Cases of trunk segmental anomalies in the geophilomorph centipedes Clinopodes flavidus C.L. Koch and clinopodes trebevicensis (Verhoeff) (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha)

Abstract

We describe and analyze two examples of naturally occurring morphological anomalies in the geophilomorph centipedes. Recorded abnormalities include a supernumerary hemisclerite in an adult female specimen of Clinopodes flavidus C.L. Koch, and an even number of leg-bearing segments in a subadult male specimen of Clinopodes trebevicensis (Verhoeff). The morphological complexity of these defects makes them hard to explain as the result of healing or regeneration. They are most probably congenital and are interpreted as the effects of perturbation of different morphogenetic processes occurring at different phases of development of the segments in a given trunk region.

Keywords

• Chilopoda
• morphological defects
• supernumerary hemisclerite
• even number of leg-bearing segments
• developmental instability
• naturally occurring experiments