Soil-centipede
Guides
Garriscaphus amplus
Garriscaphus amplus is a species of soil centipede in the family Himantariidae, described by Chamberlin in 1941. As a member of the order Geophilomorpha, it is an elongate, multi-legged myriapod adapted for burrowing through soil and leaf litter. The genus Garriscaphus is poorly known, and this species has received limited study. Available records indicate it occurs in the United States, though specific ecological details remain largely undocumented.
Geophilus
Compost Centipedes
Geophilus is a large genus of soil centipedes in the family Geophilidae, with approximately 140 species. The genus has a Holarctic distribution and exhibits considerable morphological diversity, with body lengths ranging from under 1 cm to over 7 cm and leg pair counts varying from 29 to 89. Several species have adapted to specialized habitats, including deep cave environments. The genus is characterized by distinctive structural features of the head, forcipules, and trunk segments.
Geophilus flavus
Boreal Yellow-headed Soil Centipede
Geophilus flavus is a soil centipede in the family Geophilidae, commonly found in terrestrial habitats including seashore locations across Europe. As a member of the Geophilomorpha, it belongs to a group of elongate, multi-legged centipedes adapted for burrowing in soil and leaf litter. The species is distinguished by its yellowish head and preference for moist coastal environments.
Geophilus vittatus
diamondback soil centipede
Geophilus vittatus, commonly known as the diamondback soil centipede, is a widespread soil-dwelling centipede in North America. It is named for the distinctive dark band of diamond-shaped markings across its back. The species reaches up to 52 mm in length and possesses 49–53 leg pairs in females and 49–51 in males. It is one of the most frequently observed soil centipedes in its range, with over 950 documented observations.
Schendyla
Schendyla is a genus of soil-dwelling centipedes in the family Schendylidae, first described in 1866 by Danish entomologists Vilhelm Bergsøe and Frederik Vilhelm August Meinert. The genus comprises more than 20 species distributed across the western Palearctic region. These centipedes are small to medium-sized, ranging from approximately 1 cm to 4.5 cm in length, with leg pair counts varying dramatically between species—from 29 to 57 pairs. The genus exhibits notable morphological diversity in body size and leg number, with some species like S. antici being exceptionally small (5–8 mm) with minimal leg pairs, while others like S. vizzavonae reach 45 mm.