An annotated catalogue of the epigeic and cave centipedes (Chilopoda) of Sardinia

Abstract

Published and unpublished data on the epigeic and cave centipedes of Sardinia (Italy) are summarized and critically revised in this paper. Fifty-four species are listed and discussed (1 Scutigeromorpha, 19 Lithobiomorpha, 6 Scolopendromorpha, 28 Geophilomorpha), two of which new to the island: Lamyctes emarginatus (Newport, 1844) and Schendyla montana (Attems, 1895). Thirty-one species have been recorded in caves (1 Scutigeromorpha, 14 Lithobiomorpha, 6 Scolopendromorpha, 10 Geophilomorpha) – including the poorly known Plutonium zwierleini Cavanna, 1881 – six of which exclusive of this habitat (5 Lithobius spp., 1 Cryptops sp.). Five species are introduced or probably introduced. General geographic distribution, chorotype, Sardinian localities and ecological notes (altitudinal ranges, habitats) are given for each species. Taxonomic notes are given for some species. Lithobius turritanus Fanzago, 1881 and Lithobius molophai Restivo De Miranda, 1978, previously considered synonyms of Lithobius tricuspis Meinert, 1872 and Lithobius cerii Verhoeff, 1943, respectively, are recognized as valid species, status rev. The new synonymies Lithobius melanops domusnovae Restivo De Miranda, 1976 = Lithobius lapidicola Meinert, 1872 syn. nov., Lithobius oligoporus Latzel, 1884 = Lithobius turritanus Fanzago, 1881 syn. nov. and Lithobius fraleliae De Miranda Restivo, 1978 = Lithobius turritanus Fanzago, 1881 syn. nov. are proposed. Lithobius turritanei Restivo De Miranda i. l. in Cassola, 1982 is recognized as nomen nudum. Cryptops breviunguis A. Costa, 1882 is proposed as species inquirenda and its identity with Cryptops anomalans Newport, 1844 is rejected. Lithobius molophai Restivo De Miranda, 1978 and L. sardous Silvestri, 1898 are redescribed on type or topotypical material. A lectotype for L. sardous Silvestri, 1898 is also designated. Lithobius sardus Manfredi, 1956 status nov., formerly a subspecies of L. agilis C. L. Koch, 1847, is raised to species level; its probable affinity with L. turritanus Fanzago, 1881 is also discussed. Lithobius infossusSilvestri, 1894 (= L. dahlii Verhoeff, 1925) is erased from the centipede fauna of Sardinia, and previous records should be referred to an unidentified species of Lithobius or to L. nuragicus Zapparoli, 1997.