Dicellophilus anomalus

Dicellophilus anomalus can be distinguished from its closest relative D. limatus by having 41 leg pairs versus 45 in D. limatus, and by the more elongate telopodites of the first maxillae (more than four times as long as wide versus 3.0–3.8 in D. limatus). The posterior margin of the sternum of the last leg-bearing segment is diagnostic: D. anomalus has a short pillow-shaped process, while D. limatus has a regular convex curve. From the Japanese species D. pulcher, D. anomalus differs in having longer antennal setae (300 microns versus 150–200 microns), an angled rather than rounded transverse frontal line on the head, and the presence of an isolated pair of setae on the posterior clypeus (absent in D. pulcher).

Body elongate and slender, reaching up to 60 mm in length. Coloration ranges from yellow to orange-brown with a reddish-brown head. The species possesses exactly 41 pairs of legs in both sexes, with no intraspecific variation in leg number. The posterior lateral sclerites of the labrum feature longitudinal folds and a concave posterior margin fringed with bristles. Ultimate legs bear a distinctly enlarged ventral pore and a tubercle at the distal end with a few small spines. The terminal article of each antenna is elongate with a length/width ratio of 2.2–2.4. Distal parts of coxal projections from the first maxillae are enlarged and subtriangular. Antennae bear elongate setae reaching 300 microns in length. The transverse frontal line on the dorsal surface of the head forms an obvious angle pointing forward in the middle. A distinctly isolated pair of setae occurs in the middle of the posterior part of the clypeus. The telopodites of the first maxillae are elongate, more than four times as long as their maximum width. The posterior margin of the sternum of the last leg-bearing segment features a short process shaped like a pillow projecting from the posterior end.

Soil-dwelling centipede found in forested and woodland habitats. Occurs in areas between the Oregon Coast Range and Cascade Range in Oregon, and west of the Sierra Nevada in California. Specific microhabitat preferences within soil systems are not documented.

Restricted to the west coast of the United States. Recorded from Oregon (Lebanon, between the Coast Range and Cascade Range) and California (Oroville, Monterey Bay area including Pacific Grove, and central California west of the Sierra Nevada).

• Dicellophilus limatusOverlaps in distribution (California) and shares many morphological traits including elongate antennal terminal articles and angled frontal line; distinguished by 45 leg pairs, shorter maxillary telopodites, and different sternal process shape
• Dicellophilus pulcherPhylogenetically close but geographically separated (Japan); differs in shorter antennal setae, rounded frontal line, and absence of clypeal setae

• centipede
• soil-dwelling
• west coast endemic
• Mecistocephalidae
• Chilopoda

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life
• Aphytis Project Final Report | Entomology Research Museum
• Primary Type List | Entomology Research Museum
• Eumastacidae | Beetles In The Bush