Phylogeny of Henicopidae (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha): a combined analysis of morphology and five molecular loci

<jats:p><jats:bold>Abstract.</jats:bold> Relationships in Henicopidae, the dominant southern temperate clade of Lithobiomorpha, are appraised based on parsimony analysis of forty‐nine morphological characters and sequence data from five loci (nuclear ribosomal RNAs 18S and 28S, mitochondrial ribosomal RNAs 12S and 16S, protein‐coding mitochondrial cytochrome <jats:italic>c</jats:italic> oxidase I). A combined analysis of these data used direct character optimization, and tested stability of hypotheses through parameter‐sensitivity analysis. The morphology dataset highlighted the mandibles as a source of new characters. Morphology, as well as the most congruent parameters for the sequence data and combined analysis, resolved Zygethobiini within Henicopini. Groups retrieved by combined analysis of the sequences and combination with morphology for all parameters include Anopsobiinae/Henicopinae, <jats:italic>Lamyctes</jats:italic>+<jats:italic>Lamyctinus</jats:italic>+<jats:italic>Henicops</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Paralamyctes</jats:italic> (<jats:italic>Paralamyctes</jats:italic>), and a clade that groups the southeastern Australian/New Zealand <jats:italic>Paralamyctes</jats:italic> (<jats:italic>Haasiella</jats:italic>) and <jats:italic>P</jats:italic>. (<jats:italic>Thingathinga</jats:italic>). <jats:italic>Paralamyctes</jats:italic> (including <jats:italic>Haasiella</jats:italic>) is a Gondwanan clade in the most congruent cladograms based on all molecular data and combination with morphological data. Biogeographic analysis of subtrees for <jats:italic>Paralamyctes</jats:italic> resolved the interrelationships of Gondwana as (Patagonia ((New South Wales + southeastern Queensland) ((Tasmania) (southern Africa + India) (New Zealand + north Queensland)))).</jats:p>