The evolutionary history of the Mediterranean centipede Scolopendra cingulata (Latreille, 1829) (Chilopoda: Scolopendridae) across the Aegean archipelago

Abstract

In this study we investigate the evolutionary relationships of Scolopendra cingulata (Latreille, 1829) within insular Greece. Our main goal is to infer the time frame of the differentiation of the species in the study area. In this regard, sequence data originating from three mitochondrial genes are used to reconstruct the evolutionary history of 47 insular populations of S. cingulata from the Aegean archipelago. Within the phylogenetic framework and by implementing a relaxed molecular clock methodology, we infer the time estimates of separations of the S. cingulata lineages. The results of the phylogenetic analysis support the presence of three distinct S. cingulata groups in the region. The first group accommodates populations from the eastern Aegean islands, and is closely related to the second group that hosts mainly populations of northern and central Cyclades. The third group is composed of insular populations originating from southern Cyclades. Different temporal splitting scenarios have been evaluated. Based on the scenario strongly supported by the data, we propose a biogeographical scenario that could account for the contemporary distribution of the species' lineages. The splitting events of S. cingulata are estimated to have occurred within the late Miocene. The historical events of the last 13.77 Myr have shaped, through a series of mostly vicariant and dispersal incidents, the present-day biogeographical pattern of the species.

The Evolutionary History of the Rediscovered Austrian Population of the Giant Centipede Scolopendra cingulata Latreille 1829 (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha)

“…In contrast, a later study based on distributional patterns [29] suggested that the species differentiation in the Mediterranean Basin happened less than 5.5 Mya, or, alternatively, between 9 and 12 Mya via either the Balkans or northern Africa. A recent study based on molecular data supports the latter view, suggesting the time of divergence for two main lineages of Aegean S. cingulata to have been approximately 10.5 Mya years ago [30]. However, our data suggests that the Aegean islands were most likely colonized from multiple directions as supported by the fact that the representatives from the C2 group cluster within the Greek mainland samples and that the C1 sample clusters with the Turkish mainland samples (Fig.…”

Seasonal patterns of activity of Scolopendra cretica and S. cingulata (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha) in East Mediterranean maquis ecosystem

“…However, the fact that microhabitat preference was temporally consistent at all sites and did not affect the activity of the two studied scolopendromorph species suggests that activity of the two scolopendrids is probably due to intrinsic factors and less influenced by the abiotic factors. This evidence reinforces our notion that S. cretica and S. cingulata have a long history in the east Mediterranean area (Simaiakis et al 2012), resulting in a considerable relaxation period at least for S. cretica (see also Triantis et al 2008 andTrichas et al 2008), during which S. cretica remained isolated in Crete for about 5.5 Ma (Simaiakis and Mylonas 2008) and S. cingulata in a wider area that cause congruent ecological demands. Lewis (1972) stated that "centipedes of the family Scolopendridae have attracted little attention from ecologists and little work has been done on their life histories".…”

“…Minelli (1983) supports the notion that S. cingulata may have invaded the western European peninsulas (Iberian and Apenninian) relatively recently, but there is still little evidence for that. It seems that the geotectonic events shaping the Aegean region (e.g., the formation of the Mid-Aegean trench about 12 Myr ago) have had a significant effect on the present distribution of S. cingulata in continental and insular Greece and caused its absence in Crete (Simaiakis et al 2012).…”

Barcoding of Central European Cryptops centipedes reveals large interspecific distances with ghost lineages and new species records from Germany and Austria (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha)

“…There are only a handful of barcoding and phylogenetic studies applying molecular data of Scolopendromorpha worldwide (Murienne et al 2010; Simaiakis et al 2012; Vahtera et al 2012, 2013; Joshi and Edgecombe 2013; Oeyen et al 2014; Siriwut et al 2015). For Cryptops , there is only a singular molecular study utilizing barcoding genes and it deals with tropical pacific island species (Murienne et al 2011).…”

“…Barcoding studies inside the Scolopendromorpha consecutively revealed large interspecific distances (Simaiakis et al 2012; Joshi and Edgecombe 2013; Oeyen et al 2014; Siriwut et al 2015). The only study involving Cryptops (Murienne et al 2011) revealed exceptionally high intra- and interspecific distances, similar to the observations made in other Scolopendromorpha genera (see above), as well as in a recent study on German geophilomorph centipedes (Wesener et al 2015).…”