The ecology, distribution and taxonomy of the centipedes found on the shore in the Plymouth area

Abstract

Six species of geophilomorph centipede are reported from the littoral zone in the Plymouth area, and in two cases, where they differ from previous descriptions, the significance of these differences is discussed. It is suggested that the various British and French populations of Geophilus algarum and Geophilus fucorum may be subspecies of one polytypic species.It is shown that Strigamia maritima and Hydroschendyla submarina differ in the way in which they have adapted to life on the shore. The former lays permeable eggs and migrates out of the littoral zone to lay them and to moult, the latter lays impermeable eggs and moults in the intertidal zone. Information on the prey of S. maritima at Plymouth is given.The variations between some populations of littoral centipedes is discussed and possible reasons for the high density of populations of S. maritima and H. submarina are given.