unid centipede & friends

[asheleaf]

anybody id these few creatures. I know nothing about them. Is there a beginners book out there somewhere?

thanks in advance, Ashe

RSPB pulborough brooks, sussex. under bark. Dec 2011


August, Surrey


April, Surrey


April, Surrrey

[MattPrince]

The first is a centipede - lithobius variegatus nice easy one due to the striped rear legs.

Second looks like a millipede - either a false flat-back or a flat-back - if it had eyes and 30 segments it would be the falsey nanogona polydesmoides, but I Suspect this is actually one of the true flat-backs.
SAme for third picture..
Fourth is a julid millipede possibly... Need to look at small characters like the projection on the final tail segment to get it to species.

Hopefully a more serious myriapodder may be along with further clues..

There is a good AIGAP book for the centipedes but I'm not sure about the millipedes

You could take a look at the "British Myriapod and Isopod" group for further info about millipedes, centipedes and woodlice

[asheleaf]

Originally Posted by MattPrince

The first is a centipede - lithobius variegatus nice easy one due to the striped rear legs.

Second looks like a millipede - either a false flat-back or a flat-back - if it had eyes and 30 segments it would be the falsey nanogona polydesmoides, but I Suspect this is actually one of the true flat-backs.
SAme for third picture..
Fourth is a julid millipede possibly... Need to look at small characters like the projection on the final tail segment to get it to species.

Hopefully a more serious myriapodder may be along with further clues..

There is a good AIGAP book for the centipedes but I'm not sure about the millipedes

You could take a look at the "British Myriapod and Isopod" group for further info about millipedes, centipedes and woodlice

thanks for all the info and for taking the trouble to right it. Re the second one which you felt is a true 'flatback', what family are they?

many thanks, Ashe

[MattPrince]

I think you'll find they are polydesmidia or something like that !

Have a look at this one. Not saying it *is* that one .. there are several that look like it.

Also take a look at "black snake millipede" as here on WAB. Very similar to your last example, however the tail protuberance has to be checked closely to confirm this to a species.

Cheers,
Matt

[asheleaf]

Originally Posted by MattPrince

I think you'll find they are polydesmidia or something like that !

Have a look at this one. Not saying it *is* that one .. there are several that look like it.

Also take a look at "black snake millipede" as here on WAB. Very similar to your last example, however the tail protuberance has to be checked closely to confirm this to a species.

Cheers,
Matt

thanks for the extra researched. I followed the links you offered and the black snake millipede looks good. The others will go down as polydesmidia sp. thanks for educating me.

Ashe

[MattPrince]

Nae problem Ashe.. (though its probably the limit of my own knowledge!)

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of a false flat backed millipede, nanogona polydesmoides I found today, (grubbing through wet leaf litter), for comparison with your polydesmidia sp. above.

You can see it has the same general shape as the true flat backs, but it has more segments and eyes (hence it is sometimes called the "eyed flat-back millipede"). It is fairly common here in the West country, and I think (from the NBN gateway) there is a good chance you'll discover one sooner or later yourself.

[asheleaf]

Originally Posted by MattPrince

Nae problem Ashe.. (though its probably the limit of my own knowledge!)

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of a false flat backed millipede, nanogona polydesmoides I found today, (grubbing through wet leaf litter), for comparison with your polydesmidia sp. above.

You can see it has the same general shape as the true flat backs, but it has more segments and eyes (hence it is sometimes called the "eyed flat-back millipede"). It is fairly common here in the West country, and I think (from the NBN gateway) there is a good chance you'll discover one sooner or later yourself.

thanks, the increase in segments in the false is quite clear. I shall try to remember the distinction & what applies to which.

thanks again, Ashe

[asheleaf]

found this one Christmas day. No stripes on the legs unfortunately. any ideas?

thanks, Ashe

south downs, west sussex,

[Fauna]

Hi Ashe...

Its a bit tricky to id "pedes" from photos, many will need to go under the scope. I've been caught out a few times thinking i knew what a specimen was by just viewing it without the scope...always good to take a voucher, even with the commoner types.

Going by colour and the darker central "stripe", my best guess would be with the commonly found Lithobius melanops?

Sorry i can't be more of an help here...

Regards Chris.

[asheleaf]

Originally Posted by Fauna

Hi Ashe...

Its a bit tricky to id "pedes" from photos, many will need to go under the scope. I've been caught out a few times thinking i knew what a specimen was by just viewing it without the scope...always good to take a voucher, even with the commoner types.

Going by colour and the darker central "stripe", my best guess would be with the commonly found Lithobius melanops?

Sorry i can't be more of an help here...

Regards Chris.

no problem, someone else has suggested Lithobius forficatus. think i shall have to locate a field guide.

cheers for your help