Prince Albert II centipede (Endogeophilus alberti), a new species in the extremely rare genus

NEWS - Geophilid centipede, Prince Albert II centipede (Endogeophilus alberti), was described based on a single specimen collected from Provence, southern France, which is similar to E. ichnusae Bonato, Zapparoli, Drago & Minelli, 2016, and is known by only three specimens from southwestern Sardinia as the only species in the genus Endogeophilus.

Both species have a very narrow body, very short setae, numerous outer legs and are relatively stout. All these traits are rare among geophilids and suggest an endogeic lifestyle. The two species differ in the shape of the pretarsi of the second maxilla and the shape of the forcipules, although specimens are very few and it is difficult to distinguish between species from intraspecific variation.

Provence is one of the most surveyed areas in Europe for centipedes, but some sectors are still poorly studied. The new species was discovered in southern Provence, about 2 km from the coast, while the known range of E. ichnusae is limited to southwestern Sardinia. The two areas are more than 450 km apart and separated by a wide sea channel.

E. alberti is only known from the type site and a single specimen collected in the shaded maquis by Arbutus unedo L., 1753 and several large Quercus suber L., 1753. It was found after sieving with a Winkler tool at a depth of 10-20 cm in the soil. The species is dedicated to Prince Albert II de Monaco whose foundation has supported the fieldwork of this research.

E. alberti is found in the marginal area (“zone d’adhésion”) of the Port-Cros National Park which was poorly studied before 2022, except for coastal habitats. It appears that E. alberti has a narrow distribution, probably restricted to the Maures mountains and its surroundings, which means that detections are very low compared to most other centipedes.

This renowned biodiversity hotspot in Europe is seriously threatened by demographic pressures and various human impacts, in particular the habitats in the southern Maures have been disturbed by urbanization, artificialization and forest fires. This impact also concerns several species of centipedes (Chilopoda) which are already considered endangered.

Original research

Iorio É, Bonato L (2024). A new species of the rare genus Endogeophilus from southern France, with a key to the European genera of Geophilidae s.l. (Chilopoda). ZooKeys 1213: 199-224, DOI:10.3897/zookeys.1213.133171

Dlium theDlium

Redflower ragleaf (Crassocephalum crepidioides)

Sintrong or ebolo or thickhead or redflower ragleaf ( Crassocephalum crepidioides ) are plant species in Asteraceae, terma height 25-100 cm, white fibrous roots, generally grow wild on the roadside, yard gardens or abandoned lands at altitude 200- 2500 m. C. crepidioides has erect or horizontal stems along the soil surface, vascular, soft, non-woody, shallow grooves, green, rough surface and short white hair, aromatic fragrance when squeezed. Petiole is spread on stems, tubular and eared. Single leaf, spread out, green, 8-20 cm long, 3-6 cm wide, longitudinal or round inverted eggshell with a narrow base along the stalk. Pointed tip, flat-edged or curved to pinnate, jagged rough and pointed. The top leaves are smaller and often sit. Compound flowers grow throughout the year in humps that are arranged in terminal flat panicles and androgynous. Green cuffs with orange-brown to brick-red tips, cylindrical for 13-16 mm long and 5-6 mm wide. The crown is yellow with a brownish red...

Bengal trumpet (Thunbergia grandiflora)

Bengal trumpet ( Thunbergia grandiflora ) is a species of plant in the Acanthaceae, herbaceous, climbing, up to 20 meters long, long root system with deep taproot. The leaves are opposite, petiolate, rough surface and variable size. The leaves are triangular or oval or 7-cornered and the margins are serrated or wavy or plain. The length and width of the leaves are up to 20 cm. The flowers are blue and mauve in color, up to 9 cm wide and the tube is 4 cm long. The pods contain seeds that scatter up to several meters when ripe. Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Acanthaceae Subfamily: Thunbergioideae Tribe: Thunbergieae Genus: Thunbergia Species: Thunbergia grandiflora

Fivefingers (Syngonium angustatum)

Donglimo or fivefingers ( Syngonium angustatum ) is species in Araceae, epiphytes, grow to climb large trees up to 20 meters high, produce milky sap, dark green, internodes up to 50 cm long, petioles up to 35 cm long, green and live in areas tropical. S. angustatum has roots in the soil to absorb nutrients and air roots that grow in each segment to attach themselves to a support. Wild plants that live in forests often cause trees to be uprooted by heavy loads. The main stem produces a row of stems, up to 60 cm with the ends of a group of leaves with 3-7 separate leaflets, but connected by horizontal stems. The middle leaf has a length of up to 25 cm and a width of up to 12 cm. The flower has a veil, round in shape and a pointed tip, green and facing up with a stalk up to 15 cm long. The head of the pistil is tubular, stands 3-5 cm long and is white. The fruit is in a veil, rounded with a pointed tip and green when young to turn bright red when ripe and grow on the tip of the ...

Dlium