Open AccessAnalysis of segment number and enzyme variation in a centipede reveals a cryptic species, Geophilus easoni sp. nov., and raises questions about speciation
Author(s) -
ARTHUR WALLACE,
FODDAI DONATELLA,
KETTLE CHRIS,
LEWIS JOHN G. E.,
LUCZYNSKI MIROSLAW,
MINELLI ALESSANDRO
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2001.tb01407.x
Subject(s) - biology , centipede , species complex , genetic algorithm , ecology , phylogeography , extant taxon , evolutionary biology , variation (astronomy) , taxonomy (biology) , zoology , phylogenetic tree , physics , astrophysics , gene , biochemistry
Geophilomorph centipedes provide an unusual opportunity to examine patterns of variation in segment number within extant species. (Most other arthropod species are invariant in this respect.) Recent work on several geophilomorph species has revealed latitudinal clines in segment number, but has generally not called into question the identities of the species themselves. However, analysis of a unique pattern of variation in British populations of Geophilus carpophagus Leach, coupled with other morphological and enzyme data, reveals a cryptic species, Geophilus easoni sp. nov. This species has not yet been detected on the European mainland. Four distinct hypotheses are advanced regarding the speciation event through which G. easoni arose and the phylogeographic processes that resulted in the present distributions of the two species in Britain. Further study will be necessary to test these hypotheses. In any event, G. carpophagus and G. easoni provide something that has until now been absent: a case study of the genetic differences between closely‐related geophilomorph species.