Geophilus oweni
Bollman, 1887
Geophilus oweni is a soil in the Geophilidae, known from the central United States. It is a moderately sized geophilid, reaching up to 40 mm in length, with high numbers of leg pairs showing . The exhibits variable yellow coloration and possesses distinctive morphological features useful for identification.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Geophilus oweni: /ˈdʒiːəˌfaɪləs ˈoʊəni/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Distinguished from similar Geophilus by: (1) high leg pair count (67-77 pairs, with females consistently having more than males), (2) absence of consolidated sacculi on the trunk, (3) presence of prelabral consolidated areas, and (4) long, thin second maxillary claws. The variable yellow coloration and size up to 40 mm are additional field characters. Formerly confused with G. missouriensis, now synonymized.
Habitat
soil-dwelling; specific microhabitat preferences not documented
Distribution
Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio, USA
Similar Taxa
- Geophilus hadesisame but distinct in being exclusively cave-dwelling, much deeper distribution, and elongated appendages typical of troglobites
- Geophilus persephonessame and also cave-dwelling, distinct ecological specialization and geographic distribution (Croatia)
- Geophilus missouriensissynonymized with G. oweni; previously considered distinct but found to represent the same