 
Evolution of Centipedes Based on Morphology and Molecular Sequence Data
A collaboration between Greg Edgecombe and Gonzalo Giribet (Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University) explores the high-level relationships of centipedes. This is the first time that diverse sources of molecular sequence data have been sampled for most of the major groups (e.g., families) of centipedes, and the first time that molecular evidence has been combined with a dataset of morphological characters for centipedes. Cladistic analyses based on the nuclear ribosomal genes 18S and 28S rRNA have been published, together with evidence from morphological characters. This work is described in the following:
Edgecombe, G.D., Giribet, G. and Wheeler, W.C. 1999. Phylogeny of Chilopoda: Combining 18S and 28S rRNA sequences and morphology. In A. Melic, J.J. de Haro, M. Mendez and I. Ribera (eds.), Evolución y Filogenia de Arthropoda. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa, 26: 293-331.
Edgecombe, G.D. and Giribet, G. 2002. Myriapod phylogeny and the relationships of Chilopoda, p. 143-168. In J. Llorente Bousquets and J.J. Morrone (eds.). Biodiversidad, Taxonomía y Biogeografia de Artrópodos de México: Hacia una Síntesis de su Conocimiento. Prensas de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (448kb PDF).
Our dataset has since expanded to include 68 centipede species,
many new morphological characters, and sequences from two mitochondrial
genes. See the following:
Edgecombe, G.D. and Giribet, G. 2004. Adding
mitochondrial sequence data (16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase
subunit I) to the phylogeny of centipedes (Myriapoda, Chilopoda):
an analysis of morphology and four molecular loci. Journal of
Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 42: 89-134 (2.4mb PDF).
Relationships of centipedes based on combined analysis of 18S and 28S rRNA sequence data and morphological characters (dataset from Edgecombe and Giribet, 2004).
Summary of relationships between the five orders of Chilopoda.
The geophilomorph Himantarium (family Himantariidae). Sequence data have permitted inference of relationships between most families of Geophilomorpha, a major problem in centipede systematics. Himantariids are found to be closely related to a grouping of Ballophilidae and Schendylidae. Photo: Gonzalo Giribet.
 The scolopendromorph Cryptops. Analysis of morphological and ribosomal sequence data suggests that the classification of blind Scolopendromorpha as the family Cryptopidae is an unnatural group, but addition of mitochondrial sequences unites the cryptopids. Photo: Gonzalo Giribet.
 Craterostigmus (Order Craterostigmomorpha) from New Zealand. Morphology and combined analysis with sequence data resolve this genus in a clade with the Epimorpha. Photo: Gonzalo Giribet.
An SEM-based comparison of mandibles in centipedes, other myriapods, crustaceans, and hexapods is in:
Edgecombe, G.D., Richter, S. and Wilson, G.D.F. 2003. The mandibular gnathal edges: homologous structures across Mandibulata? In M. Hamer (ed.), Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Myriapodology. African Invertebrates, 44:115-135 (10.5mb PDF).
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