A review of the species in the genus Cryptops Leach, 1815 from the Old World related to Cryptops (Cryptops) hortensis (Donovan, 1810) (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha

摘要

The subgenus Cryptops may be divided into those species with, and those without, an anterior transverse suture on tergite 1. The latter group may be further separated intospecies with the ultimate leg femur without a saw tooth or teeth (here termed the hortensis group) and those with one or more (here termed the doriae group).The species of the Old World of the hortensis group are the subject of this paper. Where possible, the non-European type material has been examined and data for European species added from the literature. Cryptops omissus Ribaut, 1915 (Kenya), Cryptops mirus Chamberlin, 1920 (Tahiti) and Cryptops arapuni Archey, 1922 (New Zealand), lacking ultimate legs cannot be assigned to either the hortensis or the doriae group. Cryptops inermipes Pocock, 1888, which lacks saw teeth on the ultimate legs is considered here. Cryptops nanus Attems, 1938 (Hawaii), Cryptops navis Chamberlin, 1930 (Singapore), Cryptops philammus Attems, 1928 (Southern Africa), Cryptops sinesicus Chamberlin, 1940 (China), Cryptops stupendus Attems, 1928 (South Africa) and Cryptops tahitianus Chamberlin, 1920 (Tahiti) appear from their descriptions to belong to the hortensis group but have a prefemoral saw tooth or teeth and thus belong to the doriae group. The following species are regarded as valid: Cryptops covertus Chamberlin, 1951, Cryptops daszaki Lewis, 2002, Cryptops decoratus Lawrence, 1960, Cryptops hortensis (Donovan, 1810), Cryptops inermipes Pocock, 1888, Cryptops lobatus Verhoeff, 1931, Cryptops mauritianus Verhoeff, 1937, Cryptops melanotypus Chamberlin, 1941, Cryptops nigropictus Takakuwa, 1936, Cryptops parisi Brolemann, 1920, Cryptops songi Song et al., 2010 and Cryptops stabilis Chamberlin, 1944. Examination of further material is required to establish the true status of Cryptops brignolii Matic, 1977, currently regarded as valid. Cryptops hortensis atlantis Pocock, 1891 is returned to full specific status as Cryptops atlantis. Cryptops basilewskyi Matic & Darabantu, 1977, Cryptops kalobensis Goffinet, 1971 and Cryptops niloticus Lewis, 1967 are junior subjective synonyms of Cryptops nigropictus. Cryptops penicillatus Lawrence, 1960 is a junior subjective synonym of Cryptops decoratus and Cryptops decoratus sensu Lewis (from Mauritius and Seychelles) is a junior subjective synonym of Cryptops melanotypus. Cryptops parisi cottarellii Matic, 1977, and Cryptops parisi rhenanus Verhoeff, 1931 are junior subjective synonyms of Cryptops parisi. Cryptops campestris Attems, 1953, Cryptops compositus Chamberlin, 1952, Cryptops medius Verhoeff, 1901, Cryptops orthus Chamberlin, 1951, Cryptops parisi sebini Verhoeff, 1934 and Cryptops philammus gabonensis Demange, 1968 are regarded as nomina dubia. A key is provided to the fourteen species considered valid. However, the status of four of them, namely Cryptops nigropictus, Cryptops decoratus , Cryptops melanotypus and Cryptops songi, which are very similar, and the species that have been here synonymised with them, is uncertain. More material and more refined techniques are required to ascertain their exact status. Whatever that is, however, there can be little doubt that we are dealing with some closely related and very widely distributed populations. This suggests that Cryptops species are easily dispersed over large distances.