Review of the genus Acanthophorella Antić & Makarov, 2016 (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Anthroleucosomatidae), with descriptions of three new species from the Caucasus Author Antić, Dragan B5FACDD3-ACCA-4050-8118-80EBD2BB942F University of Belgrade – Faculty of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Studentski Trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. & Serbian Biospeleological Society, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. dragan.antic@bio.bg.ac.rs Author Šević, Mirko AE92D931-6893-4884-8173-31C0B5D327FD University of Belgrade – Faculty of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Studentski Trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. & Serbian Biospeleological Society, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. mirko.sevic@bio.bg.ac.rs Author Barjadze, Shalva AB36BEF1-C006-41A3-861E-E0B79EE35FBF Institute of Zoology, Ilia State University, Giorgi Tsereteli 3, 0162, Tbilisi, Georgia. shalva.barjadze@iliauni.edu.ge Author Makarov, Slobodan 7F5C25A5-615E-427B-B4FC-DB1A0EE1B534 University of Belgrade – Faculty of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Studentski Trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. & Serbian Biospeleological Society, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. slobodan@bio.bg.ac.rs text European Journal of Taxonomy 2023 2023-11-17 908 39 76 https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2337/10171 journal article 284910 10.5852/ejt.2023.908.2337 6156c195-5953-4af2-9999-a1a03fd0f87e 2118-9773 10149298 1728B5B0-A130-4370-9610-9DA9CEDF4717 Genus Acanthophorella Antić & Makarov, 2016 Acanthophorella Antić & Makarov, 2016: 142 . Type species Acanthophorella barjadzei Antić & Makarov, 2016 , by original designation. Diagnosis The genus Acanthophorella belongs to the Flagellophorella complex which differs from other Caucasian Anthroleucosomatidae by the presence of a pair of anterior flagella, pseudoflagella or processes that can be partially covered by or almost completely hidden inside the angiocoxites of the anterior gonopods. This genus differs from the other three genera of the complex by the presence of a pair of mainly spinelike acuminate or tapering processes arising from the synangiocoxal base on the anterior side of the angiocoxites of the anterior gonopods [vs presence of a pair of flagella in Flagellophorella , a pair of pseudoflagella (very long, equally thick over the entire height) in Pseudoflagellophorella ( Fig. 21G–I ) or a pair of hidden processes with only their distal parts visible in Cryptacanthophorella ]. In comparison with the most similar genus, Pseudoflagellophorella , it seems that the main and apparently only difference lies in the structure of the processes of the angiocoxites of the anterior gonopods. In the genus Acanthophorella , these processes are mostly stubby (except perhaps in A. barjadzei with somewhat more slender ones) arising directly distad from the lateral parts of the synangiocoxal base and tapering in all species, mostly acuminate. In the genus Pseudoflagelophorella , these processes are very slender, without synangiocoxal base, not tapering but of equal thickness over the entire height and starting a little closer to the medial part of the angiocoxites, where they first form a semicircular curvature and then rise distad. Remarks With the three additional species described below, it would seem that the differences between the genera Acanthophorella and Pseudoflagellophorella are becaming minor if any. For the time being, however, we shall keep both genera as valid, although it is possible that they will be synonymised in the future when more material becomes available. This also applies to the genus Cryptacanthophorella . With this in mind, when diagnosing new species here, we shall compare them with species of both Acanthophorella and Pseudoflagellophorella , although the new species are quite remarkable. Other species included Acanthophorella aurita Antić sp. nov. Acanthophorella devi Antić sp. nov. Acanthophorella valerii Antić sp. nov. Acanthophorella chegemi Antić & Makarov, 2016 Acanthophorella irystoni Antić & Makarov, 2016