Kronmüller Christian, Lewis John G E
Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Münchhausenstr. 21, D-81247 Munich.
Manor Mill Farm, Halse, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3AQ, UK.
Zookeys. 2015 Jun 30(510):269-78. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.510.8674. eCollection 2015.
The function of the variously shaped ultimate legs of Scolopendridae is briefly reviewed. Their function in Scolopendraheros Girard, 1853, Scolopendrasubspinipes Leach, 1815, Scolopendramorsitans (Linnaeus, 1758), Scolopendragalapagoensis Bollman, 1889, Scolopendrahainanum Kronmüller, 2012, Scolopendraspinosissima Kraepelin, 1903 Cormocephalusaurantiipes (Newport, 1844) and Ethmostigmustrigonopodus (Leach, 1817), in which they are least specialised has been investigated. Specimens were tapped with forceps on different parts of the trunk to simulate the attack of a predator. When tapped on the first third of the trunk (near the head), the centipedes attacked the forceps with their forcipules. When tapped on the last third or the ultimate legs, they adopted a warning position, raising the ultimate legs to display the ventral and medial prefemoral spines as well as the spined coxopleural processes. In some cases the centipedes attacked the forceps with the claws of the ultimate legs by chopping down on them after lifting the legs high into the warning position. When tapped in the mid part of the trunk, the centipedes curled sideways to reach the forceps with their forcipules and ultimate legs simultaneously. Scolopendragalapagoensis not only lifted the ultimate legs into the warning position but also the last 3-4 pairs of locomotory legs, presenting their distodorsal prefemoral spines. This resembles the warning posture of some spiders. In addition to their function in warning behaviour, defensive stabbing, ritualised meeting reactions and during courtship behaviour, the ultimate legs may in addition act as hooks and perhaps be involved in species recognition. No evidence was found that the ultimate legs are used to catch prey, nor of prey or predators being held between the prefemora.
本文简要回顾了蜈蚣科各种形状的末对步足的功能。对其在以下物种中的功能进行了研究：1853年的英雄蜈蚣（Scolopendra heros Girard）、1815年的少棘蜈蚣（Scolopendra subspinipes Leach）、1758年的哈氏蜈蚣（Scolopendra morsitans (Linnaeus)）、1889年的加拉帕戈斯蜈蚣（Scolopendragalapagoensis Bollman）、2012年的海南蜈蚣（Scolopendra hainanum Kronmüller）、1903年的棘刺蜈蚣（Scolopendra spinosissima Kraepelin）、1844年的金色头蜈蚣（Cormocephalus aurantiipes (Newport)）以及1817年的三角头蜈蚣（Ethmostigmus trigonopodus (Leach)），在这些物种中末对步足的特化程度最低。用镊子轻敲标本身体的不同部位以模拟捕食者的攻击。当敲击身体前三分之一（靠近头部）时，蜈蚣会用毒颚攻击镊子。当敲击身体后三分之一或末对步足时，它们会采取警戒姿势，抬起末对步足以展示腹侧和内侧的股节前棘以及带刺的基节侧板突起。在某些情况下，蜈蚣会将腿高高抬起至警戒位置后，用末对步足的爪子砍向镊子来攻击它。当敲击身体中部时，蜈蚣会向一侧卷曲，同时用毒颚和末对步足够向镊子。加拉帕戈斯蜈蚣不仅会将末对步足抬起至警戒位置，还会将最后3 - 4对运动步足抬起，展示其股节背侧远端的棘。这类似于一些蜘蛛的警戒姿势。除了在警戒行为、防御性刺击、仪式化相遇反应以及求偶行为中的功能外，末对步足可能还起到钩子的作用，或许还参与物种识别。未发现有证据表明末对步足用于捕捉猎物，也没有发现猎物或捕食者被夹在股节之间的情况。
