Evolutionary History of Lithobiomorpha

One of the recent controversies in centipede systematics is whether or not the Lithobiomorpha (“stone centipedes”) are a natural group. Greg Edgecombe and Gonzalo Giribet (Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University) are exploring this question in the broader context of centipede phylogeny, concluding that lithobiomorph monophyly is well supported. Relationships within Lithobiomorpha have been analysed by a combined approach using sequence data from five molecular loci together with a new dataset of morphological characters. Surveys of mandibles and pretarsal claws by electron microscopy provided sources of new characters. An explicit phylogeny for Henicopidae allowed the history of Gondwanan lineages to be assessed by cladistic biogeographic methods.

This work is detailed in the following publications:

Edgecombe, G.D., Giribet, G. and Wheeler, W.C. 2002. Phylogeny of Henicopidae (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha): a combined analysis of morphology and five molecular loci. Systematic Entomology. 27: 31-64 (1.16mb PDF).

Edgecombe, G.D. and Giribet, G. 2003. Relationships of Henicopidae (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha): new molecular data, classification and biogeography. In M. Hamer (ed.), Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Myriapodology. African Invertebrates, 44:13-38 (2.4mb PDF).

Edgecombe, G.D. 2004. Monophyly of Lithobiomorpha (Chilopoda): new characters from the pretarsal claws. Insect Systematics and Evolution, 35:29-41 (8.8mb PDF).

The henicopid Paralamyctes (Lithobiomorpha: Henicopidae) from South Africa. Photo: Gonzalo Giribet.

Scanning electron micrographs of the mandible of lithobiomorphs, a source of new systematic characters.

A. Paralamyctes harrisi Archey, 1922, from New Zealand. Gnathal lobe of mandible. Scale 100 µm.
B. Paralamyctes mesibovi Edgecombe, 2001, from Tasmania. Mandibular teeth with accessory denticles. Scale 30 µm.
C. Paralamyctes chilensis (Gervais, 1847), from Chile. Aciculae ("sickle-shaped bristles") on mandible, showing pinnules along both margins of each acicula. Scale 5 µm.
D. Paralamyctes hornerae Edgecombe, 2001, from New South Wales. Simple aciculae on mandible. Scale 10 µm.
E. Paralamyctes harrisi Archey, 1922, from New Zealand. Aciculae on mandible, showing pinnules confined to the dorsal edge of each acicula. Scale 10 µm.

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