Cryptops parisi Brolemann, 1920

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Status:

  • GB IUCN status: Not applicable (non-native)
  • GB rarity status: Naturalised

ID Difficulty

3

Identification

The genus Cryptops is readily recognisable due to the presence of 21 leg pairs (all other British and Irish centipedes have 15 pairs or at least 35 pairs). However species identification is difficult. 

Cryptops parisi is a relatively large centipede typically reaching more than 30 mm, but smaller specimens can be easily confused with the common C. hortensis. It is readily differentiated from this (and the larger C. anomalans) by the very closely spaced (often fused) saw teeth on the tibia and tarsus of the last legs.

More information to allow accurate identification is given in the published identification keys by Tony Barber (2008 & 2009).

J.P. Richards
Mark Robinson
Mark Robinson
Keith Lugg
Alan Cann
Nicola Garnham
Nicola Garnham

Distribution

Cryptops parisi is most frequent across southern England and south Wales, but becomes increasingly scarce and coastal in northern England and Scotland. In Ireland it has only been recorded from sites in the southern most parts. 

Habitat

It favours urban localities, being found in woodland, parks, gardens and churchyards, where it occurs under stones and dead wood and among leaf-litter. 

This account is based on the 'Centipede Atlas' (Barber, 2022).

Links

ChiloBase 2.0 - World Catalogue of Centipedes: https://chilobase.biologia.unipd.it/searches/result_species/114

BRC code

18

idBmigTaxa

Cen_130