The Centipede Genus Scolopendra in Mainland Southeast Asia: Molecular Phylogenetics, Geometric Morphometrics and External Morphology as Tools for Species Delimitation

PLoS One. 2015 Aug 13;10(8):e0135355. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135355. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Seven Scolopendra species from the Southeast Asian mainland delimited based on standard external morphological characters represent monophyletic groups in phylogenetic trees inferred from concatenated sequences of three gene fragments (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, 16S rRNA and 28S rRNA) using Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Geometric morphometric description of shape variation in the cephalic plate, forcipular coxosternite, and tergite of the ultimate leg-bearing segment provides additional criteria for distinguishing species. Colouration patterns in some Scolopendra species show a high degree of fit to phylogenetic trees at the population level. The most densely sampled species, Scolopendra dehaani Brandt, 1840, has three subclades with allopatric distributions in mainland SE Asia. The molecular phylogeny of S. pinguis Pocock, 1891, indicated ontogenetic colour variation among its populations. The taxonomic validation of S. dawydoffi Kronmüller, 2012, S. japonica Koch, 1878, and S. dehaani Brandt, 1840, each a former subspecies of S. subspinipes Leach, 1814 sensu Lewis, 2010, as full species was supported by molecular information and additional morphological data. Species delimitation in these taxonomically challenging animals is facilitated by an integrative approach that draws on both morphology and molecular phylogeny.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthropods / classification*
  • Arthropods / genetics*
  • Asia, Southeastern
  • Phylogeny*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 28S

Grants and funding

This project received major funding from The Thailand Research Fund (TRF) under TRF Senior Research Scholar to SP, Ratchadapisek Sompoch Endowment Fund (2014), Chulalongkorn University (CU-57-017-FW). Accommodation and travel expenses during field surveys in almost all islands in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea were supported by The Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, The Thai Royal Navy, and The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Conservation. Additional support came from the TRF Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program (Grant No. PHD/0066/2553) and the RGJ Newton Fund 2015 to SP and WS. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.