Eupolybothrus (Schizopolybothrus) excellens (Silvestri) Silvestri
- Dataset
- On two Italian Lithobius species described by Silvestri, with taxonomic notes on the genus Eupolybothrus Verhoeff (Chilopoda, Lithobiida)
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Arthropoda
- class
- Chilopoda
- order
- Lithobiomorpha
- family
- Lithobiidae
- genus
- Eupolybothrus
- species
- Eupolybothrus excellens
description
Descriptive notes. The specimen of occultus is apparently not fully mature: the medial spur of the gonopods is distinctly smaller than the lateral one. This condition accounts for most of the differences between the two type specimens. The following notes made after the type of both species may supplement Silvestri s descriptions. Colour of both specimens much as in Lithobius forficatus: light castaneous. Head as long as wide. Antennae about four fifths of the body length (excellens) or about two thirds of the body length (occultus), composed of 76 (exc., right antenna mutilated) and 73 (occ., right) and 61 (occ., left) antennomeres. 2 nd antennomere two and a half times as long as the 3 rd. Ocelli small. Forcipular coxosternite without particulars. Tergites slightly uneven, in the second half of the body with dispersed short setae. Posterior angles of T. 6 obtuse, of T. 7 about rectangular. T. 9, T. 11 and T. 13 with acutely angular projections (fig. 1). Sternites dispersedly impresso-punctate. Legs of the 14 th and 15 th pairs from the femur onwards with dense pore sieves on the medial (posterior) side only. Relative length of the pedomeres of the 15 th leg (length of head = 100): P. 105 (exc.), 100 (occ.); F. 118 (exc.), 126 (0 cc.); Ti. 145 (exc.), 156 (occ.); Ta. 1 141 (exc.), 148 (occ.); Ta. 2 105 (exc.), 100 (occ.). Spinulation of legs, see table. Spines very long, the VPm spine of the first leg almost as long as the greatest length of the prefemur. Female gonopods without particulars.
diagnosis
Type material. The type material of excellens consists of a single female specimen labelled La Spezia, Caverna del Ginepro, 1869, Abdul Kerim. As there is no evidence in Silvestri s description that he had more than one specimen, I have labelled it as holotype. The material of occultus was labelled Grotta del Gazzo, 19. IX. 1888, Barberi and consisted also of a single female specimen. Apparently, Silvestri also had but one specimen of this species, and, consequently, I have labelled it also as holotype.
synonymic_list
Lithobius (Archilithobius) excellens Silvestri, 1894: 580. Lithobius (Lithobius) occultus Silvestri, 1894: 579.