Diamondback soil centipede
Species of centipede
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Diamondback soil centipede | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| 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] | |
| |
Taxonomy
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]
Behavior
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]