The molecularization of centipede systematics

Abstract

The injection of molecular data over the past 20 years has impacted on all facets of centipede systematics. Multi-locus and transcriptomic datasets are the source of a novel hypothesis for how the five living orders of centipedes interrelate but force homoplasy in some widely-accepted phenotypic and behavioural characters. Molecular dating is increasingly used to test biogeographic hypotheses, including examples of ancient vicariance. The longstanding challenge of morphological delimitation of centipede species is complemented by integrative taxonomy using molecular tools, including DNA barcoding and coalescent approaches to quantitative species delimitation. Molecular phylogenetics has revealed numerous instances of cryptic species. “Reduced genomic approaches” have the potential to incorporate historic collections, including type specimens, into centipede molecular systematics.