Gosibius montereus

As a member of Lithobiidae, this species possesses 15 pairs of legs in the adult stage (a diagnostic trait of the order Lithobiomorpha). Species-level identification within Gosibius requires examination of minute morphological characters including tergite sculpturing, coxal pore arrangement, and gonopod structure. Differentiation from other lithobiid genera in California such as Lithobius and Pseudolithobius depends on detailed comparative study of these features.

Known from California, USA. GBIF records indicate presence in North America with specific locality data from California.

As a lithobiomorph centipede, development is hemianamorphic: juveniles hatch with fewer than the adult complement of legs and segments, adding pairs through successive molts until reaching the definitive number of 15 leg pairs.

As a member of Lithobiidae, this species functions as a small invertebrate predator within soil and litter communities, contributing to nutrient cycling through consumption of microarthropods and other small prey.

• Lithobius spp.Other lithobiid centipedes co-occurring in California; distinguished by differences in tergite structure, coxal pore patterns, and male gonopod morphology.
• Other Gosibius speciesCongeners within the genus; species boundaries in Gosibius require detailed examination of subtle morphological characters and are not reliably distinguished without specialist taxonomic knowledge.

• centipede
• stone centipede
• soil arthropod
• California endemic

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon