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Saltational evolution of trunk segment number in centipedes
Author(s) -
Minelli Alessandro,
ChagasJúnior Amazonas,
Edgecombe Gregory D.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
evolution and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1525-142X
pISSN - 1520-541X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-142x.2009.00334.x
Subject(s) - biology , centipede , evolutionary biology , lineage (genetic) , arthropod , evolutionary developmental biology , trunk , zoology , ecology , genetics , gene
SUMMARY Saltational changes in segment numbers have likely occurred in arthropod evolution, especially if mechanisms of segment formation involve a multiplicative phase, as recently suggested in the evo‐devo literature. Here we provide for the first time evidence of major phenotypic saltation in the evolution of segment number in a lineage of centipedes, with a newly discovered species of scolopender having segment numbers duplicated with respect to its closest relatives, and to all the remaining 700+ species of Scolopendromorpha known to date.