cormoGen1=Lithobiomorpha

3 families.

8 genera.
Members of the Lithobiomorpha (occasionally know as 'stone centipedes') vary in length between 4 - 40 mm, have 15 pairs of legs, 18 body segments, and filiform antennae of 13 to 100 segments. The body and head are dorosoventrally flattened, enabling the animal to invade narrow crevices in search of food (Hoffman 1982: 681; Edgecombe 2001: 44). Members of this order also have teeth and accessory setae on the mandibles. There are no presternites or pretergites (Lewis 1981: 28; Hoffman 1982: 682). Most species have ocelli, present in small lateral clusters of between 1 and 30 (Hoffman 1982: 682). Below these is a sensory structure, the T%C3%B6m%C3%B6sv%C3%A1ry organ (Lewis 1981: 27). Posterior legs are longer than anterior ones. The final two pairs are longest and are used in mating and capture of prey (Lewis 1981: 27; Hoffman 1982: 682). Distal spines may be present on the anal legs of both sexes (Lewis 1981: 30). Other diagnostic features include the 'heart-shaped' head, with a distinctive ridge along each side (Lewis 1981: 27). The sternum of the 1st maxilla is small and separate from the coxa. The telopodites are robust and biarticulate. The coxa and sternum of the 2nd maxilla are fused. Telopodites (palps) have three or four segments. A terminal claw (generally divided into five digits) is present. The Lithobiomorpha is a relatively large and diverse order, found predominantly in the temperate zone. In Australia, Lithobius spp. are probably introduced, whereas the Australian native species Lamyctes emarginatus is an invader in temperate areas of Europe, North America, and Greenland (Edgecombe 2001: 50).
References Edgecombe, G. (2001). Centipedes: the great Australian bite. Nature Australia, Autumn 2001: 42-51. Hoffmann, R.L. (1982). Chilopoda. pp.in Parker, S. (ed.) Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. New York: McGraw-Hill Vol. 2 Lewis, J.G.E. (1981). The Biology of Centipedes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press vii 476 pp.