Anamorphic-development
Guides
Lithobiidae
stone centipedes
Lithobiidae is a family of centipedes in the order Lithobiomorpha, commonly known as stone centipedes. Members are characterized by anamorphic development, adding leg pairs with each molt until reaching 15 pairs in adulthood. The family exhibits K-selected life history traits including slow development, long lifespans, and low reproductive output. Lithobiidae has a cosmopolitan distribution with highest diversity in temperate regions.
Lithobiomorpha
Stone Centipedes
Lithobiomorpha, commonly known as stone centipedes, are an order of anamorphic centipedes characterized by a mature segment count of 15 trunk segments. They lack compound eyes, possessing instead simple ocelli or no eyes in some subterranean species. The order includes two families: Henicopidae and Lithobiidae. Members are primarily found in forest litter and soil habitats across temperate regions worldwide, with significant diversity in China and Europe.