Schileyko Ark.A. 2006. Redescription of Scolopendropsis bahiensis (Brandt, 1841), the relations between Scolopendropsis and Rhoda, and notes on some characters used in scolopendromorph taxonomy (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) // Arthropoda Selecta. Vol.15. No.1: 9–17 [in English].
Zoological Museum, State University of Moscow, Bolshaya Nikistkaya Street 6, Moscow 125009 Russia. E-mail: schileyko1965@mail.ru
KEY WORDS: Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendropsis, Rhoda, taxonomy, synonymy, Brazil.
ABSTRACT. The holotype of Scolopendropsis bahiensis (Brandt, 1841), from Bahia, Brazil, recently relocated in the collection of the Zoological Institute in St. Petersburg, is redescribed. Since Rhoda calcarata (Pocock, 1891) is, except for two additional leg-bearing segments, almost identical to it, this form is considered to be a junior synonym of Scolopendropsis bahiensis, syn.n. The genus Rhoda Meinert, 1886 currently comprises Rhoda thayeri Meinert, 1886 (type species), R. isolata Chamberlin, 1958 and R. spinifer (Kraepelin, 1903). The taxonomic importance of the number of leg-bearing segments in the Scolopendromorpha appears to be less significant than thought previously, because S. bahiensis is a “segmentally dimorphic” species. An identification key to the species of Scolopendropsis and Rhoda is also presented.