Diamondback soil centipede | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
Class: | Chilopoda |
Order: | Geophilomorpha |
Family: | Geophilidae |
Genus: | Geophilus |
Species: | G. vittatus
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Binomial name | |
Geophilus vittatus
Rafinesque, 1820
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Synonyms [1] | |
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Geophilus vittatus, also known as the diamondback soil centipede, [2] is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae widespread in North America [3] and named for the dark band of diamond-shaped markings across its back. G. vittatus grows up to 52 millimeters in length, though it averages 25–40, and ranges from brown- to orange-yellow in color, with 49–53 leg pairs in females, 49–51 leg pairs in males, and a lack of consolidated carpophagus structures. It can be found under any debris on the forest floor, but mostly under loose bark [4] and occasionally near the sea. [5]
G. rubens' (Say, 1821) synonymy with G. vittatus was proved by Hoffman & Crabill (1953), and was originally very likely based on a specimen of Strigamia bidens. [6]
When threatened, G. vittatus will secrete poisons from its underside. [2] The secretion is proteinaceous and contains two cyanogenetic compounds, mandelonitrile and benzoyl cyanide, as well as two products derived from these compounds as a result of hydrogen cyanide production (benzaldehyde and benzoic acid). Benzoyl cyanide has not been previously recorded from a natural source. [7]
Diamondback soil centipede | |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
Class: | Chilopoda |
Order: | Geophilomorpha |
Family: | Geophilidae |
Genus: | Geophilus |
Species: | G. vittatus
|
Binomial name | |
Geophilus vittatus
Rafinesque, 1820
| |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Geophilus vittatus, also known as the diamondback soil centipede, [2] is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae widespread in North America [3] and named for the dark band of diamond-shaped markings across its back. G. vittatus grows up to 52 millimeters in length, though it averages 25–40, and ranges from brown- to orange-yellow in color, with 49–53 leg pairs in females, 49–51 leg pairs in males, and a lack of consolidated carpophagus structures. It can be found under any debris on the forest floor, but mostly under loose bark [4] and occasionally near the sea. [5]
G. rubens' (Say, 1821) synonymy with G. vittatus was proved by Hoffman & Crabill (1953), and was originally very likely based on a specimen of Strigamia bidens. [6]
When threatened, G. vittatus will secrete poisons from its underside. [2] The secretion is proteinaceous and contains two cyanogenetic compounds, mandelonitrile and benzoyl cyanide, as well as two products derived from these compounds as a result of hydrogen cyanide production (benzaldehyde and benzoic acid). Benzoyl cyanide has not been previously recorded from a natural source. [7]