First record of a ballophilid centipede from French Guiana with a description of Ityphilus betschi sp. nov. (Myriapoda: Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha)

Abstract

Ityphilus betschi sp. nov. from French Guiana, (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Ballophilidae) is here described and illustrated on the basis of the male holotype and a non-type female specimen. The new species is characterized by having the internal edge of the forcipular tarsungulum partially serrate; ventral pore-fields present along the entire body length; and all pore-fields undivided. It is compared in detail with the other Neotropical members of the genus sharing these three combined traits, and having a roughly similar range of leg-bearing segments, i.e., I. crabilli Pereira, Minelli & Barbieri, 1994 (from Brazil); I. demoraisi Pereira, Minelli & Barbieri, 1995 (from Brazil); I. guianensis Chamberlin, 1921 (from Guyana, Brazil, Trinidad); I. perrieri (Brölemann, 1909) (from Brazil); and I. saucius Pereira, Foddai & Minelli, 2000 (from Brazil). Complementary notes for these latter species are also given. Undiluted 2-Phenoxyethanol (CAS No. 122-99-6) has been used as an effective clearing agent/mounting medium for the preparation of temporary mounts of all body parts of the examined specimens. The discovery of the new species here described represents the first record of the family Ballophilidae from French Guiana.