Integrative taxonomy uncovers hidden diversity in Romanian Geophilus Leach, 1814 (Geophilomorpha, Geophilidae) Author Popovici, George 0000-0003-0662-7472 Molecular Biology Laboratory, " Grigore Antipa " National Museum of Natural History, Șoseaua Pavel D. Kiseleff 1, Bucureşti 011341, Romania & Richard Gilder Graduate School, The American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, USA Author Popa, Oana Paula 0000-0003-3099-8193 Molecular Biology Laboratory, " Grigore Antipa " National Museum of Natural History, Șoseaua Pavel D. Kiseleff 1, Bucureşti 011341, Romania Author Iorgu, Elena Iulia 0000-0003-4438-140X Ştefan cel Mare University, Str. Universităţii no. 13, Suceava, 720229, Romania text Zoosystematics and Evolution 2026 2026-04-03 102 2 533 555 journal article 314758 10.3897/zse.102.177928 d2575d09-f02b-4272-8f4b-1425ecabc0b3 B7E3BEF6-05A1-4224-9982-8A649B6A986E
Morphology of evaluated Geophilus in comparison with the two newly described species.
CharacterSpecies
G. captiosusG. tenuisG. flavusG. osquidatumG. proximus
Adult body length (mm)18–2410–1320–4516–3025–40
Leg-bearing segments45–4743–4737–6151–6345–55
Ratio of length of antenna to cephalic plate lengthca. 4.5ca. 3.6ca. 4.1ca. 4.6ca. 2.5
Length to width ratio of cephalic plateca. 1.25ca. 1.18ca. 1.2ca. 1.11ca. 1.2
Clypeal areas22121–2
First maxillae lappetsPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
Tarsungulum protruding over anterior margin of cephalic plateYesYesYesYesNo
Forcipular tarsungulum basal toothPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
Armature of forcipular articlesSmall sensillum coeloconicum on internal side of each articleSmall sensillum coeloconicum on internal side of each articleSmall sensillum coeloconicum on internal side of each articleSmall sensillum coeloconicum on internal side of each articleNo denticles or tubercles
Forcipular tarsungulum inner marginSmoothSmoothFine, irregular serrationsLarge, regular serrationsSmooth
Chitin linesVanishing before reaching the condylesVanishing before reaching the condylesVanishing before reaching the condylesVanishing before reaching the condylesVanishing before reaching the condyles
Labrum medial part7–8 tubercles4–6 tubercles6–8 tubercles2 tubercles1–4 tubercles
Carpophagus structuresPresent on sternites 2–15; unconsolidatedPresent on sternites 2–12; unconsolidatedAbsentPresent on sternites 2–14Present
Anterior sternites pore fieldsTriangular; present on 1–15Triangular; present on 1–15Triangular; present on 1–15Triangular; present on 1–15Triangular; present on 1–17
Posterior sternites pore fieldsTwo small; present on 17 to penultimateTwo small; present on 16 to penultimateTwo small; present on 16 to penultimateTwo small. Present on 16 to penultimateAbsent
Isolated coxal porePresent, same size as othersPresent, reduced in sizeAbsentAbsentAbsent
Coxal pores3–6, opening over entire ventral surface of coxopleuron2–3, opening near margin of metasternite2–10, opening near margin of metasternite2–4, opening near margin of metasternite8–10; opening near margin of metasternite
Anal poresPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
Ultimate pleuropretergite entireYesYesYesYesYes
Ultimate leg pair pretarsusEvident, claw-shapedEvident, claw-shapedReduced in size, claw-shapedReduced in size, claw-shapedEvident, claw-shaped
Adult body length (mm)11.5–13Max. 2016.6–1834–3630–63.9
Leg-bearing segments39–4341–4741–4555–6351–53
Ratio of length of antenna to cephalic plate lengthca. 3.4ca. 2ca. 3.5ca. 5.6ca. 4.5
Length to width ratio of cephalic plateca. 1.3ca. 1.1ca. 1.11–1.18ca. 1ca. 1.05
Clypeal areas00022
First maxillae lappetsAbsentPresentPresentPresentPresent
Tarsungulum protruding over anterior margin of cephalic plateYesYesYesYesYes
Forcipular tarsungulum basal toothPresentPresentPresentPresent, occasionally reduced to shallow bulge onlyPresent
Armature of forcipular articles-Shallow bulge on intermediate articlesSmall sensillum coeloconicum on internal side of each articleSmall sensillum coeloconicum on internal side of each articleSmall sensillum coeloconicum on internal side of each article
Forcipular tarsungulum inner marginSmoothSmoothSmoothLarge, regular serrationsSmooth
Chitin lines“ Evident ”; vanishing before reaching the condylesVanishing before reaching the condylesVanishing before reaching the condylesVanishing before reaching the condylesVanishing before reaching the condyles
Labrum medial part-2 tubercles8 tubercles5–6 tubercles3 tubercles
Carpophagus structuresAbsentPresent on sternites 2 – 13Small median plateau on some anterior sternitesPresentPresent on sternites 1–16; unconsolidated
Anterior sternites pore fieldsBand-shaped; present on 1–11Band-shaped; present on 1–14Sub-triangular; present on 1–12 (13)Triangular; present on 1–15Triangular; present on sternites 1–18 (19) (20)
Posterior sternites pore fieldsTwo small; present only on 12–18Small clusters of few poresTwo small; present on 13-14 to penultimateTwo small; present on 16 to penultimateTwo small; present on 18 (19) (20) to penultimate
Isolated coxal porePresent, reduced in sizePresent, reduced in size; in middle of coxopleuronPresent, same size as othersAbsentPresent, same size or larger
Coxal poresca. 3–5, opening near margin of metasternite3–4, opening near margin of metasternite, one at anterior tip3–7, opening over entire ventral surface of the coxopleuron3–5, opening near margin of metasternite9–18, opening over entire ventral surface of coxopleuron
Anal poresPresentPresentPresentPresentPresent
Ultimate pleuropretergite entire-YesYesYesYes
Ultimate leg pair pretarsusClaw-shaped in female; reduced to tubercle in maleEvident, claw-shapedEvident, claw-shapedReduced in size, claw-shapedEvident, claw-shaped