Distribution and abundance of a soil centipede, Tygarrup nepalensis Shinohara, 1965 (Mecistocephalidae: Geophilomorpha: Chilopoda) in a moist temperate forest in Northwest Himalaya

This study investigates the distribution of the soil centipede, Tygarrup nepalensis (Order Geophilomorpha), in the moist temperate forest of the Northwest Himalayas, located in Himri, District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. Centipedes were collected using a standardized 25 × 25 cm quadrat sampling method. We examined the influence of various environmental and edaphic parameters on its populations across different forest areas (north, northeast, southwest facing aspects). The north aspect exhibited higher density due to more favourable soil conditions, including higher phosphorus and organic carbon, which supported larger populations of detritivore earthworms, likely prey for T. nepalensis. These findings underscore the role of microhabitat characteristics in shaping centipede distribution and highlight implications for forest management strategies aimed at conserving soil biodiversity and enhancing forest productivity. Our results indicate that average soil moisture levels (25.8% to 30.5%) are conducive to the habitat requirements of T. nepalensis, which thrives in moist environments. Notably, population densities varied significantly, with lower density in the northeastern aspect, correlated with reduced soil phosphorus concentrations and increased acidity.