The peristomatic structures as a source of systematic characters in the genus Leach, 1814 (Myriapoda, Chilopoda).

Morphological characters have been widely used in centipede systematics. Here, we aim to obtain morphological information from the preoral chamber and peristomatic structures of lithobiomorph centipedes, with taxonomic sampling focused on the species-rich genus Leach, 1814. Towards this goal, we (i) examined the epipharynx and hypopharynx of 32 species belonging to four subgenera of the genus , viz. Leach, 1814, Verhoeff, 1905, Chamberlin, 1913 and Chamberlin, 1919 using light and scanning electron microscopy, (ii) searched for phylogenetically informative characters and (iii) described interspecific variation. Three species of the lithobiid genera Verhoeff, 1907, Attems, 1926 and Stuxberg, 1875 were additionally examined and considered as likely outgroups. New characters and character states are proposed as additions to current phylogenetic datasets. Similarities in the peristomatic structures ally with Lithobius (Ezembius), suggesting that the subfamily Pterygoterginae is nested within Lithobiinae and .