Parental care in Stenotaenia rhodopensis (Kaczmarek, 1970) (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha)

Abstract

The females of the geophilomorph centipede Stenotaenia rhodopensis (Kaczmarek, 1970) guard the eggs and young by wrapping their bodies around the brood so that the ventral side is exposed to the outside. This observation confirms the basal division of the Geophilomorpha into Placodesmata (comprising only the family Mecistocephalidae) and Adesmata, which corresponds to the anatomical differences between these groups, especially with regard to the absence or presence of ventral pores, the openings of the ventral glands. We have provided comparative data for some external morphological characters between young and their mothers to clarify changes in taxonomic characters during early post-embryonic development. In addition, we have explained some of the key terms used in the study of the evolution of parental care and identified ecological factors such as harsh environments and predation pressure as possible evolutionary drivers of parental care in centipedes.