Geophilus varians

McNeill, 1887

varians is a small soil to eastern North America. It is characterized by its variable coloration, ranging from light faded orange to or whitish yellow, with a distinctly brighter . The exhibits in leg pair counts, with males possessing 53–59 pairs and females 55–61 pairs. It reaches maximum lengths of 40 mm, though typically averages 30–35 mm.

Geophilus varians by (c) Derek Hennen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Derek Hennen. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Geophilus varians: /ˈdʒiː.əˌfaɪ.ləs ˈvæɹ.i.ənz/

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Identification

Distinguished from by the combination of: (1) complete lack of consolidated paxilli and sacculi on the ; (2) concealed prebasal plate; (3) unusually long ultimate legs; (4) specific leg pair count ranges differing between sexes; and (5) distinctive color pattern of pale trunk with contrasting brighter . The in leg number (males 53–59, females 55–61) is a diagnostic feature.

Images

Habitat

Soil-dwelling; specific microhabitat preferences not documented in available sources.

Distribution

Eastern North America, specifically recorded from South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Similar Taxa

Other Geophilus speciesMay share general body form and , but distinguished by the unique combination of antennal sensory organ reduction, concealed prebasal plate, long ultimate legs, and specific leg pair counts with .

More Details

Antennal morphology

The complete absence of consolidated paxilli and sacculi represents a notable morphological reduction compared to many related geophilid , which typically possess these chemosensory structures on their .