Geophilidae

Species in this family are characterized by mandibles with a single pectinate lamella. Sternal pores are often present but with variable arrangements, and coxal organs are usually present and open into pits or through distinct pores. Female gonopods in this family are usually an undivided lamina.^[10]

Compared to most other families in the suborder Adesmata, this family features a modest number of leg-bearing segments and limited variation in this number within each species.^[11] Two European species in this family include centipedes with only 29 pairs of legs: Geophilus persephones (29 in the only specimen, a male), and G. richardi (29 or 31 in males and 33 in females).^[12][13] In the order Geophilomorpha, only two species include centipedes with fewer leg pairs, both of them in the family Schendylidae.^[12] Several other species in the family Geophilidae are known from specimens with notably few leg pairs in each sex, including Ribautia platensis (as few as 31 in each sex),^[14] G. hadesi (33 in each sex),^[15] Schendyloides alacer (as few as 33 in each sex),^[16] and Strigamia sibirica (as few as 33 in each sex).^[17]

This family contains these genera:^[1][18]