Scutigerella

Scutigerella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Symphyla
Family: Scutigerellidae
Genus: Scutigerella
Ryder, 1882
Type species
Scutigerella immaculata

Scutigerella is a genus of symphylans in the family Scutigerellidae.[1][2][3] This group includes at least 35 species and is the second-largest genus in this family.[1][2][4] This genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution.[4][5][6] This genus was first proposed in 1882 by the American zoologist John A. Ryder, who also designated S. immaculata as the type species.[7]

Description

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Species in this genus vary in size and can range from 3.5 mm to 9 mm in length.[8] The head in this genus is shaped like a heart with two lobes on the posterior margin.[6] Spiracles open on the anterior surface of each side of the head. The antennae feature 20 to 50 segments and two kinds of setae, one thicker than the other.[5]

Adults in this genus feature 15 tergites and 12 pairs of legs.[5] The posterior margins of the tergites are notched.[4] The first tergite is reduced, whereas tergites 3, 6, 9, 12, and 14 are longer and have deeper notches on the posterior margin than the others.[5] Between the cerci, a deep U-shaped cavity lies beneath the posterior margin of the last tergite.[9][4] The margins of the tergites feature many setae of various lengths.[5]

Each of the first pair of legs features four segments, whereas each of the other legs features five segments. A well developed stylus protrudes from the base of each leg from pair 3 through 12. The legs are densely covered with setae and feature intricate sculpture patterns on some segments.[5]

Distribution

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Symphylans in this genus are found mainly in the northern temperate zones.[6] The distribution of this genus extends into the Palearctic, Nearctic, Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan realms. This genus has also been introduced to the Australasian and Oceanian realms.[5]

Fossils

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This genus is notable for including two described fossil species. Fossils of symphylans are rare and limited to specimens found in amber.[5] The first fossil symphylan to be described was Scutigerella dominicana, which was described in 1995 based on two juvenile specimens found in Dominican amber from 25 to 40 million years ago.[10] The first fossil symphylan to be described based on an adult specimen was Scutigerella baltica, which was described in 2004 based on a female specimen found in Baltic amber from 40 to 50 million years ago.[11]

Species

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Scutigerella includes the following species:[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "ITIS - Report: Scutigerella". itis.gov. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  2. ^ a b "Scutigerella Ryder, 1882 | COL". www.catalogueoflife.org. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  3. ^ "Scutigerella Ryder, 1882". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  4. ^ a b c d Jin, Ya-Li; Godeiro, Nerivania Nunes; Bu, Yun (2023-05-04). "Description of the first species of Scutigerella (Symphyla, Scutigerellidae) from China, with mitogenomic and genetic divergence analysis". ZooKeys (1157): 145–161. Bibcode:2023ZooK.1157..145J. doi:10.3897/zookeys.1157.99686. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 10193434. PMID 37215163.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Szucsich, Nikola; Scheller, Ulf (2011). "Symphyla". In Minelli, Alessandro (ed.). The Myriapoda. Volume 1. Leiden: Brill. pp. 445–466. ISBN 978-90-04-18826-6. OCLC 812207443.
  6. ^ a b c Moncada, Diego Alberto Salazar; Calle-Osorno, Jaime; Ruiz-Lopez, Freddy (2015-03-09). "Morphological and molecular study of Symphyla from Colombia". ZooKeys (484): 121–130. Bibcode:2015ZooK..484..121S. doi:10.3897/zookeys.484.8363. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 4361788. PMID 25829846.
  7. ^ Ryder, J.A. (1882). "Genera of the Scolopendrellidae". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 5: 234 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  8. ^ Michelbacher, A. E. (1942-09-01). "A Synopsis of the Genus Scutigerella (Symphyla: Scutigerellidae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 35 (3): 267–288. doi:10.1093/aesa/35.3.267. ISSN 0013-8746.
  9. ^ Halliday, R.B. (2004). "Confirmation of the presence of Scutigerella immaculata (Newport) in Australia (Symphyla: Scutigerellidae)". Australian Journal of Entomology. 43 (1): 43–45. doi:10.1111/j.1440-6055.2003.00375.x. ISSN 1440-6055.
  10. ^ Poinar, G. O.; Edwards, C. A. (1995-04-01). "First description of a fossil symphylan,Scutigerella dominicana sp. n. (Scutigerellidae: Symphyla), in Dominican amber". Experientia. 51 (4): 391–393. doi:10.1007/BF01928902. ISSN 0014-4754.
  11. ^ Scheller, Ulf; Wunderlich, Jörg (2004). "Two fossil symphylan species, Scutigerella baltica n. sp. and Hanseniella baltica n. sp. (Tracheata, Scutigerellidae), in Baltic amber". Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde, Serie B (Geologie und Palaeontologie). 351: 1–11 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

 This article incorporates text by Sierwald, P.; Spelda, J. available under the CC BY 4.0 license.