Lucio Bonato

Department of Biology - University of Padova

via U.Bassi 58b · I-35131 Padova (Italy) · tel. 0039 049 8277487

lucio.bonato@unipd.it

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research

geophilomorph centipedes

evolution and diversity

 

Geophilomorph centipedes

are a group of terrestrial arthropods 

and a major component of soil ecosystems throughout the world.

These tiny predators are specialised

to carry on a secretive life inside the soil.

Knowledge on their evolution, diversity and ecology

is well behind that of many other animal groups.

 

 

Mecistocephalids

 

Within extant geophilomorphs, mecistocephalids

comprise a very distinct lineage

retaining quite primitive features in morphology and behaviour.

Puzzling is the fact that, as a rule,

each species is invariant in the number of trunk segments

but this number frequently changed during evolution.


Geophilids

 

Geophilids comprise one of the most diverse groups

within the geophilomorphs,

with extraordinarily specialised traits 

for living among soil grains.

However, their evolutionary history still remains unclear.


Mediterranean Geophilomorphs

 

The Mediterranean basin

is a major hotspot of diversity for geophilomorphs.

Interesting patterns of geographical variation

and fascinating regional radiations are emerging.

However, the current taxonomy is inconsistent and unsatisfactory:

many taxa are in need of revision

...and a lot of unknown species are still to dig out. 

 

 

selected publications



 


Comparative analysis of diet 

in syntopic geophilomorph species (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha) 

using a DNA-based approach 

Bortolin F., Fusco G., Bonato L. 2018.

Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 127: 223-229.

abstract

How many species of centipedes 

coexist in temperate forests? 

Estimating local species richness 

of Chilopoda in soil coenoses 

of the South-Eastern Prealps

Peretti E., Bonato L., 2018.
European Journal of Soil Biology, 

89: 25-32.

abstract

 


New insights into Plutonium, 

one of the largest and least known European centipedes (Chilopoda): distribution, evolution and morphology

 

Bonato L., Orlando M., Zapparoli M., Fusco G., Bortolin F. 2017.

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 180: 887–909.

abstract

Evolution of Strigamia centipedes (Chilopoda): a first molecular assessment of phylogeny and divergence times

Bonato L., Bortolin F., Drago L., Orlando M., Danyi L. 2017.
Zoologica Scripta, 46: 486-495.

abstract
 



ChiloKey, 

an interactive identification tool 

for the geophilomorph centipedes 

of Europe

 

Bonato L., Minelli A., Lopresti M., Cerretti P.

2014.

Zookeys, 443: 1-9.

article  -   Chilokey

The phylogenetic position of Dinogeophilus

and a new evolutionary framework 

for the smallest epimorphic centipedes

 

Bonato L., Minelli A., Drago L., Pereira L.A.

2015. 

Contributions to Zoology, 84: 237-253.

abstract

 

 

 

  

Phylogeny of Geophilomorpha 

inferred from 

new morphological and molecular evidence

 

Bonato L., Drago L., Murienne J. 2014. Cladistics, 30: 485-507.

abstract

 

 

 

 

 

Geophilomorph centipedes

from the Cretaceous amber of Burma

 

Bonato L., Edgecombe G.D., Minelli A. 2014.

Palaeontology, 57: 97-110.

abstract

 

 

 

 Morphology and diversity of the forcipules in Strigamia centipedes

 

Maruzzo D., Bonato L. 2014.

Arthropod Structure and Development, 43: 17-25

abstract

 

 

 

 

 

  

Treatise on Zoology - Anatomy, Taxonomy, Biology The Myriapoda - Volume 1

 

Minelli A., ed., 2011.

Brill

 

 

 

 

The centipede genus Clinopodes:

a reassessment of species diversity and distribution, with a new species from the Maritime Alps

 

Bonato L., Iorio E., Minelli A. 2011. Zoosystema, 33: 175-205

articolo

 

 

 


Pincer-like claws in centipedes:

multiple evolutionary origin

of similar form and serial pattern

 

Bonato L., Drago L., Minelli A. 2011. Zoomorphology, 130: 17-29

abstract

 

 

 

Morphology and phylogeny of Dicellophilus,

a centipede genus with highly

disjunct distribution

 

Bonato L., Danyi L., Minelli A. 2010. 

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 158: 501-532

abstract

 

 

  

Geophilomorph centipedes

in the Mediterranean region:

revisiting taxonomy opens

new evolutionary vistas

 

Bonato L., Minelli A. 2009. 

Soil Organisms, 81: 489-503

articolo

 

 

Diversity in the maxillipede dentition

of Mecistocephalus centipedes,

with the description of a new species

with unusually elongate denticles

 

Bonato L., Minelli A.

2009. Contributions to Zoology, 78: 85-97.

articolo

  


Trunk anomalies in the centipede Stigmatogaster subterranea give insight into late-embryonic segmentation

 

Leśniewska M., Bonato L.,  Minelli A., Fusco G.

2009.

Arthropod Structure and Development, 38: 417-426

abstract

 

 

 

 

A geophilomorph centipede 

from La Buzinie amber

(Late Cretaceous: Cenomanian), SW France

 

Edgecombe G.D., Bonato L., Minelli A. 2009. Geodiversitas, 31: 5-15.

articolo

  


Morphology, taxonomy and distribution

of Diphyonyx n. gen.,

a lineage of geophilid centipedes

with unusually shaped claws

 

Bonato L., Zapparoli M., Minelli A. 2008. European Journal of Entomology, 105: 343–354.

abstract

 

Stenotaenia:

a hitherto unrecognized lineage

of western Palaearctic centipedes

with unusual diversity

in body size and segment number

 

Bonato L., Minelli A. 2008

Zoological Journal of Linnean Society, 153: 253-286.

abstract

 

 

 

 

The Mecistocephalidae

of the Japanese and Taiwanese islands

 

Uliana M., Bonato L., Minelli A. 2007

Zootaxa, 1396: 1-84.

abstract

 

  

The European centipedes hitherto referred

to Eurygeophilus, Mesogeophilus and Chalandea:

taxonomy, distribution

and geographic variation 

of the segment number

 

Bonato L., Barber A., Minelli A. 2006

Journal of Natural History, 40: 415-438.

abstract

 

 

 

The centipede genus Mecistocephalus

in the Indian Peninsula


 

Bonato L., Minelli A., 2004

Tropical Zoology, 17: 15-63.

articolo

 

 

Evolutionary trends and patterns

in centipede segment number

based on a cladistic analysis

of Mecistocephalidae

 

Bonato L., Foddai D., Minelli A., 2003

Systematic Entomology, 28: 539-579.

abstract

 

Phylogeny and systematics of the Arrupinae

with the description of a new dwarfed species

 

Foddai D., Bonato L., Pereira L., Minelli A., 2003

Journal of Natural History, 37: 1247-1267.

abstract

 

 

 

Parental care 

in Dicellophilus carniolensis:

new behavioural evidence with implications

for the higher phylogeny of centipedes

 

Bonato L., Minelli A., 2002

Zoologischer Anzeiger, 241: 193-198.

abstract

 

 

Increase by duplication 

and loss of invariance of segment number

in the centipede

Mecistocephalus microporus

 

Bonato L., Foddai D., Minelli A., 2001

Italian Journal of Zoology, 68: 345-352.

abstract

 


full list of publications

 

 

...work in progress...

 

  

 

what do centipedes eat in the wild?

diet analysis 

by molecular identification 

of prey remains in the gut


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ecological and geographical differentiation

in Strigamia in the Italian region:

hints from molecules and anatomy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

new funtional morphologies

discovered in Sardinia and Cyprus:

neglected life in the Mediterranean islands

 

 

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