THE CEPHALIC NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE 

 CENTIPEDE ARENOPHILUS BIPUNCTICEPS 

 (WOOD) (CHILOPODA, GEOPHILOMORPHA, 

 GEOPHILIDAE)' 



By MICHAEL A. LORENZO 

 Woodstock College, Woodstock, Md. 



(With Five Plates) 



L INTRODUCTION 



This paper deals primarily with the gross and microscopic anatomy 

 of the cephalic nervous system of a geophilomorphous centipede. In 

 contrast to the voluminous literature concerned with the neuroanatomy 

 of other arthropods, little work has been done on the class Chilopoda, 

 and virtually nothing is known about the order Geophilomorpha. In- 

 asmuch as valid interpretations of phylogenetic relationships must be 

 based on the varied studies of numerous workers, a knowledge of the 

 neuroanatomy of this hitherto neglected group is desirable. 



GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 



Centipedes are terrestrial arthropods which lead a cryptozoic exist- 

 ence. Nocturnal habits and dark hiding places during the day make 

 their biotic presence unfelt. They exercise little influence on man's 

 economy and have eluded the interest of most biologists. The chilo- 

 pods, however, are regarded with reverential fear by many of the 

 lower organisms, especially the insects. Characteristically they possess 

 prehensors, which contain a poison gland. Unlike their myriapod kin, 

 the mxillipedes, they are carnivorous and rapid runners. Predaceous 

 even to the habit of cannibalism, centipedes are capable of inflicting 

 fatal "bites," and some mammals have succumbed to their attack. 

 There are many exaggerated tales of their attacks on the human spe- 

 cies. Some of the larger scolopendromorphs ^ of the eastern world, 

 however, attain the formidable length of over 12 inches ; and the death 



1 The research for this paper was completed at St. Louis University, St. Louis, 

 Mo. 



2 Scolopendra gigantea. 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS, VOL. 140, NO. 4 



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