Cases of trunk segmental anomalies in the geophilomorph centipedes Clinopodes flavidus C.L. Koch and Chilopodes 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 regen-eration. 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.