Cormocephalus coynei
| Cormocephalus coynei | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Chilopoda |
| Order: | Scolopendromorpha |
| Family: | Scolopendridae |
| Genus: | Cormocephalus |
| Species: | C. coynei
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cormocephalus coynei L. E. Koch, 1984[1]
| |
Cormocephalus coynei is a species of centipede found on the uninhabited Phillip and Nepean islands to the south of Norfolk Island.[2] It is also known as the Phillip Island centipede.[3] The species was observed on Phillip Island in 1792,[2] but was not formally described until 1984.[1][4] It can grow up to 23.5 cm,[5] and is reddish brown and orange in colour. The Phillip Island centipede is known for its habit of preying on vertebrates including geckos, skinks, black-winged petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis) nestlings, and fish, as well as other small arthropods.[6] The centipede may consume petrel chicks at a rate between ~2100 and ~3730 nestlings per year, across the island's population of centipedes. It is theorized that the centipede was able to enter this ecological niche due to the absence of endemic mammalian predators on the island.[7][8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Cormocephalus coynei L.E.Koch, 1984". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Department of the Environment - Norfolk Island National Park - Wildlife". Department of the Environment (Australia). Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "Commonwealth Heritage List - Natural - Phillip Island". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment (Australia). Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "Cormocephalus coynei L.E. Koch, 1984". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ Halpin, Luke R.; Terrington, Daniel I.; Jones, Holly P.; Mott, Rowan; Wong, Wei Wen; Dow, David C.; Carlile, Nicholas; Clarke, Rohan H. (2021-08-03). "Arthropod Predation of Vertebrates Structures Trophic Dynamics in Island Ecosystems". The American Naturalist. 198 (4): 540–550. doi:10.1086/715702. ISSN 0003-0147. PMID 34559614.
- ^ Halpin, Luke R.; Terrington, Daniel I.; Jones, Holly P.; Mott, Rowan; Wong, Wei Wen; Dow, David C.; Carlile, Nicholas; Clarke, Rohan H. (2021-08-03). "Arthropod Predation of Vertebrates Structures Trophic Dynamics in Island Ecosystems". The American Naturalist. 198 (4): 540–550. doi:10.1086/715702. ISSN 0003-0147. PMID 34559614.
- ^ Halpin, Luke. "Phillip Island Centipede envenomating a Black-winged Petrel nestling". youtube.com. Luke Halpin. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Halpin, Luke; Clarke, Rohan; Mott, Rowan. "Giant bird-eating centipedes exist — and they're surprisingly important for their ecosystem". abc.net.au. The Conversation. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
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