On the true identity of Scolopendra robusta Kraepelin, 1903 (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae), with corrections to records of centipedes from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico

Abstract

The Chilopoda of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico have been poorly studied until now. In this work, the historical literature is reviewed, old Scolopendromorpha specimens are (re)examined, and updated locality records are provided. One of the species, Scolopendra robusta Kraepelin, 1903, previously considered a potential synonym of Scolopendra viridis Say, 1821, Scolopendra polymorpha Wood, 1861, or Arthrorhabdus pygmaeus (Pocock, 1895), is here regarded as a junior synonym of Scolopendra gigantea Linnaeus, 1758, and is formally deleted from the fauna of Mexico. A published Mexican record of Scolopendra dehaani Brandt, 1840 is considered either as a mislabeling or as a transient introduction and the species is deleted from Mexico. A museum specimen and unpublished record of Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1816 from a Mexican locality is considered to be mislabeled and the species is here simultaneously reported and deleted from Mexico. The count of species of Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 regarded to occur in the country is updated to 12, of which seven are endemic, four are native, and one is introduced. The species Scolopendra heros Girard, 1853 and Hemiscolopendra marginata (Say, 1821) are reported from the state of Nuevo León for the first time. Further, two museum specimens and unpublished record of the genus Ethmostigmus Pocock, 1898 and the species Ethmostigmus trigonepoda (Leach, 1816) from Monterrey, Mexico are considered mislabelled and simultaneously reported and deleted.