Estudio sobre ciempiés geofilomorfos (Myriapoda: Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha) presentes en la vereda Cafrería, del municipio de Icononzo, Tolima

Abstract

Research and the generation of knowledge about geophilomorphic centipedes is obscured by the lack of information for their location and determination, which greatly reduces interested researchers and work on this fauna. Although there are some works in Colombia, and specifically in the village of Cafrería in the municipality of Icononzo, where individuals of this group are included, it is not possible to determine beyond the genus level, without providing morphological and autoecological data. Due to this, the objective of this work arises to characterize the fauna of geophilomorphic centipedes of this path, obtaining relevant information that allows to identify their morphological and auto-ecological characteristics necessary to give way to works of different investigative nature. To achieve this, it was proposed to carry out a collection methodology in the field that allows obtaining the greatest number of individuals possible, using manual sampling and sampling by monoliths in three areas of the village (Riparian Forest, Secondary Forest and Platanal); Following this, a taxonomic process was carried out that includes the review of a biological collection, examination, description and illustration of the individuals. Finally, information was obtained about the habitat, fauna and flora associated with the places where the species are found, which was analyzed through statistical treatments. The results were obtained from the examination of 124 individuals, distributed in eight species, of which seven were found in the field collections. The genus Diplethmus together with the species Notiphilides maximiliani and Orphnaeus brevilabiatus are reported for the first time for the municipality, expanding its distribution in Colombia. The species Ribautia n.sp, Schendylops n.sp, cf Ityphilus n.sp, Diplethmus n.sp, Macronicophilus n.sp 1 and Macronicophilus n.sp 2 are described and illustrated, discussing their taxonomy. The characteristics of the 3 studied areas are described, followed by an analysis of the diversity and distribution of the species in these areas. Possible preferences of some species to certain environmental characteristics such as humidity and temperature, as well as preferences in soils, are evident.