Mucuboje; laguna del Mucuboje; Paramo del B[l]anco. Trujillo State,

Municipio Boconó, Guaramacal National Park, Laguna de Los Cedros.Remarks. Judging from their small size, very light color and soft integument these 4 specimens are juveniles.

So the conditions of the second maxillae, both forcipular chitin-lines and process of trochanteroprefemur, presence of longitudinal ridges at interior surface of forcipular tarsungula, margination of tergites, presence of spurs and accessory spines of legs, sizes of coxopleural pore-field are difficult to observe.

N. l. guadeloupensis seems to prefer to live at the altitude above 1000 m.Discussion. N. longitarsis guadeloupensis has been already reported for Venezuela (5 specimens from Mérida

State) by Schileyko & Minelli (1998). We read (p. 277): “this form seems to be very close to N. longitarsis

stechowi, from which it differs mainly (according to the original description and our own observations) in having three, not four, ventral spines [=spinous processes] on the ultimate prefemur (Tabs II, III). The original description specifies neither the number nor the position of spines [=spinous processes] on the ultimate femur; our specimens


have one femoral spine only, proximal internal in position, whereas most specimens of N. l. stechowi have, in addition, another spine in the middle of the interior [=medial] surface”.

As already noted, a few specimens of longitarsis stechowi (for example, NN 7294, 7296) may have one ultimate leg with 4 and another with 3 prefemoral spinous processes (Fig. 30). Schileyko & Minelli (1998) reported the same combination for 3 specimens of “pusilla”-like l. stechowi from Mérida (Pico del Aguile). Moreover, these 3 specimens have only one (as in l. guadeloupensis), not two (as is usual for l. stechowi) spinous process on theultimate leg femur. Thus, in some cases the difference between l. stechowi and l. guadeloupensis are clear-cut.

However, the present study has shown that all 4 specimens of l. guadeloupensis have tarsus 1 of ultimate leg clavate vs. tarsus 1 invariably cylindrical in l. stechowi; unfortunately there is no information about shape of this tarsus 1 in the original description of l. guadeloupensis. This character should be taken into consideration in separating these two subspecies.

Newportia monticola Pocock, 1890

Figs 35–41

Newportia monticola: Attems, 1930: 277;Newportia monticola: Schileyko & Minelli, 1998: 284;Newportia monticola: Schileyko, 2002: 498;Newportia monticola: Schileyko, 2013: 51.

Locus typicus: Ecuador, Chimborazo.Material. Venezuela, Trujillo State: 1 juv, [loc.19], Boconó, Ande, N 85, la Cristalina, 2500, Subparamo,

rotten wood, 02.1987, N 7287; 1 ad, [loc.18], Guaramacal National Park, N 76, bosque humedo montano, LI, 2500 m, by hand, 02.1987, N 7078; 1 ad, [loc.18], Guaramacal National Park, N 82, 2500, Subparamo, soil 30x30, 02.1987, N 7286; 1 ad, [loc.18], Guaramacal National Park, N 57, 3000, Paramo, soil 30x30, 02.1987, N 7285. 4 specimens in all.

Additional material. Peru, Region Loreto, Iquitos, 1 subad, N 7195. Brazil, Amazônas, Manaus: 5 subad, NN 6634, 6642, 6644, 7196. Panama, Colon Prov., San Lorenzo forest, 1 ad, N 7156. Jamaica Isl., Manchester Parish, 1 ad, N 6771.

Description of adult N 7078. Length of body ca 39 mm; maximal length for this species 40 mm. Color in ethanol: uniformly yellow with cephalic plate, forcipular segment and ultimate segment somewhat darker. Body with very sparse small setae; distal articles of the legs and ultimate legs more setose.

Antennae composed of 17 articles, reaching the anterior margin of tergite 4 when reflexed. 2.5 basal articles with very few long setae, subsequent articles (from the distal part of the 3rd) densely pilose. Basal articles cylindrical.

Cephalic plate (Fig. 35) longer than wide with posterior margin rounded; this margin with short paramedian sutures.

Second maxillae (Fig. 36): article 2 of telopodite distally with a well-developed dorsal spur. Pretarsus without accessory spines.

Forcipular segment: coxosternite without sutures but very short chitin-lines. Anterior margin of coxosternite divided by median diastema into two strongly sclerotized low lobes, (Fig. 36). Each lobe has a very low lateral tubercle and a long curved setae posterior to sclerotized margin. Trochanteroprefemur without process. Tarsungula of normal length, thin and pointed; their interior surface with two parallel longitudinal ridges.

Anterior margin of tergite 1 covered by the cephalic plate; this tergite (Fig. 37) with an anterior transverse suture in the form of a very obtuse (ca 120°) angle and a shallow median depression just behind its center. Incomplete paramedian sutures of tergite 1 stretch from the posterior tergal margin to the transverse suture. Anterior ends of these sutures bifurcated forming a "W" with their inner branches reaching the median depression. A short transverse suture connects the inner branches of those “forks” thus forming a triangle (Fig. 37). Tergite 2 with a few transverse sutures close to its anterior margin; tergite 3 with thin oblique sutures, bordering anterior corners of this tergite. Less developed oblique sutures present at tergites 4–6. Tergites 2–22 with complete paramedian sutures; tergites 3–20 with lateral longitudinal sutures (Fig. 35). Tergite 23 (Fig. 38) lacks sutures, its


FIGURES 35–39. Newportia monticola Pocock, 1890 35 adult N 7078: cephalic plate and segments 1–3, dorsal view 36

subadult N 7286: forcipular segment, ventral view 37 adult N 7078: segment 1, dorsal view 38 adult N 7078: segment 23, prefemora and femora of ultimate legs, dorsal view 39 adult N 7078: sternite 23, prefemora and femora of ultimate legs, ventro-lateral view; (ptm2)—telopodite of second maxilla, (am)—anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite, (ats)—anterior transverse suture, (ps)—paramedian sutures, (ts)—transverse suture, (ust)—sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (cx)—coxopleuron, (vsp)—ventral spinous processes of ultimate prefemur, (spf)—spinous processes of ultimate femur, (utg)— tergite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (ptg)—pretergite, (lls)—lateral longitudinal sutures.


FIGURES 40–45. Newportia monticola Pocock, 1890 40 adult N 7078: segment 23 and ultimate legs, dorso-lateral view 41

adult N 7285: forcipular segment, ventral view; Newportia sp. (juvenile N 7238) 42 cephalic plate and segments 1–3, dorsal view 43 head, forcipular segment and segments 1–2, ventral view 44 segment 23 and ultimate legs, ventral view; Scolopendra

conjungens Muralewicz, 1913 (=Scolopendra angulata Newport, 1844 syn.nov.) (holotype, adult N 6815) 45 habitus, dorsal view; (vsp)—ventral spinous processes of ultimate prefemur, (ut1)—tarsus 1 of ultimate leg, (ut2)—tarsus 2 of ultimate leg, (utr)—undivided tarsus of ultimate legs, (ut)—tibia of ultimate leg, (am)—anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite, (tg1)—tergite 1.


posterior margin practically straight. Tergites 1–22 with very unclear lateral margination, only tergite 23 distinctly marginate. Tergite 23 somewhat wider than long, not narrowed posteriorly; its sides slightly curved. Tergites 2–22 with pretergites (Fig. 35).

Sternites: trapeziform; sternites 1–21 with incomplete lateral sutures. Sternites (2)3–21 with well-developed median sulcus which is shortened anteriorly. Sternites 14(15)–22 with well-developed transverse sulcus between the coxae. Sternite 23 narrow, considerably longer than wide narrowing to concave posterior margin (Fig. 39). Well-developed endosternites at sternites (1)2–20.

Legs: basal articles with a few short setae, tarsi more setose. Legs 1–20 with lateral tibial spur; legs 1–22 with undivided tarsus. Pretarsi of legs 2–21 with two small accessory spines; these spines are rudimentary on legs 1 and 22. Pretarsi short, strongly pointed and almost straight.

Coxopleuron (Figs 39, 40) (excluding coxopleural process) somewhat longer than sternite 23, with scattered coxal pores of various size except for coxopleural process and an area which borders the coxopleuron posteriorly. Coxopleural process long, conical and curved outwards; coxopleural surface without setae. Posterior margin of ultimate pleuron forming an obtuse angle.

Ultimate legs (Fig. 40) long and slender, 13–14 mm long, width of prefemur 0.7–0.8 mm. Prefemur triangular in cross-section, femur practically cylindrical. Right ultimate leg is evidently regenerated being somewhat shorter than left one. Left prefemur (Fig. 40) with a row of 4 (right prefemur with 3; Fig. 39) ventral spinous processes. These processes are of the same size and apically curved posteriorly; prefemur with many small spines on the lateral and medial surfaces (Figs 38–40). Femur with 2 small spinous processes (Fig. 39): the medial one is close to base of femur and the ventral one is in the distal third. Tibia cylindrical, practically as long as prefemur and femur. Tarsus divided; tarsus 1 as long as two basal articles of tarsus 2. Tarsus 2 consists of nine distinct articles; ultimate

article very long (as long as 7th and 8th articles combined).Range. Ecuador: Chimboraso; La Dormida; Paramo el Angel; Galapagos Islands. Colombia. Costa Rica:

Volcano Yrazu; Cocos Island; San José. British Guayana: Dunoon. Brazil: Amazônas. Peru: Loreto.In Venezuela. Mérida State. Aragua State, Municipio Mario Briceño Iragorry, Henri Pittier National Park.

Trujillo State, Municipio Boconó, Guaramacal National Park.

Variability. More than 100 specimens of monticola from Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Panama examined show some variability in the shape of anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite. In Venezuelan specimens it varies from two very low wide lobes with very small lateral tubercles (for example in NN 7078, 7286; Fig. 36) to much narrower but very high and strongly convex margin clearly divided by a median diastema (for example in N 7285; Fig. 41).

Some specimens (for example NN 7078, 7286 as well as all specimens of additional material) have two well-developed longitudinal ridges on the mesal surface of forcipular tarsungula, but specimen N 7285 has three of them and in juvenile N 7287 (small and poorly pigmented) these keels are not recognizable at all. Thus in Newportia the number of these ridges seems to be not species-specific (see also Remarks to Scolopocryptops). It is interesting, that in Venezuelan specimens of N. monticola this character correlates with a shape of anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite, but this correlation is not seen in the additional material.

Schileyko & Minelli (1998: 284) noted the presence of a small forcipular trochanteroprefemur process in some populations of this species.

Newportia sp.

Figs 42–44

Material. Federal State [=Capital District], [loc.15], N 39, M. Avila, m 950, suolo, Bds, 1 juv, 24.12.1985, N 7238. 1 specimen in all.

Description of juvenile N 7238. Length of body ca 12 mm. Color in ethanol: entire animal uniformly light-yellow (almost white). Body with very sparse minute setae; tergite 23, distal articles of legs and ultimate legs more setose.

Antennae composed of 17 articles, nearly reaching posterior margin of tergite 3 when reflexed (Fig. 42). 4 basal articles with few long setae, subsequent articles densely pilose. Basal articles cylindrical.

Cephalic plate (Fig. 42) clearly longer than wide, with the posterior corners rounded and without paramedian sutures.


Second maxillae: article 2 of telopodite distally with a well-developed dorsal spur. Pretarsus without accessory spines.

Forcipular segment (Fig. 43): coxosternite without any visible sutures but short chitin-lines. Anterior margin of coxosternite practically straight. Trochanteroprefemur without any process; tarsungula normal.

Tergites: anterior margin of tergite 1 covered by the cephalic plate (Fig. 42). Tergite 1 with anterior transverse suture, paramedian sutures absent. Tergites 2–22 with complete paramedian sutures, tergites 3–20 with lateral longitudinal sutures. Tergite 23 without sutures, wider than long and somewhat narrowed posteriorly; its sides curved. Only tergite 23 has distinct margination.

Sternites: practically rectangular, their sides somewhat curved. Sternites 2(3)–20(21) with shallow median sulcus, sternites 2–20(21) with lateral sutures. Ultimate sternite wider than long, strongly narrowed towards the practically straight posterior margin. Endosternites not recognizable.

Legs: basal articles with a few short setae, distal ones more setose. Legs 1–21 with lateral tibial spur, tarsal spurs absent; pretarsi with two minute accessory spines which are hardly visible at x 56. Tarsi of legs 1–21 undivided (Fig. 44).

Coxopleuron (excluding coxopleural process) nearly twice as long as sternite 23, with 20–25 large coxal pores. Conical coxopleural process poreless, bearing few long large setae; coxopleural surface without setae. Posterior margin of ultimate pleuron forming an obtuse angle (or nearly rectangular).

Ultimate legs (Fig. 44) slender (width of prefemur ca 0.2 mm), ca 4 mm long. Femur and tibia cylindrical in cross-section. Prefemur with row of 4 apically curved ventral spinous processes. On the right prefemur these processes are of approximately the same size; the distal process isolated from the others. On the left prefemur the 3rd spine is rudimentary. Femur medially with 1 small spinous processes on the basal third. Tibia practically as long as prefemur and femur. Tarsus not definitely divided into tarsus 1 and tarsus 2 legs (Fig. 44) the latter without distinct articles. Tarsus approximately as long as prefemur, femur and tibia together.

Range. Venezuela, Capital District, El Ávila National Park, Pico El Ávila.Remarks. Because of the small size, very light color and soft integument this specimen is a juvenile. The small

number of coxopleural pores and their large size are definitely juvenile conditions. It seems to be very close to N.

lasia Chamberlin, 1921, which is known from British Guyana (Dunoon), Brazil (Amazônas) and Paraguay (St. Luis) (Schileyko & Minelli, 1998). In general it resembles N. lasia but differs from it in having the prefemur of ultimate legs with 4 ventral spinous processes (vs. 6 in lasia) and femur with 1 ventro-medial spine (vs. 2 in lasia). However, in this single juvenile specimen the configuration of the spinous processes of its left and right prefemora differ. Taking into consideration all these facts, I prefer to retain this specimen as Newportia sp. until more material from this locality is available.

Family Scolopendridae Leach, 1815

Subfamily Scolopendrinae Leach, 1815

Genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758

Type-species. Scolopendra morsitans Linnaeus, 1758.

Range. All tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions.

Scolopendra angulata Newport, 1844

Figs 45–48

Scolopendra conjungens Muralewicz, 1913: 198–200 nov. syn.;Scolopendra angulata: Attems, 1930: 40;Scolopendra angulata: Schileyko, 2002: 497.

Locus typicus: Trinidad.


FIGURES 46–50. Scolopendra conjungens Muralewicz, 1913 (holotype, adult N 6815) 46 forcipular segment and segment 1, ventral view 47 segments 19–21 and ultimate legs, dorsal view 48 segments 19–21 and ultimate legs, ventral view; Otostigmus

(Parotostigmus) pococki Kraepelin, 1903 49 subadult ♀ N 7278: segments of mid body, dorsal view 50 subadult ♀ N 7276: segments 18–20, dorsal view; (pl)—procoxae of legs, (bs)—basal sutures, (sl)—spines of legs 18–21, (ust)—sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (cx)—coxopleuron, (utg)— tergite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (lk)—tergal longitudinal keels, (mk)—median keel, (sp)—tergal spinules.

Material. Venezuela, [Aragua State], [loc.7], m[ounain]. Victoria, 03.1891, 1 ♀, [col.] A.Teplow, N 6815.Additional material: Brazil, Para, Rio Tocantins, 3 spec, NN 6976, 6977, 7212.

Diagnosis. Antennae of 17 articles, 4 basal practically glabrous; subsequent articles covered by very short setae, arranged in longitudinal rows. Cephalic plate with complete paramedian sutures. Forcipular coxosternite punctate, with short median and incomplete transverse suture. Tergite 1 with anterior transverse suture crossed byposteriorly diverging paramedian sutures; tergites 2–20 with paramedian sutures, tergites 7–21 marginate. Sternites 3–20 with incomplete paramedian sutures. Legs 2–20 with tarsal spur; prefemora and femora of legs 18–20 with dorso-distal spines. Femur of ultimate legs with 2–3 dorso-medial and 1 medial spine plus 1 corner spine.

Re-description of holotype of Scolopendra conjungens Muralewicz, 1913 (adult N 6815).Length of body ca 112 mm (105 mm according to the original description). Color in ethanol: entire animal

uniformly greenish-brown (Fig. 45).


Antennae composed of 17 articles, nearly reaching the middle (or anterior margin) of tergite 5 when reflexed. 4 basal articles practically glabrous both dorsally and ventrally, subsequent articles densely covered by very short setae, arranged in longitudinal rows. All articles cylindrical, definitely longer than wide.

Cephalic plate relatively small (Fig. 45), narrowed and convex anteriorly; its posterior margin with rounded corners. Cephalic plate with complete paramedian sutures and transverse suture which crosses their posterior ends.

Second maxillae: article 2 of telopodite distally with a well-developed dorsal spur. Dorsal brush well-developed. Pretarsus with 2 long accessory spines.

Forcipular segment (Fig. 46) punctate, with a seta in each punctum. Coxosternite with short median suture and nearly complete transverse suture in its anterior half; chitin-lines absent. Tooth-plates somewhat longer than wide; each plate with 4 teeth, the lateral tooth is isolated and other 3 are fused to various degree. A single short strong seta in a small rounded depression approximately in the middle of tooth-plate. The basal sutures of the tooth-plates (Fig. 46) form an obtuse angle (ca 100°). Trochanteroprefemur with large process, which has two (apical and median) well-developed tubercles; the process is considerably longer than the tooth-plates. Tarsungula of normal length; their interior surface with a single sharp longitudinal ridge.

Tergites: anterior margin of tergite 1 covered by cephalic plate. Tergite 1 with curved anterior transverse suture and paramedian sutures which cross the transverse suture and diverge strongly posteriorly. The left paramedian suture is complete and the right one is absent in the posterior third of the tergite. Paired bifurcate sutures start from the ends of anterior transverse suture stretching to the middle of this tergite. Tergite 2 very short (its length less than 1/3 of tergite 1). Tergites 2–20 with well-developed paramedian sutures, tergites 4–17 with well-developed oblique sutures. Tergite 21 (Fig. 47) lacks sutures, definitely wider than long and not narrowed posteriorly; its sides curved and posterior margin obtusely angled. Tergites from 7 with incomplete and 18–21 with complete margination.

Sternites: 3–21 narrowed posteriorly (Fig. 48). Sternite 1 much wider than long, procoxae of legs clearly visible (Fig. 46). Sternites 3–20 with incomplete anterior paramedian sutures (no longer than ½ the length of the sternite). Sternites 2–20 with numerous fine anastomosing transverse sutures in anterior third, less numerous in the posterior body third. Ultimate sternite (Fig. 48) much narrower than penultimate, longer than wide and distinctly narrowed towards slightly convex posterior margin. Endosternites not recognizable.

Legs (Figs 47, 48): leg 1 with two tarsal spurs, 1 tibial, 1 femoral and 1 prefemoral spur; legs 2–20 with one tarsal spur. Tibial spurs absent; pretarsus of legs 1–20 with two accessory spines. Prefemora and femora of legs 18–19 each with 1 small (or rudimentary) dorso-distal spine (absent in femur of right leg 18). Prefemora and femora of legs 20 each with 2 dorso-distal spines (femur of left leg 20 with 1 such spine); also 1 small spine in the middle of dorsal surface of femur (Fig. 47).

Coxopleuron (excluding coxopleural process) approximately 1.5 times as long as sternite 21 (Fig. 48). Coxopleuron densely and almost completely covered with coxal pores of various sizes—only coxopleural process and a narrow area bordering posterior and inner margins of coxopleuron poreless. Coxolpeural process very short, conical with 3 apical spines. Posterior margin of coxopleuron straight with 2 (right side) or 1 (left side) spines. Coxopleural surface without setae, the posterior margin straight.

Ultimate legs (Figs 47, 48) ca 22–23 mm long (prefemur: 7, femur: 6, tibia: 4, tarsus 1: 3.5, tarsus 2: 1.7 mm) long, rather slender (width of prefemur ca 2 mm). Prefemur and femur somewhat flattened dorsally, other articles cylindrical. Left prefemur with 3+3 ventro-lateral, 2+1+2 ventro-medial, 2+3+3 dorso-medial spines plus 3 corner spines. Right prefemur with 2+4 ventro-lateral, 2+3 ventro-medial, 2+1+4 dorso-medial spines plus 3 corner spines; 1 rudimentary spine is disposed dorso-laterally. Left femur with 3, right femur with 2 dorso-medial and 1 medial (=inner) spine plus 1 corner spine (Fig. 47). Tibia and tarsus very sparsely covered by minute setae; pretarsus long (somewhat longer than ½ of tarsus 2) with two small accessory spines.

Range. Caribbean: Grenada; St.Vincent; St.Thomas; Trinidad-Tobago. US Virgin Islands (doubtful record). Bolivia. Ecuador. Brazil: State Para (Santarém; Rio Tocantins); State Amazônas (Rio Xingu); State Roraima (Rio Branco); State Mato Grosso.

In Venezuela. Aragua State, La Victoria, Municipio José Félix Ribas; “Orenoque, Rio Caroni”; Venezuela (without locality).

Remarks. 5–17 antennal articles are densely covered by short setae, arranged in longitudinal rows—this condition is not usual among Scolopendromorpha.

According to my experience the oblique sutures are present in Scolopendra on a few anterior tergites only but their distribution on tergites 4–17 (see above) and tergites 4(5)–16 and 3(4)–17 in Brazilian specimens NN 6976 and 6977 respectively, is not usual for this genus or for Scolopendridae generally.


Discussion. In 1913 Muralewicz described Scolopendra conjungens for a single specimen from Venezuela, Victoria. We read at p. 198: “Nr. 20. 1 ♀. Venezuela, 1891, III.—[col.] A. Teplow)” and at p. 199: “Aus Venezuela (Victoria), von A. Teplow in Marz 1891 gefunden”. According to the original description (which is detailed enough but lacks illustrations), this species seems to be close to S. armata and S. alternans. So far as I know, nobody mentioned this species until now; it is also absent in Chilobase.

The ZMMU specimen described here (old inventory number 1258) was labeled “Scolopendra conjugens” by Muralewicz (not conjungens as in the original description). In the primary (field?) label, written in pencil and in Russian, reads—“г. Виктория”, i.e. “m.(ount) Victoria”. There is no indication that this specimen is a type, but according to the ICZN as S. conjungens was described from a single specimen it is the holotype. I re-identify this specimen as Scolopendra angulata Newport, 1844 because of the following key characters: presence of well-developed anterior transverse suture at tergite 1, presence of dorso-distal spines on prefemur and femur of legs 18–20, presence of spines on femur of ultimate legs (Fig. 47), absence of ventral spines at prefemur of leg 20 (Fig. 48), tergites from 7 marginate, 4 basal antennal articles practically glabrous.

Thus Scolopendra conjungens is regarded here as a junior synonym of Scolopendra angulata Newport, 1844, n. syn.

Subfamily Otostigminae Kraepelin, 1903

Genus Otostigmus Porat, 1876

Subgenus Parotostigmus Pocock, 1895

Type-species. Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) scabricauda (Humbert & Saussure, 1870) (by subsequent designation by Attems, 1928).

Range. Central and South America, including Caribbean. North-East, East, South and West-Central Tropical Africa.

Discussion. Identification of some species of Parotostigmus is rather complicated even for the specialist, because of shortage of recent keys, large number of synonyms and high intraspecific variability of some characters used in keys. In some species of both Otostigmus s.str. and Parotostigmus the tergites (mainly in the segments of the posterior body half) bear more (Fig. 49) or less (Fig. 50) developed longitudinal keels, spinules (sometimes arranged in rows) (Fig. 50) and various tubercles. The surface of some posterior tergites may be also corrugated (rugose) to a variable degree (Fig. 51). Attems (1930) divided the subgenus Parotostigmus into two groups based on the presence vs. absence of these characters (couplet 53, page 137).

For Otostigmus s.str. Lewis (2007, 2010) regarded tergal keels to be variable intraspecifically—from well-developed to nearly absent. He thought the same about tergal spinules (Dr. J.G.E. Lewis, pers. comm., 2013). Based mainly on my own experience in Parotostigmus from Brazilian Amazonia these structures may vary intraspecifically in this subgenus as well (Schileyko, 2002). For example, in O. (P.) scabricauda (Humbert & Saussure, 1870), the spinules may be arranged along the keel (“spinulated keels”) but it is sometimes difficult to decide whether a specimen has tergal keels or just rows of spinules. The spinules are practically invisible by light microscopy in a specimen completely immersed in a liquid (alcohol) (Fig. 52). To see the spinules the dorsal surface of the specimen should be dried off (Fig. 50).

Chagas (2012) provided a new key of the Brazilian representatives of Otostigmus (belonging to the subgenera Parotostigmus and Dactylotergitius) using tergal keels and spinules as one of the basic characters. He also analyzed in detail all types of male digitiform process (“appendix” sensu Chagas) of prefemur of ultimate legs in Parotostigmus, whose shape (Fig. 53) is diagnostic for about a dozen species of this subgenus and allows a reliable identification of males. As this important structure is not mentioned in Bonato et al. (2010) I propose that it be termed “the male digitiform process of the ultimate prefemur”.

Of the eight specimens of Parotostigmus present in the Venezuelan material, four specimens have tergal keels and spinules developed to various degree and are close to O. (P.) pococki Kraepelin, 1903. The other four specimens have no keels, being very similar to O. (P.) goeldii Brölemann, 1898. In other taxonomically important aspects (number of antennal articles and number of glabrous basal articles, configuration of forcipular structures,


presence of paramedian tergal sutures, configuration of sternal sulci, distribution of tarsal spurs, structure of coxopleron etc.) these specimens are very close to each other. The only specimen N 7076 (without tergal keels) has a male digitiform process of size and shape as in O. (P.) goeldii (Fig. 53); thus I assign the four specimens without well-developed tergal keels to this species.

Of the other four specimens, two (NN 7276, 7201) have posterior tergites with a well-developed median keel. Also, these tergites are corrugated laterally and bear one poorly-developed spinulated longitudinal keel just median to each paramedian suture. Additionally, there is a row of spinules lateral to each paramedian suture. The two remaining specimens (NN 7277, 7278) have median keel plus 2 well-developed and 1 poorly-developed keel at each side of posterior tergites. As these 4 specimens fit well in the recent concept of O. (P.) pococki I assign them to this species, which is “common in Venezuela” (Chagas, 2012: 22).

Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) pococki Kraepelin, 1903

Figs 49–52, 54–57

Otostigmus pococki: Bücherl, 1950: 190;Otostigmus pococki: Chagas, 2012: 22.

Locus typicus: French Guiana, Haut Carsevenne.Material. Mérida [State, Municipio Libertador], [loc.21], Paramo Escorial, 3000 m, 11.06.198[5/8?], 1 sad ♀,

N 7276; Mérida [State], [loc.20], [Sierra Nevada National] Parque La Mucuy, 2400m, 14.02.1986, 1 sad ♀, N 7201. Trujillo State, [loc.17], N 87, Boconó, Guaramacal National Park, la Laguna, 2000 m, bosque humedo montano, 02.1987, 1 sad ♀, N 7277. Aragua State, [loc.2], Parco Henri Pittier, Pico Rancho Grande, Bds, muro, sotto muschio, 29.08.1980, 1 sad ♀, N 7278. 4 specimens in all.

Material of O. (P.) scabricauda examined for comparison. Brazil, Amazônas, env. Manaos: 1 ad ♀, N 7269; 2 sad ♂, N 7270; 1 ad ♂, N 6730; 1 ad ♂, N 6729; Brazil, Para, Rio Tocantins, 1 juv, N 7208. Peru, Region Ukayali, env. Pucalpa: 1 ad ♀, N 6347; 1 ad ♂, N 6346; 1 ♀, N 7312.

Description of subadult ♀ N 7276. Length of body ca 34 mm (maximal length for this species up to 70 mm according to Attems, 1930). Color in ethanol: entire animal uniformly dark blue-grayish with both cephalic and posterior ends somewhat darker. Body with a very few minute setae; cephalic plate and distal articles of legs slightly more setose.

Antennae composed of 17 articles, reaching the middle of tergite 5 when reflexed. 2.1–2.2 basal articles with few long setae both dorsally and ventrally, subsequent articles densely pilose. Basal articles cylindrical.

Cephalic plate (Fig. 54) nearly round in shape and without sutures, its posterior margin covered by tergite 1. Second maxillae: article 2 of telopodite with a well-developed dorso-distal spur. Pretarsus without accessory

spines.Forcipular segment (Fig. 55): coxosternite with short median suture. Tooth-plates somewhat wider than long;

each plate with 4 teeth, the lateral tooth the lower. The basal sutures form an obtuse angle, their lateral ends are bifurcate. Trochanteroprefemur with large process, with a median tubercle; this process extends beyond the tooth-plates. Tarsungula thin and pointed, their interior surface with two sharp longitudinal ridges.

Tergites spinulated; tergite 2 very short (as long as 1/3 of tergite 1). Tergites 1–5 without sutures; tergite 6 with poorly-developed paramedian sutures, tergites 7–20 with complete and definite paramedian sutures. Tergite 3 without paired oblique anterior sutures. Tergites 3–20 with wide well-developed median keel (Figs 50, 52), which is much lighter in color than the surrounding surface of the tergite (Attems, 1930 called these keels “white stripes”). Tergites 15–19 with two poorly-developed keels, which are parallel to the paramedian sutures. Tergite 21 (Fig. 52) lacks sutures, with poorly-developed median keel in the anterior half and shallow median depression in posterior half. Tergite 21 somewhat longer than wide, not narrowed posteriorly; its sides curved and posterior margin obtusely angled. Tergites 6(7)–21 marginate, margination much better developed on posterior tergites, but posterior part of tergite 20 is weakly marginate.


FIGURES 51–55. Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) pococki Kraepelin, 1903 51 subadult ♀ N 7201: posterior segments, dorsal view 52 subadult ♀ N 7276: segments 20–21, dorsal view; Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) goeldii Brölemann, 1898 53 subadult ♂ N 7076: segment 21 and prefemora of ultimate legs, dorsal view; Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) pococki Kraepelin, 1903 54

subadult ♀ N 7276: cephalic plate and segments 1–3, dorsal view 55 subadult ♀ N 7276: forcipular segment and segments 1–2, ventral view; (llk)—tergal low longitudinal keels, (utg)— tergite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (dp)—male digitiform process, (tp)—forcipular tooth-plates, (bs)—basal suture, (ptr)—process of forcipular trochanteroprefemur, (mk)—median keel, (md)—sternal median depression.


FIGURES 56–60. Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) pococki Kraepelin, 1903 56 subadult ♀ N 7276: segments 20–21 and prefemora of ultimate legs, ventro-lateral 57 subadult ♀ N 7201: forcipular segment and segment 1, ventral view; Otostigmus

(Parotostigmus) goeldii Brölemann, 1898 (♂ N 7076) 58 forcipular segment and segment 1, ventral view 59 tergite 19 60

segment 21 and prefemora of ultimate legs, ventro-lateral view; (ust)—sternite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (cx)—coxopleuron, (up)—prefemur of ultimate legs, (llk)—tergal low longitudinal keel, (tp)—forcipular tooth-plates, (ptr)—process of forcipular trochanteroprefemur, (md)—sternal median depression, (dp)—male digitiform process.


Sternites (4)5–21 narrowed posteriorly and without sutures. Sternite 1 with two lateral and one median depression in anterior half. Sternites 2–17 with incomplete paramedian sulci and two median depressions (Fig. 55)—the anterior somewhat elongated, the posterior round; these depressions are much better developed on midbody sternites. Sternites 18–20 with poorly-developed paramedian sulci. Ultimate sternite (Fig. 56) longer than wide, distinctly narrowed towards the straight posterior margin, with poorly-developed longitudinal median depression in the posterior half. Endosternites not recognizable.

Legs: two tarsal spurs on left leg 1 and on right legs 1–3; legs 4–20 with one tarsal spur. Tibial spurs absent; pretarsus of legs 1–20 with two accessory spines.

Coxopleuron (Fig. 56) considerably longer than sternite 21, almost completely covered with coxal pores of various sizes. Coxopleural process extremely short, its tip rounded and spineless. Coxopleural surface without setae; posterior margin of ultimate pleuron straight.

Ultimate legs 7 mm long, rather slender (width of prefemur ca 0.5 mm). All articles cylindrical; prefemur without any spines (Fig. 56) as long as femur and slightly longer than tibia. Tibia as long as tarsus 1 and slightly longer than tarsus 2. Right leg with normally developed tarsal spur, the left one without; pretarsus with two small accessory spines.

Description of subadult N 7201 (differs from N 7276 in the following details). Length of body ca 26–27 mm. Color in ethanol: entire animal uniformly yellow-grayish with cephalic plate and forcipular segment and segment 1 somewhat lighter (Figs 51, 57).

Antennae: very long, reaching the anterior margin of tergite 8 when reflexed. Right antenna composed of 17 articles, the distal part of the left one missing.

Tergites: tergites 1–(8)9 without sutures. Very poorly-developed paramedian sutures on tergites of posterior body half are hardly recognizable. Tergites 5(6)–21 definitely rugose/corrugated (“runzelig” sensu Attems, 1930; Fig. 51), tergites (4)5–20 with well-developed median keel. Tergites (8)9–20 with two or four poorly-developed low longitudinal keels, which are parallel to the median keel (Fig. 51). Tergites 5–21 with definite margination.

Sternites with longitudinal median depression (which is better developed in anterior half of sternite) and two paramedian sulci (which are better developed in posterior part of sternite). Ultimate sternite with nearly complete longitudinal median sulcus.

Legs: left leg 1 with one tarsal spur, right leg 1 missing; legs 2–20 with one tarsal spur.Ultimate legs missing.Range. French Guiana. British Guiana: Kartabo. Brazil: Amazônas; Pará, Belém. Peru. Colombia. Ecuador.In Venezuela. Mérida State: Municipio Libertador, Sierra de La Culata, Páramo El Escorial; Municipio Santos

Marquina, Sierra Nevada National Park, La Mucuy Alta. Trujillo State, Municipio Boconó, Guaramacal National Park, Laguna de Los Cedros. Aragua State, Municipio Mario Briceño Iragorry, Henri Pittier National Park. Capital District, Municipio Libertador, Caracas.

Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) goeldii Brölemann, 1898

Figs 53, 58–61

Otostigmus (P.) fossulatus: Attems, 1930: 165;Otostigmus (P.) goeldii: Attems, 1930: 165;Otostigmus (P.) goeldii: Schileyko, 2002: 496;Otostigmus goeldii: Chagas, 2012: 18.

Terra typica: Venezuela, San Esteban. Brazil, Pará.Material. Venezuela, Aragua [State], [loc.4], [Henri Pittier National Park, Sector] Rancho Grande, leg MGP: 1

♂, N6, selva nublada, 1200 m, 02.1987, N 7076; 1 ♀, N 02, 1200, selva nublada, BR, 02.1987, N 7200; 1 ♀, Bds, 29.08.1980, N 7199. Miranda [State], [loc.11], N 36, Guatopo, Agua Blanca, 700, bosque humedo tropico, 02.1987, 1 ♀, leg MGP, N 7198. 4 specimens in all.

Additional material. Brazil, Amazônas, Manaus, 6♂ + 2♀, NN 6673-6680.Description of ♂ N 7076. Length of body ca 31 mm (maximal length for this species 45 mm). Color in

ethanol: uniformly light-yellow.


Antennae composed of 17 articles, reaching the posterior margin of tergite 4 when reflexed. 2.2–2.3 basal articles with a few long setae both dorsally and ventrally, remaining articles densely pilose. Basal articles cylindrical.

Cephalic plate nearly round in shape, its posterior margin covered by tergite 1 and without sutures. Second maxillae: article 2 of telopodite distally with dorsal spur. Pretarsus without accessory spines.Forcipular segment: coxosternite without both median suture and chitin-lines. Tooth-plates somewhat wider

than long; each plate with 4 teeth, the lateral tooth is the lower. The basal sutures of the tooth-plates form an obtuse angle. Their lateral ends bifurcate. Trochanteroprefemur with large process, which has one median tubercle; process extending well beyond the tooth-plates (Fig. 58). Tarsungula pointed, normal, their interior surface with two well-developed longitudinal ridges.

Tergites: tergite 2 very short (as long as 1/3 of tergite 1); tergites 1–3 without sutures. Tergites 4–20 with poorly-developed paramedian sutures, which may be somewhat shortened in some anterior tergites; lateral longitudinal sutures absent. Tergites with median and two paramedian, low and poorly-developed longitudinal keels (Fig. 59) between paramedian sutures. Tergal surface slightly rugose. Tergite 21 slightly wider than long, slightly narrowed anteriorly with sides curved and with median depression in the posterior half; its posterior margin obtusely angled. Tergites 7–21 marginate, the margination is better developed in the posterior tergites.

Sternites 5–21 narrowed posteriorly; all sternites without sutures. Sternite 1 very short (0.4 times as long as sternite 2), without visible sulci or depressions. Sternites 3(4)–18(19) with a pair of rounded lateral depressions at mid-length of sternite and two median depressions—a somewhat elongated anterior one and a rounded posterior one; all these depressions are much better developed in mid-body sternites. Ultimate sternite (Fig. 60) nearly as wide as long, distinctly narrowed towards the slightly concave posterior margin, with well-developed median longitudinal depression in the posterior half.

Legs: tibia and tarsus with a few setae; leg 1 with two tarsal spurs, legs 2–19 with one tarsal spur. Tibial and femoral spurs absent; pretarsus of legs 1–20 with two accessory spines.

Coxopleuron (including rudimentary coxopleural process) somewhat longer than sternite 21 (Fig. 60), almost completely covered with scattered coxal pores of various size. Coxopleural process extremely short, rounded apically and spineless. Coxopleural surface without setae; posterior margin of ultimate pleuron straight.

Ultimate legs ca 8.2 mm long (prefemur—2 mm, femur—2 mm, tibia—1.7 mm, tarsus 1 + 2—ca 2.5 mm), rather slender (width of prefemur ca 0.6 mm). All articles cylindrical; prefemur (Figs 53, 60) without spines, as long as femur and slightly longer than tibia. Tarsal spur absent; pretarsus with two small accessory spines. Prefemur with a very short (ca 0.5 mm), apically rounded digitiform process (Figs 53, 60). The apical portion of this process is not clavate and has no tuft of hairs.

Range. Brazil: Amazônas, Manaus; Pará, Belém; Bahia, Jequié; Mimosa [?]. In Venezuela. San Esteban; Aragua State, Henri Pittier National Park, Sector Rancho Grande; Miranda State,

Municipio Acevedo, Guatopo National Park.Remarks. Color and condition of the integument, forcipular teeth, spurs, etc suggest that this specimen is

freshly molted; thus characters such as tergal sutures, lateral margination of tergites etc are poorly defined.The specimens have one tarsal spur at legs 2–19, not at legs 1(2)–9 as Chagas (2012) recorded for Brazilian

representatives of this species.In the studied males of O.(P.) goeldii from Brazilian Amazônas the digitiform process of ultimate legs the

same shape as in the Venezuelan specimens (Fig. 61).

Genus Rhysida H.C.Wood, 1862

Type-species. Branchiostoma lithobioides Newport, 1845 (by subsequent designation by Attems, 1930).

Range. Indo-Australia, Ethiopia, Neotropics. Remarks. The diversity of Rhysida in the Neotropical Region was reduced by Chagas (2013) to seven species:

five indigenous (R. celeris (Humbert & Saussure, 1870), R. brasiliensis Kraepelin, 1903, R. rubra Bücherl, 1939,R. riograndensis Bucherl, 1939 and R. chacona Verhoeff, 1944) and two introduced (R. immarginata (Porat, 1876) and R. longipes (Newport, 1845)).


Rhysida celeris (Humbert & Saussure, 1870)

see figs 1–10 in Chagas, 2013

Rhysida celeris: Attems, 1930:Rhysida celeris: Bücherl, 1974: 119;Rhysida celeris: Chagas, 2013: 19.

Locus typicus: ?Material. Venezuela, Falcón Edo., [loc.8], [Municipio Silva], Playa Mero, Parque [National] Morrocoy, 62.1,

litter of Conocarpus erectus L., Rhizophora mangle L., 02.01.1986, leg MGP, 1 juv, N 7168. 1 specimen in all.Additional material. Brazil, Para State, Acará, 1 ad, N 7272. Peru, Region Loreto, near Iquitos, 1 ad, N 6685;

Peru, Region Ukayali, Coronel Portillo Province, 60 km E of Pucalpa: 2 subad, N 6336; 1 juv, N 6338; 1 ad, N 6689. Cuba, 1 ad + 1 subad, N 6337.

Description of juvenile N 7168. Length ca 18 mm (maximal length for this species 70 mm according to the Attems, 1930). Color in ethanol: uniformly yellow-whitish.

Antennae composed of 19 articles, reaching the middle of tergite 6 when reflexed. 2.7 basal articles virtually glabrous, remaining articles densely pilose. Basal articles cylindrical.

Cephalic plate nearly round in shape and without sutures, its posterior margin covered by tergite 1. Forcipular segment: coxosternite without sutures, chitin-lines present. Tooth-plates visibly wider than long;

each plate with 4 teeth, both the lateral and the median teeth are lower than the other two teeth. Trochanteroprefemur with long process, which has two median tubercles; this process extends beyond the tooth-plates (see fig. 2 in Chagas, 2013). Tarsungula normal, their interior surface with two well-developed longitudinal ridges (very similar to those of Otostigmus).

Tergites 1–3 without sutures, tergites 4–20 with poorly-developed paramedian sutures; lateral longitudinal sutures absent. Tergite 21 nearly as long as wide, not narrowed towards the convex posterior margin; its sides slightly curved. Tergites 7(8)–21 marginate, the margination much better developed on posterior tergites.

Sternites of the posterior body half slightly narrowed posteriorly. Sternites with very short anterior paramedian sutures (see fig. 6 in Chagas, 2013) and one median depression close to the posterior margin. Ultimate sternite nearly as long as wide, distinctly narrowed towards the straight posterior margin; its sides curved.

Legs 1–2 with one tibial spur, legs 1–17 with two tarsal spurs, legs 18–20 with one tarsal spur. Pretarsus of legs 1–20 with two widely spread accessory spines.

Coxopleuron (excluding coxopleural process) slightly longer than sternite 21; coxopleural pore field nearly oval, with scattered coxal pores; coxopleural process and a wide area bordering the posterior margin of coxopleuron poreless. Coxopleural process (see figs 8–10 in Chagas, 2013) short, conical, with 2 apical spines only. Posterior margin of coxopleuron (including posterior margin of ultimate pleuron) straight, without spines.

Ultimate legs missing.Range. Southern USA. Mexico. Neotropics: Cuba; Jamaica; Dominican Republic; Haiti; Nicaragua;

Suriname; Colombia; Bolivia; Ecuador; Paraguay; Peru (Region Loreto, Iquitos; Region Ukayali, Pucalpa; Rio Colorado; Chandemayo; San Ramon; Purus); Brazil (State Amazônas, Manaus; State Pará: Barcarena; Rio Acará, Ilha do Combu).

In Venezuela: Falcón State, Municipio Silva, Playa Mero, Morrocoy National Park; Bas Sarare. Remarks. Judging from its comparatively small size, very light color and soft integument this specimen is a

juvenile, so some structures, e.g. paramedian sutures, are less developed than normally in adults. Chitin-lines of forcipular coxosternum are described here for the first time for the genus Rhysida.

Family Cryptopidae Kohlrausch, 1881

Genus Cryptops Leach, 1815

Subgenus Cryptops s.str.


Type-species. Cryptops hortensis (Donovan, 1810) (by monotypy).

Range. All tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions.

Cryptops (C.) venezuelae Chamberlin, 1939

Figs 62–64

Cryptops venezuelae: Chamberlin, 1939: 63.

Terra typica: Venezuela (without precise locality).Material. [Miranda State, Municipio Sucre, Parque Rómulo Gallegos (Petare),] [loc.12], 3. Rio Caurimare

(Caracas) Formicoi[?], under bark, 1 ad + 1 sad, 25.09.1969, leg [C.] Bordón, N 7359; Miranda [State, Municipio Acevedo], [loc.10], Guatopo [National Park], los Alpes [del Tuy], bosque humedo tropical, 600[m], leg MGP: 1 ad, N 31, litter, 02.1987, N 7357; 1 ad, N 34, BR, 02.1987, N 7358; [Miranda State, Municipio Plaza], [loc.14], Izcaragua [Country] Club, 38.4, TU, rotted wood on soil, 3 sad, 22.12.1985, leg MGP, N 7356. Aragua, [loc.4], [Henri] Pittier Natn. Park, [Sector] Rancho Grande, 1200 m, selva nublada, leg MGP: 1 juv, N 01, TF, litter, 02.1987, N 7326; 1 ad. + 1 juv, N 04, TF, litter, 02.1987, N 7327; 1 juv, N 04, TF, soil, 02.1987, N 7328; 1 sad, N 05, soil, 02.1987, N 7329; 2 ad, N 05, litter, 02.1987, N 7340; 2 sad, N 08, TF, litter, 02.1987, N 7325; 1 sad, N 08, TF, soil, 02.1987, N 7324; 2 juv, N 09, TF, litter, 02.1987, N 7342; 1 sad, N 09, TF, soil, 02.1987, N 7341; Troudrivivi[?], sotto muscio, 1 ad, 29.08.1980, N 7360; 16 sad + 34 juv, 1400–1500m., 30., litiera, Miriopode, 12.11.1982, N 7361; [loc.4],Rancho Grande, 32, frunzar[?], 5 sad + 3 juv, 12.11.1982, leg T.Org., N 7362; Aragua [State], [loc.2], P[ark]. Pittier, Pico Rancho Grande, 44.3, MLT, possible damage for transport[?], 1450, TU, 3 sad + 1 juv, 27.12.1985, leg MGP, N 7354; Aragua [State], [loc.5], P.[ark] Pittier, [Road] Limón-Guamita, 51.2, TU, 750[m], litter, top soil litter sorting, 1 juv, 28.12.1985, leg MGP, N 7355; Aragua [State], [loc.3], Parque Pittier, [Passo de] Portachuelo, leg MGP: 1 sad, N 11, selva nublada, 1250, TF, soil, 02.1987, N 7343; 1 juv, N 11, selva nublada, 1250, TF, litter, 02.1987, N 7344; 2 sad, N 12, selva nublada, 1250, TF, litter, 02.1987, N 7345; 1 sad, N 13, selva nublada, 1250, TF, litter, 02.1987, N 7346; 1 juv, N 15, pl.[?] 87, selva nublada, 1250, TF, soil, N 7347; 1 juv, N 15, selva nublada, 1250, TF, litter, 02.1987, N 7348; 1 sad, N 16, selva nublada, 1250, TF, soil, 02.1987, N 7349; 2 sad, N 17, selva nublada, 1250, TF, litter, 02.1987, N 7350; 1 sad, N 18, selva nublada, 1250, 02.1987, N 7351; 1 sad + 1 juv, 56.2, Bds, litter, 20–20, TU, 29.12.1985, N 7352; 1 juv, 56.5, 20–20, TU, 1250, soil (h.14), 17, hand sorting, 29.12.1985, N 7353. 96 specimens in all.

Diagnosis. Cephalic plate and tergite 1 without sutures. Sternites 2–19 with well-developed cruciform sulcus. Coxopleuron with 10–11 coxal pores. Both prefemur and femur of ultimate legs with numerous spine-like setae; femur with one, tibia with four and tarsus 1 with two saw teeth.

Re-description (adult N 7360). Length of body ca 7 mm (maximal length 12 mm in N 7359). Color in ethanol: uniformly yellow; body with sparse very small setae, the distal leg articles more setose.

Antennae: short, reaching the anterior margin of tergite 2 when reflexed (Fig. 62), composed of 17 short (i.e. wider than long) articles. 4–4.5 basal articles with very few long setae, remaining articles much more pilose. Basal articles cylindrical.

Cephalic plate without sutures and nearly round in shape (Fig. 62), slightly covering the anterior margin of tergite 1.

Labrum with a single median tooth.Forcipular segment: coxosternite without sutures, its anterior margin weakly bilobed. Tarsungula very thin,

pointed. Tergite 1 without sutures, with small shallow depression approximately in the middle. Tergites (3)4–20 with

both paramedian and lateral crescentic sulci. Tergite 21 wider than long, not narrowed towards the obtusely angled posterior margin; its sides slightly curved. Only tergite 21 distinctly margined laterally.

Sternites trapeziform; sternites 2–19 with well-developed and practically complete median longitudinal and transverse sulci. Sternite 21 short and wide, narrowed towards the slightly convex posterior margin. Endosternites absent.

Legs: with a few short setae. Legs 1-19 with undivided tarsus; pretarsi short and pointed, accessory spines absent (?).


Coxopleuron with 10–11 coxal pores; pore-field oval, longer than sternite 21, with a wide posterior poreless area. Posterior margin of coxopleuron with 3 large setae.

FIGURES 61–64. Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) goeldii Brölemann, 1898 (♂ N 6674) 61 anterior half of prefemora of ultimate legs, dorsal view; Cryptops (C.) venezuelae Chamberlin, 1939 (adult N 7360) 62 cephalic plate + segments 1–3, dorsal view 63

left ultimate leg, medial view 64 right ultimate leg, medial view; (utg)— tergite of ultimate leg-bearing segment, (dp)—males digitiform process, (tg1)—tergite 1, (ut1)—tarsus 1 of ultimate leg, (ut2)—tarsus 2 of ultimate leg, (ut)—tibia of ultimate leg, (up)—prefemur of ultimate legs, (stu)—saw teeth of ultimate leg, (sup)—spine-like setae of ultimate leg.

Ultimate legs (Figs 63, 64): ca 2 mm long, width of prefemur 0.1–0.2 mm. All articles, except for tarsus 2, short and enlarged; prefemur as long as femur, tibia shorter. All articles rounded in cross-section. Both prefemur and femur covered by short thick spine-like setae which are more dense ventrally and medially. Femur with one saw tooth, tibia (which is practically as long as tarsus 1) with four saw teeth and tarsus 1 with two short saw teeth.

Range. Venezuela, Aragua State, Municipio Mario Briceño Iragorry, Henri Pittier National Park. Miranda State: Municipio Plaza, Izcaragua Country Club; Municipio Acevedo, Guatopo National Park, Los Alpes del Tuy; Municipio Sucre, Parque Rómulo Gallegos (Petare). Venezuela (without locality).

Variation. (1) most specimens (for example NN 7349, 7362, 7361) have posterior margin of cephalic plate covered by tergite 1, but in some specimens (for example NN 7360, 7359) an anterior margin of tergite 1 is slightly covered by cephalic plate;

(2) adult N 7359 seems to have anterior transverse suture at tergite 1, but in subadult of the same sample this suture is not recognizable;

(3) number of basal antennal articles with a few long setae varies from 3 (NN 7341, 7362) or 4–4.5 (NN 7360, 7361) to 5 (NN 7359, 7349);

(4) juvenile specimens (for example NN 7349, 7341) have anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite practically straight and not divided by median diastema;

(5) some specimens (NN 7340, 7343, 7344, 7361, 7362) have some accumulations of dark pigment under dorsal integument (mainly in anterior segments);

(6) subadult and juvenile specimens have 7–8 vs. 10–11 coxal pores in adults. Usually these pores are barely


visible in subadults and juveniles (because of their small sizes and poorly-sclerotized integument), however in juveniles NN 7353, 7350 they are clearly visible;

(7) number of saw teeth of the tibia of ultimate leg varies from 4 (see above; Fig. 63) to 5–6;(8) endosternites are usually well-developed in the anterior part of the trunk of Cryptops.Discussion. Chamberlin (1939) described C. venezuelae from a single specimen “taken at quarantine in

Washington, D.C., July 22, 1936” (not “intercepted in quarantine at New Orleans, Louisiana” as stated in Chilobase). Chamberlin wrote that specimen was “From Venezuela” without more precise locality; this information was reiterated by Bücherl (1974) and Shelley (2002). There is no other literature data on Venezuelan representatives of the family Cryptopidae. The original description is short and lacks illustrations, however some important taxonomic details have been described. Both Chamberlin’s C. venezuelae and specimen described above have cephalic plate and tergite 1 without sutures, sternites with cruciform sulcus, the same number of coxopleural pores, prefemur and femur of ultimate legs with numerous spine-like setae and the same number of saw teeth at femur, tibia and tarsus 1 of ultimate legs. Thus I consider all specimens from Venezuelan material as C. venezuelae.

According to the only general identification key for Cryptops (Attems, 1930) C. venezuelae seems to be similar to C. (C.) australis from which it can be readily distinguished by 4–6 (vs. 8–11 in australis) saw teeth on the tibia of ultimate leg, presence of numerous spine-like setae on prefemur and femur of ultimate legs and a New World distribution. Thus, in Attems’ identification key C. venezuelae would come between couplets 16 and 17.

I note that the “cruciform sulcus” (=“cruciform depression”) which is often present in the sternites of Cryptops, is according to the Bonato at al. (2010, p.39) “cruciform suture/sutures[!] (of sternite): [Sco] the pair of transverse and median longitudinal sulci on a sternite”. In fact these depressions are not sutures but sulci.

Remarks to list of species

González-Sponga (1997, 2000a, 2000b, 2002) described from Venezuela 17 new species of Newportia, 5 of Cormocephalus and 7 of Rhysida; the original descriptions and illustrations are of poor quality. All his 7 species ofRhysida have been synonymized under R. celeris by Chagas Jr (2013), who wrote (p. 18): “This work is the first of a series that are in progress on species of Scolopendromorpha from Venezuela described by Manuel Ángel González-Sponga”.

The 17 species of Newportia described by González-Sponga are poorly defined and only N. avilensis

González-Sponga, 1997, N. cerrocopeyensis González-Sponga, 2000 and N. prima González-Sponga, 1997 are valid (Chagas Jr., 2014: personal communication; his paper on these taxa is in preparation). So only these three species are included in my list of species and key.

I have not included the doubtful form N. longitarsis var. sararensis Brölemann, 1898 which was ignored by Attens (1930) and is absent from Chilobase. Schileyko & Minelli (1998: 277) wrote about this form: “It could be just a synonym of Newportia l. longitarsis, but this point needs be further checked”.

Newportia dentata Pocock, 1890 was recorded for “Venezuela (Mérida)” by Schileyko & Minelli (1998) based on a single specimen. This species is quite close to N. longitarsis stechowi but is readily distinguishble from the latter by the following characters of ultimate legs: 3 (vs. 2 in N. l. stechowi) spinous processes of the femur, tarsus 2 shorter[!] than tarsus 1 and composed of 4 slender articles. The type locality of this species is Ecuador (Andes: Chimborazo), not “Venezuela, Mérida” as recorded in Chilobase.

In 1959 Bücherl described O. (P.) pococki exspectus, 1959 and in 1974 gave it as O. (P.) exspectus. In Chilobase this species is recorded as O. (P.) expectus.

Brölemann (1905) recorded Cormocephalus ungulatus Meinert, 1886 from Brazil, we read (p. 64): “Etiquetee: Manaos, N.10 (Bicego leg.)”. Attems (1930) recorded this species for Venezuela (p. 101), however I surmise that he repeated Brölemann’s data but confused Venezuela with Brazil as we read (p. 101): “Venezuela, Manaos”. Thus I do not regard C. ungulatus as present in Venezuela.

In 1898 Brölemann described Cupipes (=Cormocephalus) sp. from “Bas Sarare (Venezuela)”. In 1905 Brölemann called this form as “Cupipes ungulatus var. Venezueliana” (p. 65) but in the same page he used the trinomial “C. ungulatus venezuelianus”. I should note that according to ICZN the correct date of description is 1905, not 1898 as recorded in Chilobase. Thus I include this species in both list of species and key as Cormocephalus venezuelianus (Brölemann, 1905).


Bücherl (1940) mentioned Cormocephalus bonaerius Attems, 1928 from “Guayanas e Venezuela” without mentioning any localities or specimens. The 12 known specimens of this species (type-series) were re-described by Schileyko & Stagl (2004). These specimens are from Bonaire Island (which is a special municipality in the Netherlands Antilles) located in Lesser Antilles near western coast of Venezuela. No data document the presence of this “island species” in Venezuela so I do not regard C. bonaerius as the representative of this fauna.

Key to Venezuelan Scolopendromorpha

1. 23 leg-bearing segments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.

-. 21 leg-bearing segments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.

2. Leg-bearing segment 7 with spiracles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.

3. Tarsus 2 of ultimate legs consists of a single article which is shorter than tarsus 1 . . . . . . . . . . genus Dinocryptops, D. miersii

- Tarsus 2 of ultimate legs of several articles and longer than tarsus 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. ...genus Newportia

4. Entire tarsus 2 of ultimate legs clearly divided into distinct articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.

-. Tarsus 2 of ultimate legs, at least its distal (longer) part, consists of numerous indistinct articles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.

5. Tergite 1 without an anterior transverse suture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. sargenti

- Tergite 1 with an anterior transverse suture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.

6. Tergite 1 with a curved anterior transverse suture and, generally, with paramedian sutures which do not form a "W" just behind

it; in a few species these sutures are absent or extremely short. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.

-. Tergite 1 with a very obtusely angled anterior transverse suture with paramedian sutures forked anteriorly, thus forming a "W"

just behind it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.

7. Some pairs of legs, usually 2(4)–(19)20, with tibial spurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.

- Tibial spurs absent on all legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.

8. Tergite 1 with incomplete paramedian sulci . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N. cerrocopeyensis

-. Tergite 1 without paramdian sulci . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. phoretha

9. Femur of ultimate legs without spinous processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.

- Femur of ultimate legs with spinous processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.

10. Tergite 1 with rudimentary paramedian sutures or sutures completely lacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. pusilla

- Paramedian sutures of tergite 1 half-complete or complete, sometimes slightly interrupted in the middle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.

11. Coxopleural process extremely short; tergite 1 with poorly developed paramedian sutures which cross the anterior transverse

suture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. diagramma

- Coxopleural process normal; tergite 1 with well-developed paramedian sutures stretching between the anterior transverse

suture and the posterior tergite margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. longitarsis tropicalis

12. Tarsus 2 of ultimate legs composed of 4 articles; tarsus 1 almost as long as the tibia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N. dentata

- Tarsus 2 of ultimate legs composed of 7–26 articles; tarsus 1 somewhat shorter than the tibia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.

13. Tergite 1 with complete paramedian sutures which cross the anterior transverse suture. . . . . . . . . . . . N. longitarsis longitarsis

-. Tergite 1 with incomplete paramedian sutures of various length, from half-complete to rudimentary, running between the pos-

terior tergal margin and the anterior transverse suture; rarely without any trace of paramedian sutures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.

14. Prefemur of ultimate legs with 3 large ventral spinous processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. longitarsis guadeloupensis

- Prefemur of ultimate legs with 4 large ventral spinous processes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. longitarsis stechowi

15. Outer branches of the forked paramedian sutures of tergite 1 crossing the anterior transverse suture and ending on the anterior

tergite margin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. simoni

- Forked paramedian sutures of tergite 1 ending at the anterior transverse suture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N. monticola

16. Tarsus 2 of ultimate legs consists of numerous uniform indistinct articles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. ernsti ernsti

-. Tarsus 2 of ultimate legs is divided in sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.

17. Prefemur of ultimate legs with 6 ventral spinous processes; tarsus 2 consisting of 3 long sections each of them is divided into

numerous indistinct articles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. prima

-. Prefemur of ultimate legs with 5 ventral spinous processes; tarsus 2 consisting of 1 short basal section and a long distal section,

which is divided into numerous indistinct articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N. avilensis

18. Tarsungula very short . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . genus Tidops, T. collaris

- Tarsungula normal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.... genus Scolopocryptops

19. Anterior margin of forcipular coxosetrnite concave; process of forcipular trochanteroprefemur large and obtuse (Fig. 3). . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. melanostoma

-. Anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite convex; process of forcipular trochanteroprefemur small and pointed (Fig. 9) . . 20.

20. Each half of anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite with 1 median and 1 lateral tooth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. guacharensis

-. Each half of anterior margin of forcipular coxosternite with 1 wide and rounded median lobe and 1 lateral tooth. . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. ferrugineus ferrugineus

21. Ten pairs of spiracles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.... genus Rhysida

-. Nine pairs of spiracles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.

22. Prefemora of ultimate legs without spine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R. celeris

-. Prefemora of ultimate legs with spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.

23. Lateral margination on tergite 21 only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R. immarginata


-. Lateral margination on tergites 7(15)–21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R. longipes longipes

24. Eyes absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . genus Cryptops, C. (C.) venezuelae

-. Eyes present. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.

25. Spiracle in an oval cup without flaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26.... genus Otostigmus

-. Spiracle cup divided horizontally into three flap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.

26. Tergites with well-developed keels (at least with median keel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.

-. Tergites without well-developed keels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O. (P.) goeldii

27. Tergites with a median and longitudinal keels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.

-. Tergites with a median keel only (at least in segments of posterior body half) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.

28. Lateral margination on tergites 5–21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O. (P.) pococki

-. Lateral margination on tergite 21 only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O. (P.) expectus

29. Sternites with short paramedian sulci . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O. inermis

-. Sternites without paramedian sulci.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O. (P.) carbonelli

30. Legs with tarsal spurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31....genus Scolopendra

- Legs without tarsal spurs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39....genus Cormocephalus

31. Tergite 1 without an anterior transverse suture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.

-. Tergite 1 with an anterior transverse suture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33.

32. Prefemur of legs 20 without dorsal spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. morsitans

-. Prefemur of legs 20 with dorsal spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. alternans

33. Prefemur of legs 20 with dorsal spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.

-. Prefemur of legs 20 without dorsal spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38.

34. Prefemur of legs 20 with 1–2 ventral spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. armata

-. Prefemur of legs 20 without ventral spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.

35. Lateral margination from tergite 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. mima

-. Lateral margination commencing between tergites 3–11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.

36. 1–8(10) antennal articles with a few setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. gigantea

-. 1–4(5) antennal articles with a few setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.

37. Femur of ultimate legs with spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. angulata

-. Femur of ultimate legs without spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. viridicornis viridicornis

38. Forcipular coxosternite with transverse sulsus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. heros

-. Forcipular coxosternite without transverse sulsus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S. polymorpha

39. Prefemur of ultimate legs without any spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. venezuelianus

-. Prefemur of ultimate legs with spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.

40. Prefemur of ultimate legs with corner spines only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. brasiliensis

-. Prefemur of ultimate legs with ventral and/or ventrolateral spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.

41. Coxopleuron without spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42.

-. Coxopleuron with spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44.

42. 20 antennal articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. glabratus

-. Less than 20 antennal articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.

43. 15 antennal articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. edithae

-. 17 antennal articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C. abundantis

44. Process of forcipular trochanteroprefemur with 4 medial tubercles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. facilis

-. Process of forcipular trochanteroprefemur with 1–2 medial tubercles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.

45. Forcipular coxosternite with a single transverse sulcus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. impressus impressus

-. Forcipular coxosternite with 2 or more transverse sulci . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. maritimo

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Prof. M. G. Paoletti and Prof. A. Minelli for the precious material. My sincerest thanks are to Dr. John Lewis, who edited this paper and made numerous valuable suggestions; my thanks are also to Dr. Amazônas Chagas Jr. and Dr. Pavel Stoev for their valuable consultations and to an anonymous reviewer for his criticism. Mr. Antonio A. De Ascenção Da Silva (Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela) has kindly checked the label information greatly improving the List of localities; special gratitude to Dr. Carlos Bordón (Venezuela) for his help with tracing of some localities. Prof. Dr. Anatoly A. Schileyko corrected the English in an earlier version of this MS.

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APPENDIX 1

List of Venezuelan species of Scolopendromorpha

Dinocryptops miersii Newport, 1844

* Scolopocryptops ferrugineus ferrugineus (L., 1767) * S. guacharensis Manfredi, 1957 (!)S. melanostoma (Newport, 1845)

Newportia avilensis González-Sponga, 1997 (!)N. cerrocopeyensis González-Sponga, 2000 (!)N. dentata Pocock, 1890N. diagramma Chamberlin, 1921* N. ernsti ernsti Pocock, 1891N. longitarsis longitarsis Newport, 1844 * N. longitarsis guadeloupensis Demange, 1981* N. longitarsis stechowi Verhoeff, 1938N. longitarsis tropicalis Bücherl, 1959 (!)* N. monticola Pocock, 1890N. phoretha Chamberlin, 1950 (!)N. prima González-Sponga, 1997 (!)N. pusilla Pocock, 1893N. sargenti Chamberlin, 1958 (!)N. simoni Brölemann, 1898 (!)

Tidops collaris (Kraepelin, 1903)

Scolopendra alternans Leach, 1815* S. angulata Newport, 1844 S. armata Kraepelin, 1903 S. gigantea L., 1758S. heros Girard, 1853—introduced(?)S. mima Chamberlin, 1942 (!)S. morsitans L., 1758—introducedS. polymorpha H.C. Wood, 1861S. viridicornis viridicornis Newport, 1844


Cormocephalus abundantis González-Sponga, 2000 (!)C. brasiliensis Humbert & Saussure, 1870 C. edithae González-Sponga, 2000 (!)C. facilis González-Sponga, 2000 (!)C. glabratus González-Sponga, 2000 (!)C. impressus impressus Porat, 1876 C. maritimo González-Sponga, 2000 (!)C. venezuelianus (Brölemann, 1905) (!)

Otostigmus (P.) carbonelli Bücherl, 1959 (!) O. (P.) exspectus Bücherl, 1959 (!)* O. (P.) goeldii Brölemann, 1898 O. (P.) inermis Porat, 1876 * O. (P.) pococki Kraepelin, 1903

* Rhysida celeris (Humbert & Saussure, 1870)Rhysida immarginata Porat, 1876—introducedRhysida longipes longipes (Newport,1845)— introduced

* Cryptops (Cryptops) venezuelae (!)

APPENDIX 2. List of localities.

The territory of Venezuela is divided into 23 States, plus the Capital District (formerly known as Federal District) and Federal Dependencies (small islands and archipelagos in the Caribbean Sea); each state is divided into a variable number of municipalities.

The material treated here comes from 21 localities from the following states (Fig. 1): Mérida (2 localities), Miranda (6 localities, one of which contains 3 points of samples closely disposed), Trujillo (3 localities, one of which contains 3 closely disposed sampling points), Aragua (6 localities), Capital District (2 localities), Monagas (1 locality) and Falcón (1 locality). These localities are:

1. Monagas State, Cueva del Güácharo, El Güácharo National Park, 4 Km E from Caripe, Municipio Caripe, 1066 m, 10° 10' 26'' North, 63° 33' 10'' West. Vegetation type: Premontane Humid Forest or Premontane Wet Forest.Note: “Cueva del Guachero” in original labels of MGP.

2. Aragua State, Rancho Grande Biological Station, 12 Km NW from El Limуn (Maracay), Henri Pittier National Park, Municipio Mario Briceño Iragorry, 1100 m, 10° 20' 57'' North, 67° 40' 46'' West. Vegetation Type: Lower Montane Cloud Forest or Low Montane Cloud Forest.Note: “Parco Henri Pittier, Pico Rancho Grande” in original labels of MGP—it should be noted, that there is no Peak Rancho Grande in the Henri Pittier National Park.

3. Aragua State, Paso de Portachuelo, Sector Rancho Grande, Henri Pittier National Park, Municipio Mario Briceño Iragorry, 1250 m, 10° 21' 04'' North, 67° 41' 14'' West. Vegetation Type: Lower Montane Cloud Forest or Low Montane Cloud Forest.Note: “3. Portachuello” in original labels of MGP.

4. Aragua State, Sector Rancho Grande, Trail Rancho Grande—La Cumbre—Pico La Guacamaya, Henri Pittier National Park, Municipio Mario Briceño Iragorry, 1200–1500 m. Vegetation Type: Lower Montane Cloud Forest or Low Montane Cloud Forest.Note: “Rancho Grande, 1200”, “Rancho Grande, 1400–1500m”, “La Cumbre” in original labels of MGP. The Trail Rancho Grande—La Cumbre—Pico La Guacamaya is a small road used by hikers and researchers. This trail starts at the Rancho Grande Biological Station (1100 m), continues to La Cumbre (also known as La Cumbre de Rancho Grande) at 1500 m and ending at Pico La Guacamaya (1900 m). There are three close localities, varying in altitude, coordinates and vegetation type: (1) 1200 m, 10° 20' 59'' North, 67° 41' 01'' West, Lower Montane Cloud Forest or Low Monutain Cloud Forest; (2) 1450 m, 10° 21' 17'' North, 67° 41' 11'' West, Lower Montane Cloud Forest or Low Montane Cloud Forest; (3) La Cumbre de Rancho Grande, 1500 m, 10° 21' 16'' North, 67° 41' 12'' West, Upper Montane Cloud Forest or High Montane Cloud Forest.

5. Aragua State, Road El Limón (Maracay) - La Guamita, Henri Pittier National Park, Municipio Mario Briceño Iragorry, 750 m, 10° 20' 08'' North, 67° 39' 13'' West, Vegetation Type: Semi-deciduous Forest.Note: “Parco Henri Pittier, Limón—Guamita, 750 m.” in original labels of MGP.

6. Aragua State, La Guamita, 5 Km N from El Limón (Maracay), Henri Pittier National Park, Municipio Mario Briceño Iragorry, 950 m, 10° 20' 40'' North, 67° 39' 37'' West. Vegetation Type: Semi-deciduous Forest.


Note: “Parco Henri Pittier, Guamita” in original labels of MGP. 7. Aragua State, La Victoria, Municipio José Félix Ribas, 560 m, 10° 13' 10'' North, 67° 19' 00'' West. Vegetation type: Dry

Savanna with Scattered Trees.Note: “Victoria mountain” [«г. Виктория»] in the label of Muralewicz.

8. Falcón State, Playa Mero, Cayo Ánimas, Morrocoy National Park, Municipio Silva, 3 m, 10° 49' 13'' North, 68° 15' 00'' West. Vegetation Type: Tropical Dry Forest and Mangroves.Note: “Playa Mero, Parque Morrocoy” in original labels of MGP.

9. Miranda State, La Macanilla, Guatopo National Park, Municipio Acevedo, 700 m, 10° 04' 34'' North, 66° 24' 54'' West. Vegetation Type: Tropical Wet Forest or Tropical Humid Forest.Note: “Guatopo, La Macanilla” in original labels of MGP.

10. Miranda State, Los Alpes del Tuy, Guatopo National Park, Municipio Acevedo, 600 m, 10° 09' 41'' North, 66° 24' 29'' West. Vegetation Type: Tropical Wet Forest or Tropical Humid Forest.Note: “Guatopo, Los Alpes, 600 m” in original labels of MGP.

11. Miranda State, Agua Blanca, Guatopo National Park, Municipio Acevedo, 700 m, 10° 03' 34'' North, 66° 24' 51'' West. Vegetation Type: Tropical Wet Forest or Tropical Humid Forest.Note: “Guatopo, Agua Blanca, 700” in original labels of MGP.

12. Miranda State, Río Caurimare, Parque Rómulo Gallegos (Petare), Municipio Sucre, 850 m, 10° 29' 49'' North, 66° 48' 08'' West. Vegetation type: Tropical Deciduous Forest (heavily modified, it is now a city park lacking the typical species of this forest type).Note: the original label of MGP reads “Rio Caurimare (Caracas)”. Actually, the Rio Caurimare (also known as Quebrada Caurimare) originates in the mountains of El Ávila National Park, flows through the Parque Rómulo Gallegos (City Park) in Petare and finally falls into the Rio Guaire in Miranda State, not in Caracas or in the Capital District. However, many people confuse the metropolitan area of La Gran Caracas (The Greater Caracas) with Caracas. The urban growth of Caracas (constituted only by the Municipio Libertador of the Capital District) and of the small satellite cities (like Petare) from neighboring states has formed a large metropolitan area known as La Gran Caracas, but retaining their political divisions.

13. Miranda State, Río Caurimare, El Ávila National Park, Municipio Sucre, 950 m, 10° 30' 10'' North, 66° 47' 59'' West. Vegetation Type: Tropical Deciduous Forest.Note: “Rio Caurimare” in original labels of MGP.

14. Miranda State, Izcaragua Country Club, 6 Km E from Caucagüita on the old road Petare—Guarenas, Municipio Plaza, 750 m, 10° 29' 56'' North, 66° 41' 35'' West. Vegetation Type: Tropical Deciduous Forest.Note: “Izcaragua, Club” in original labels of MGP.

15. Capital District, Pico El Avila, El Ávila National Park, 2250 m, 10° 32' 29'' North, 66° 52' 27'' West. Vegetation Type: SubParamo.Note: “M. Avila” in original labels of MGP.

16. Capital District, Road Cotiza (Caracas)—Galipán, El Ávila National Park, Municipio Libertador, 950 m, 10° 31' 27'' North, 66° 54' 30'' West. Vegetation Type: Tropical Deciduous Forest.Note: “N 39, M[onte] Avila, Caracas” in original labels of MGP.

17. Trujillo State, Laguna de Los Cedros, Guaramacal National Park, 8 Km E from Boconó, Municipio Boconó, 1840 m, 9° 14' 43'' North, 70° 13' 13'' West. Vegetation Type: Lower Montane Cloud Forest or Low Montane Cloud Forest.Note: “Guaramacal, La Laguna, 2000” in original labels of MGP. Laguna de Los Cedros is the only lake in the National Park Guaramacal and also is known as “La Laguna”. This lake is located at 1840 m, not at 2000 m.

18. Trujillo State, Páramo de Guaramacal, Guaramacal National Park, E from Laguna de Los Cedros, Municipio Boconó, 2500–3000 m. Vegetation type: Paramo or SubParamo.Note: “Guaramacal” in original labels of MGP There are three close localities here, varying in altitude, coordinates and vegetation type: (1) 2500 m, 6 Km E from Laguna de Los Cedros, 9° 14' 45'' North, 70° 12' 13'' West, vegetation type: SubParamo;(2) 2890 m, 9 Km E from Laguna de Los Cedros, 9° 14' 19'' North, 70° 11' 10'' West, vegetation type: Paramo;(3) 3000 m, 10 Km E from Laguna de Los Cedros, 9° 14' 05'' North, 70° 11' 06'' West, vegetation type: Paramo.

19. Trujillo State, Páramo La Cristalina, 9,8 Km NW from Boconó, Municipio Boconó, 2500 m, 9° 19' 23'' North, 70° 19' 40'' West. Vegetation type: SubParamo.Note: “Boconó, Ande, La Cristalina, 2500, Subparamo” in original labels of MGP.

20. Mérida State, La Mucuy Alta, Sierra Nevada National Park, 8 Km E from Tabay, Municipio Santos Marquina, 2400 m, 8° 37' 01'' North, 71° 03' 06'' West. Vegetation Type: Upper Montane Cloud Forest or High Montane Cloud Forest.Note: “Parque La Mucuy, 2400m” in original labels of MGP.

21. Mérida State, Páramo El Escorial, Sierra de La Culata, 2 Km E from La Caña, Municipio Libertador, 3000 m, 8° 43' 09'' North, 71° 04' 11'' West. Vegetation type: Paramo.Note: “Paramo Escorial, 3000 m” in original labels of MGP.


A contribution to the centipede fauna of Venezuela (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha

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