Ballophilidae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ballophilidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ballophilus hounselli | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Chilopoda |
| Order: | Geophilomorpha |
| Family: | Ballophilidae |
Ballophilidae is a monophyletic group of centipedes belonging to the order Geophilomorpha and superfamily Himantarioidea.[1][2] Authorities now dismiss Ballophilidae as a family and consider this clade to be a possible subfamily (Ballophilinae) within the family Schendylidae.[2][3] This clade includes about 40 species in 12 genera.[4] Centipedes in this clade are found in most tropical regions.[4]
In 2014, a phylogenetic analysis of the order Geophilomorpha using both morphological and molecular data found representatives of the family Ballophilidae nested among species of the family Schendylidae. To avoid paraphyly of the family Schendylidae with respect to Ballophilidae, authorities dismissed Ballophilidae as a separate family.[2] Authorities now place the genera formerly contained in the family Ballophilidae in the family Schendylidae instead,[3] but some references continue to accept the family Ballophilidae as valid.[1]
