Revision of the millipede tribe Brachyiulini Verhoeff, 1909 (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae), with descriptions of new taxa

Zootaxa. 2018 May 21;4421(1):1-142. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4421.1.1.

Abstract

A comprehensive taxonomic revision of the circum-Mediterranean julid tribe Brachyiulini is undertaken. A total of 13 genera and 103 species are assigned to the tribe. One new genus, one new subgenus, and 10 new species are described from Greece, Turkey or Iran: Byzantorhopalum (Byzantorhopalum) elephantum sp. n., B. (Ioniulus) clavamum subgen. n., sp. n., Cyphobrachyiulus (Cyphobrachyiulus) spartanus sp. n., C. (Diaxylus) graecus sp. n., Graecoiulus skopelius gen. n., sp. n., Italoiulus poseidoni sp. n., Omobrachyiulus strasseri sp. n., Pontobrachyiulus falciferus sp. n., P. lohmanderi sp. n., Syriobrachyiulus golovatchi sp. n. 13 species are redescribed in detail, while the descriptions of another 36 species are complemented. The genera Anaulaciulus Pocock, 1895 and Mammamia Akkari et al., 2011 are formally excluded from the Brachyiulini. The following former subgenera of the genus MegaphyllumVerhoeff, 1894 are elevated to full genera: Byzantorhopalum Verhoeff, 1930, Cyphobrachyiulus Verhoeff, 1900, Iraniulus Attems, 1951, Italoiulus Attems, 1940, Omobrachyiulus Lohmander, 1936, Pontobrachyiulus Lohmander, 1936, Syriobrachyiulus Verhoeff, 1930. The genera Acropoditius Strasser, 1980 and Rhamphidoiulus Attems, 1905 are downgraded to subgenera of the genus Cyphobrachyiulus. The subgenera Phauloiulus Attems, 1940 and Persebrachyiulus Golovatch, 1983 are new subjective synonyms of Byzantorhopalum Verhoeff, 1930 and Syriobrachyiulus Verhoeff, 1930, respectively. The monophyly of the Brachyiulini in its current taxonomic composition is proven by morphological data, and supported by molecular and spermatological data in addition. The biogeographic affinities of the different tribal subgroups are briefly discussed.

Keywords: Myriapoda, new genus, new species, new synonymy, new status, new combination, monophyly, distribution.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthropods*
  • Greece
  • Iran
  • Turkey