Redescription of Pectiniunguis gaigei (Chamberlin, 1921) from Guyana, with new distributional data and complementary descriptive notes on similar neotropical species (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Schendylidae)

Abstract

Pectiniunguis gaigei (Chamberlin, 1921) from Guyana, (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Schendylidae) is here redescribed and illustrated on the basis of type material. The species is characterized by the absence of pore-field on the first sternum; presence of undivided ventral pore-fields in an uninterrupted series along the whole trunk length; parunguis of walking legs thin and pale; and last leg praetarsus as a small tubercle with numerous spines. All these combined traits are shared by three other Neotropical members of the genus (P. geayi (Brölemann & Ribaut, 1911) from Brazil; P. ducalis Pereira, Minelli & Barbieri, 1995 from Brazil; and P. roigi Pereira, Foddai & Minelli, 2001 from Ecuador), with which P. gaigei is here compared in detail. New distributional records for P. ducalis and P. geayi, together with complementary descriptive notes and new diagnoses for these species and P. roigi, are also given.

A further contribution to the knowledge of Pectiniunguis minutus (Demange, 1968), a little known dwarf schendylid centipede from western equatorial Africa (Chilopoda: geophilomorpha)

“…122-99-6). Details on preparation of microscope slides and employed dissection procedures are described in Pereira (2000Pereira ( , 2010aPereira ( , 2010b; Foddai et al (2002). All measurements are given in mm.…”

“…The African species of Ctenophilus were revised by Pereira & Demange, 1991. Latest contributions to the knowledge of the Neotropical species of Pectiniunguis can be found in Pereira & Coscarón, 1975(1976; Pereira et al, 1994Pereira et al, , 1999Pereira et al, , 2000Shear & Peck, 1992;Pereira, 2010a; the single species from Fiji Islands was revised by Pereira, 1982. The purpose of the present contribution is to redescribe the only known representative of the genus Pectiniunguis from Africa (Gabon), which was described by Demange (1968) under the name of Pleuroschendyla minuta. The original description lacks information on many important characters of specific value and only includes two inadequately detailed figures.…”