About Stigmatogaster subterranea Shaw, 1789
Stigmatogaster subterranea, originally described by Shaw in 1789 (also referenced under synonyms Haplophilus subterraneus and H. subterraneus in existing literature), is a fairly large species that reaches and sometimes exceeds 70 mm in length. It has between 77 and 83 pairs of legs. Multiple published papers have documented high rates of morphological anomalies in this species; one study found an average of 30% of individuals have some form of anatomical deformity. This species is widespread across central and eastern Europe, as well as the British Isles. It has also been introduced to Newfoundland and New York. It is common in woodland and grassland habitats, and is also frequently found in gardens and other synanthropic habitats.
