Centipedes (Chilopoda) from the Rostov-on-Don Region, southern Russia

Dyachkov Y.V.

Dyachkov Y.V., Bonato L.

A comprehensive overview of the state of knowledge on the ChilopodaGeophilomorpha of the Asian part of Russia is presented, based on the critical revision of all published morphological descriptions and all geographical records. Revised diagnoses for all the 38 nominal species so far reported from Asian Russia are given, with comments on their validity. Among them a total of 18 species are recorded only from this region and many of them from a single locality only. The species belong to Geophilidae s. l., (in the genera Arctogeophilus, Geophilus, Pachymerium, and Strigamia), Schendylidae (Escaryus), and Mecistocephalidae (Agnostrup, Arrup, and Tygarrup). At least two species have been introduced, namely Geophilus flavus and Tygarrup javanicus. The history of studies on the Geophilomorpha in the Asian part of Russia are also summarized.

Bonato L., Bortolin F., De Zen G., Decker P., Lindner E.N., Orlando M., Spelda J., Voigtländer K., Wesener T.

Abstract Strigamia centipedes are widespread in European forest soils. However, a complex and inconsistent taxonomy has developed over time. Based on a modern species concept, we evaluated multiple lines of evidence for speciation among inland populations of Strigamia from the Italian region to the Baltic region, across central Europe. Hypotheses of species delimitation were drawn independently from: (1) morphological differentiation, by means of model-based cluster analyses of 52 specimens, after controlling for allometry and sexual dimorphism; (2) syntopy of morphologically distinct individuals, assumed to be representatives of coexistent species, from > 700 sites; and (3) molecular differentiation, by various methods applied to cytochrome c subunit I sequences of the same 52 specimens. Diagnoses and geographical distributions were revised by re-examining > 2000 specimens and the entire literature. We found preliminary evidence for: a Strigamia acuminata species complex, widespread, including a candidate species from the Eastern Alps differing in the forcipules; a Strigamia carniolensis species complex, hitherto often called Strigamia crassipes, widespread south of the Alps but absent from Sicily; a Strigamia crassipes species complex, hitherto often called Strigamia transsilvanica, more widespread than previously known, including three candidate species co-occurring in the Western Alps and differing in body size and the number of legs despite little genetic divergence; and Strigamia engadina, exclusive to a narrow part of the Central Alps.

ZAREI R., BONATO L.

A new species of Clinopodes C. L. Koch, 1847, Clinopodes azadi n. sp., is described and illustrated, based on two specimens from Alborz Mountains, Iran. The new species lives in the easternmost part of the Western Palearctic range of the genus and is outstanding in comparison to all other known Clinopodes species, being the largest (surpassing 11 cm in length) and with the highest number of body segments (89–91 leg-bearing segments). C. azadi n. sp. differs from the other Clinopodes species also in the coxosternite of first maxillae (with a distinct mid-longitudinal sutural sulcus) and in the coxal pores (numerous, and sparse on the entire surface of the coxopleura).  

Nefediev P.S., Farzalieva G.S., Tuf I.H., Nedoev K.K., Niyazov S.T.

The total species richness in the myriapod assemblages of the lowland Altais near Charyshskoe Village, Altai Province, southwestern Siberia, Russia is estimated to be at least 19 species from ten genera, eight families, five orders, and two classes. The following species are new to SW Siberia: Lithobius (Ezembius) ostiacorum Stuxberg, 1876,L. vagabundusStuxberg, 1876, and L. (Monotarsobius) nordenskioeldii Stuxberg, 1876, while L. (E.) proximus Sseliwanoff, 1880 and L. (M.) insolens Dányi & Tuf, 2012 are recorded for the first time from the Altai Province of Russia. A species ofStrigamiawhich is morphologically similar to Strigamia cf. transsilvanica (Verhoeff, 1928) has been found in the study area but its true specific identity is yet to be determined. The seasonal dynamics of myriapod assemblages in terms of the species diversity, density, sex-age structure, and vertical distribution along the soil profile have been studied with regard to the different slope exposures.