The overview of lithobiomorph centipedes (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha) from caves of Slovenia

Centipedes of temperate regions can be found in various habitats, including forest litter, soil or caves. Slovenia, situated in the Northwestern Balkans, has rich centipede fauna, with one of the earliest scientific descriptions of a cave centipede, Lithobius stygius Latzel, 1880, from Postojnska ja...

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Main Authors: Anja Kos, Teo Delić, Ivan Kos, Peter Kozel, Slavko Polak, Maja Zagmajster
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2023-05-01
Series:Subterranean Biology
Online Access:https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/101430/download/pdf/
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author Anja Kos
Teo Delić
Ivan Kos
Peter Kozel
Slavko Polak
Maja Zagmajster
author_facet Anja Kos
Teo Delić
Ivan Kos
Peter Kozel
Slavko Polak
Maja Zagmajster
author_sort Anja Kos
collection DOAJ
description Centipedes of temperate regions can be found in various habitats, including forest litter, soil or caves. Slovenia, situated in the Northwestern Balkans, has rich centipede fauna, with one of the earliest scientific descriptions of a cave centipede, Lithobius stygius Latzel, 1880, from Postojnska jama. Many lithobiomorph species have been reported from Slovenian caves, but the data on their occurrence are scattered in the literature or public collections, and several specimens have even remained unexamined. Here we present the overview of lithobiomorph centipedes found in Slovenian caves. Altogether, 21 lithobiomorph species were found in 160 localities. The majority of the records, 319 out of 410, are published for the first time. Only three species are considered exclusively subterranean species, L. stygius, L. zveri and Eupolybothrus obrovensis, while other species are surface dwellers. The potential explanation of surface species presence in caves is discussed. We comment on cases of unresolved taxonomical status and present suggestions for further research needed to resolve them. Even though lithobiomorph centipedes often occur in caves, their role and importance in subterranean habitats remain to be studied.
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spelling doaj.art-b036fbd494f64159af82f0b33b26261a2023-05-18T08:11:04ZengPensoft PublishersSubterranean Biology1314-26152023-05-014516518510.3897/subtbiol.45.101430101430The overview of lithobiomorph centipedes (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha) from caves of SloveniaAnja Kos0Teo Delić1Ivan Kos2Peter Kozel3Slavko Polak4Maja Zagmajster5University of LjubljanaUniversity of LjubljanaUniversity of LjubljanaResearch Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts, Karst Research InstituteNotranjska Museum Postojna, Zavod Znanje PostojnaUniversity of LjubljanaCentipedes of temperate regions can be found in various habitats, including forest litter, soil or caves. Slovenia, situated in the Northwestern Balkans, has rich centipede fauna, with one of the earliest scientific descriptions of a cave centipede, Lithobius stygius Latzel, 1880, from Postojnska jama. Many lithobiomorph species have been reported from Slovenian caves, but the data on their occurrence are scattered in the literature or public collections, and several specimens have even remained unexamined. Here we present the overview of lithobiomorph centipedes found in Slovenian caves. Altogether, 21 lithobiomorph species were found in 160 localities. The majority of the records, 319 out of 410, are published for the first time. Only three species are considered exclusively subterranean species, L. stygius, L. zveri and Eupolybothrus obrovensis, while other species are surface dwellers. The potential explanation of surface species presence in caves is discussed. We comment on cases of unresolved taxonomical status and present suggestions for further research needed to resolve them. Even though lithobiomorph centipedes often occur in caves, their role and importance in subterranean habitats remain to be studied.https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/101430/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Anja Kos
Teo Delić
Ivan Kos
Peter Kozel
Slavko Polak
Maja Zagmajster
The overview of lithobiomorph centipedes (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha) from caves of Slovenia
Subterranean Biology
title The overview of lithobiomorph centipedes (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha) from caves of Slovenia
title_full The overview of lithobiomorph centipedes (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha) from caves of Slovenia
title_fullStr The overview of lithobiomorph centipedes (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha) from caves of Slovenia
title_full_unstemmed The overview of lithobiomorph centipedes (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha) from caves of Slovenia
title_short The overview of lithobiomorph centipedes (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha) from caves of Slovenia
title_sort the overview of lithobiomorph centipedes chilopoda lithobiomorpha from caves of slovenia
url https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/101430/download/pdf/
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