Pachyiulus

Abstract: This paper is a contribution to the discussion about species limits in the millipede genus Pachyiulus Berlese, 1883. Colour, body size, morphology, anamorphosis and DNA sequences of two morphotypes are compared, leading to the conclusion that Pachyiulus oenologus (Berlese, 1885) and Pachyiulus flavipes (C.L. Koch, 1847) are distinct species although they were previously synonymized under Pachyiulus varius (Fabricius, 1781). The identity of P. varius is discussed, and a new record of P. apfelbecki Verhoeff, 1901, is presented.

Abstract: 1847 [Lignau, 1905, sub Julus flavipes unicolor; Attems, 1907, sub P. flavipes], the Caucasus harbours an endemic species, P. krivolutskyi Golovatch, 1977. This species was first described as Iulus foetidissimus Muralewicz, 1907, but because of homonymy with Iulus foetidissimus Savi, 1819, it had to be renamed [Mauriès et al., 1997]. This species had repeatedly been referred to as Julus (Pachyiulus) flavipes (?) [Lignau, 1903], Pachyiulus flavipes continentalis [Lignau, 1911, 1915; Isaev, 1911], Julus foetidissimus [Muralewicz, 1911] or P. foetidissimus [Muralewicz, 1913; Lohmander, 1936; Lang, 1959; Kobakhidze, 1965; Striganova, 1969a, b; Striganova, Mazantseva, 1979; Lokšina, Golovatch, 1979; Talikadze, 1984] until Mauriès et al. [1997] validated Pachyiulus krivolutskyi as the proper replacement name. P. krivolutskyi was originally described from western Georgia and said to be distinguished from P. foetidissimus primarily by the lack of a colour pattern [Golovatch, 1977]. In the checklists by Lokšina, Golovatch [1979] and Talikadze [1984], both P. foetidissimus and P. krivolutskyi were regarded as independent species, while Lohmander [1936] recorded a $ of P. flavipes from near Sukhum, Abkhazia, an apparent introduction. From the very start, P. krivolutskyi (= P. foetidissimus) was distinguished from all congeners by its remarkably repelling “garlic” odour [Muralewicz, 1907; Isaev, 1911; Lignau, 1903 etc.]. The stinking is so unbelievably strong that the presence of P. krivolutskyi it the field can be detected dozens of meters away from the site, usually a forest, where the animals actually ABSTRACT. Pachyiulus krivolutskyi, the largest and perhaps the most picturesque millipede in the Caucasus endemic to its western part, is properly redescribed based on abundant new material. Three main colour morphs are distinguished, all illustrated and mapped. Clinal variation is revealed, as the morphs show evident geographical patterns replacing each other from north to south.

Abstract: The paper presents an annotated catalogue of the millipedes (Diplopoda) of Cyprus, based on literature scrutiny and on hitherto unpublished material. A total of 21 species belonging to 14 genera, 9 families and 7 orders are recorded from the island. Three species are regarded as new to science, but are not formally described, and the status of another three is yet to be clarified. Pachyiulus cyprius Brolemann, 1896 and Strongylosoma (Tetrarthrosoma) cyprium Verhoeff, 1902 are established as junior subjective synonyms of Amblyiulus barroisi (Porat, 1893) and T. syriacum (Humbert & DeSaussure, 1869), respectively, both syn. nov. The present-day diversity of the Cypriotic millipede fauna is analysed in the light of past geological events. It is presumed that the fauna originated from the late Miocene, when Cyprus was formed as a result of uplift of the sea floor. During the Messinian salinity crisis, some 6-5.3 mya, land bridges existed between the island and the neighbouring Taurus Mts. (Turkey) and the region of Latakia (Syria), which are supposed to have served as migratory pathways for various millipede taxa.