Henicops maculatus Newport, 1845

(Order Lithobiomorpha, family Henicopidae, subfamily Henicopinae)

Check:
 
(a)  37-44 antennomeres
(b)  1 eye on each side of head
(c)  3+3 teeth on coxosternite, the outermost tooth usually slightly separated from the inner two
(d)  tibial spur on legs 1-14
(e)  tarsus of legs 1-12 in 3 parts, of leg 13 in 4 parts, of leg 14 in 4-5 parts, of leg 15 in 6-7 parts
(f)  3-5 round coxal pores on legs 12-15.

Left:  Maxillipedes, ventral view.
Right:  (left to right) anterior views of left legs 12-15, showing progressive division of tarsus.

First described 160 years ago from a Tasmanian specimen, H. maculatus is a highly variable species, with adults ranging in length from 15 to 25 mm. Colour ranges from very pale brown to deep red brown, but all forms have numerous, tiny, dark spots (hence 'maculatus'). The 3+3 coxosternal tooth formula and the much-divided rear tarsi will distinguish this species from the similar Paralamyctes species.

H. maculatus is Tasmania's most widespread centipede. It has been collected from sea level to more than 1500 m, in every habitat from coastal dune scrubs to dense rainforest to bare mountaintops, and it sometimes invades gardens. Very fast-running, H. maculatus is usually found under bark, stones and woody litter. It is always the most common centipede in pitfall traps.

Localities for H. maculatus.  Scale bar = 100 km.
For an interactive map with more up-to-date localities, go to the mapper page.

More information:
 
Taxonomy - Newport (1845), International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1982), Hollington & Edgecombe (2004) (Henicops overview)
Biology - Pocock (1901), Edgecombe et al. (2002), Edgecombe & Giribet (2003b), Edgecombe & Giribet (2003c)
Distribution, conservation and general - Todd & Horwitz (1990)