Abstract
The geographic distribution of the genus Lophoproctus Pocock, 1894 has greatly expanded with new records of the species Lophoproctus coecus Pocock, 1894, together with the reassignment of a number of millipedes formerly identified as Lophoproctus lucidus (Chalande, 1888). Lophoproctus coecus was found to be the sole representative of the family Lophoproctidae in collections examined from Crimea and the Caucasian region. The species was also identified from Iran and Kyrgyzstan. Lophoproctus specimens collected in Italy by Verhoeff were reassigned as Lophoproctus coecus with the exception of one specimen of Lophoproctus jeanneli (Brölemann, 1910) from Capri. These data were combined with all available information from the literature to look at the pattern of distribution of the four species in the genus. The range of the genus Lophoproctus extends from Portugal to Central Asia. Lophoproctus coecus is widespread from Italy eastward, while the morphologically very similar species Lophoproctus lucidus is confined to France and northern Africa. The two species have a narrow overlap in the Alpes Maritimes region of France. Lophoproctus jeanneli has a scattered coastal distribution around the Mediterranean Sea. The troglobitic species Lophoproctus pagesi (Condé, 1982) has only been recorded from a cave on Majorca, Spain.
Highlights
Genera and species in the family Lophoproctidae Silvestri, 1897 have very similar morphology, with species adapted to an endogenous mode of life, being found in soil, caves and under stones
Lophoproctus coecus has previously been considered to occupy a scattered range within the Central Mediterranean region, but the results of this study indicate that the species is widespread throughout Europe in Eastern Europe with its distribution extending into Central Asia
It is of interest that species within the genus may overlap in their geographic distribution with both L. jeanneli and L. coecus being found in Capri and in the Alpes Maritimes region of France
Summary
Genera and species in the family Lophoproctidae Silvestri, 1897 have very similar morphology, with species adapted to an endogenous mode of life, being found in soil, caves and under stones. All Lophoproctidae lack ocelli, their integument lacks pigmentation and the 8th antennal article is elongate. Species in the family share the same arrangement of caudal trichomes and similar organisation of tergal trichomes (Fig. 1). Characters used to determine genus and species of the family can be difficult to observe and include number and arrangement of antennal sensilla, number and arrangement of linguiform processes along the anterior margin of the labrum, structure of the telotarsus, leg setae, and tarsal spine. There are currently 5 genera: Lophoproctus Pocock, 1894, Lophoturus Brolemann, 1931, Ancistroxenus Schubart, 1947, Lophoproctinus Silvestri, 1948, and Alloproctoides Marquet & Condé, 1950. Two further genera Barroxenus Chamberlin, 1940 and Trichoproctus Silvestri, 1899, known only from single collections, are of uncertain status as they are inadequately described
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