ON A COLLECTION OF SCOLOPENDRID CENTIPEDES (CHILOPODA: SCOLOPENDROMORPHA) FROM ORISSA WITH NOTES ON SOME NEW DISTRIBUTIONAL RECORDS

Being a tropical country with two hotspots of biodiversity India has no dearth of centipedes. The Centipede diversity of India is represented by 101 species, belonging to 11 genera under two families (Khanna, 2001). Systematic survey and studies of centipedes have so far been restricted to the Deccan, Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Indian Desert, and Western Himalayas (Jangi & Dass, 1984, Khanna 1994, 2001, 2003, Yadav 1993, Khanna and Yadav, 1997). Knowledge about the centipedes from Orissa is very scanty and fragmentary, with 7 species belonging to 5 genera and 2 sub-families so far known (Jangi & Dass 1984, Khanna 2001). The present study is based on a small collection of centipedes available in the Zoological Survey of India, Estuarine Biological Station, Orissa. In the present communication nine species of scolopendrid centipedes referable to 5 genera and 2 subfamilies pertaining to Orissa have been inventoried. Two species viz. Asanada indica Jangi & Dass and Rhysida longipes longipes (Newport) are reported here for the first time from the state. The collection is deposited in ZSI, EBS, Orissa.


INTRODUCTION
Being a tropical country with two hotspots of biodiversity India has no dearth of centipedes.The Centipede diversity of India is represented by 101 species, belonging to 11 genera under two families (Khanna, 2001).Systematic survey and studies of centipedes have so far been restricted to the Deccan, Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Indian Desert, and Western Himalayas (Jangi & Dass, 1984, Khanna 1994, 2001, 2003, Yadav 1993, Khanna and Yadav, 1997).Knowledge about the centipedes from Orissa is very scanty and fragmentary, with 7 species belonging to 5 genera and 2 sub-families so far known (Jangi & Dass 1984, Khanna 2001).The present study is based on a small collection of centipedes available in the Zoological Survey of India, Estuarine Biological Station, Orissa.In the present communication nine species of scolopendrid centipedes referable to 5 genera and 2 subfamilies pertaining to Orissa have been inventoried.Two species viz.Asanada indica Jangi & Dass and Rhysida longipes longipes (Newport) are reported here for the first time from the state.The collection is deposited in ZSI, EBS, Orissa.Diagonistic characters : 20 th pair of legs without tarsal spur, prefemur of anal legs ventrally with 9 spines arranged in 3 rows of 3 each.
Remarks : In India the species has a distribution, more or less restricted to Indo-Gangetic belt, and Deccan (Orissa).Jangi & Dass (1984) reported this species from Koraput district of Orissa.Not available in the present lot.Diagnostic characters: All legs without tarsal spur; 21 st tergite without a longitudinal median sulcus; lateral margination present on tergites anterior to 2Pt; maxillipedes with prefemoral process; anal legs in adult male tuberculate.
Material examined: 1 female, 1 male, Suniyer Dam: Mayurbhanj : Similipal Biosphere Reserve: 12.i.Diagnostic characters : Anal legs short and thick; paired longitudinal median sutures always complete on 20 th tergite; 2pt tergite more than twice as broad as long, 2pt sternite at least nearly twice as broad as long; anal leg claw dorsally with a dent; colour grey with a dark line down the middle of the back between longitudinal grooves (in life) and blue (ultimately brown) with the dark black middle line (in spirit).
Remarks: Gravely (1912) described this species from Singhbhum district of Chota Nagpur near Chakradharpur.Jangi & Dass (1984) reported it from Barkuda island in Chilka Lake, Orissa.This species is endemic to Deccan Plateau.Diagnostic characters : Claw of second maxillae with a spur; first 5-6 legs with two tarsal spurs and following legs up to 19 th with a single tarsal spur; tergites smooth.
Distribution: India: Assam, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Orissa, Sikkim, Uttaranchal, West Bengal.Diagnostic characters : Coxopleural process not tipped with 3 spines, femoral spur absent on 1 st leg; tergites preceding 21 st ordinarily not marginate leterally and if at all a couple of them involved and that too incompletely and weakly.
Remarks: A medium sized centipede found usually under stones, bricks and also in moist soil.Jangi & Dass (1984) reported this species from Puri and Cuttack Districts of Orissa.Not available in the present lot.
Remarks: A cosmopolitan species, but known in Deccan from few places only.This is the first record of the species from Orissa.
Identification Key to the Scolopendrid Centipedes of Orissa (For figures see Sureshan et aI., 2003) 1. Spiracles triangular, longish, parallel to the long axis of the body, each spiracle divided into

DISCUSSION
The present study reveals the occurrence of 9 species of Scolopendrid Centipedes belonging to 5 genera and 2 sub families in the state of Orissa.Out of these 6 species belong to subfamily Scolopendrinae and remaining to the subfamily Otostigminae.Scolopendrinae is represented by the tribes Scolopendrini with 4 species viz.Scolopendra morsitans, Scolopendra amazonica, Scolopendra indiae and Cormocephalus dentipes and tribe Asanadini with 2 species viz.Asanada agharkari singhbhumiensis and Asanada indica.Scolopendra indiae has a very limited distribution in India known only from Orissa, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.Asanada indica is reported here for the first time from Orissa.The subfamily Otostigminae is represented by 3 species viz.Otostigmus politus politus, Rhysida nuda nuda and Rhysida longipes longipes.Though a common species Rhysida longipes longipes is reported for the first time from Orissa.Though Orissa provides optimal topographic and climatic conditions, knowledge about the centipedes is very scanty.The reason for this is mainly the lack of serious faunal exploration and collection of specimens from the state.Extensive field collection is thus imperative to explore the rich fauna of Centipedes occurring in Orissa.

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Jangi &Dass (1984)reported this species from Ganjam District, Orissa.It is an uncommon species.Not available in the present lot.