Diversity and biogeography of Israeli geophilomorph centipedes (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha)
Author
Chipman, Ariel D.
Author
Dor, Neta
Author
Bonato, Lucio
text
Zootaxa
2013
3652
2
232
248
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3652.2.2
0d490ce9-0872-4a4a-8721-ca1a10de1879
1175-5326
219927
B721A1E5-707A-476F-A3E7-E1B0D9559706
Geophilus
cf.
nesiotes
Attems, 1903
Published records: none.
New records: “Segev Forest” (
1 specimen
, no date recorded).
Distribution in
Israel
: a single record from the Lower Galilee (
Figure 4
A).
Global distribution:
G. nesiotes
was described from Crete, but its actual distribution is very uncertain.
Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes. The specimen examined belongs to a distinct lineage in the broad genus
Geophilus
Leach, 1814
that is distinguished by a combination of characters including the peculiar modification of the claws of the second maxillae into a stout tubercle abruptly tapering into a tip. Among the many species described in this group, the specimen collected in
Israel
most closely resembles
G. nesiotes
, mainly in the number of trunk segments and the pattern of coxal pores.
G. nesiotes
was described from Crete (Attems 1903 1929) but its distinction from the mainland European species
G. insculptus
Attems, 1895
(currently
G. alpinus
Meinert, 1870
) has been questioned (Minelli 1978; Zapparoli 2002).