identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
5F0887FFDC368259FF5BFA5A0F65615C.text	5F0887FFDC368259FF5BFA5A0F65615C.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melogona sintica Vagalinski 2025	<div><p>Melogona sintica sp. nov.</p><p>Figs 1–4, 6A, D</p><p>Material examined. ♂ holotype (NMNHS) (in 2 pieces, anterior gonopods dissected), Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad District, ca 1.5 km W of v. Kulata, 41.383°N, 23.3461°E, 70 m a.s.l., on and next to a soil levee between agricultural land and the left bank of Struma River, grassy, densely overgrown with Clematis, Rubus s. str., Prunus spinosa, sparse Salix, Populus, Ulmus, and young Quercus, pitfall trap, 16.I–03.III.2023, M. Naumova, G. Hristov, T. Trifonov, S.- T. Trendafilova leg.; 1 ♂ paratype (NMNHS) (in 2 pieces; antenna, right pregonopodal legs cut-off; head, anterior gonopods, and half posterior gonopods used for SEM), same collecting data as for holotype; 1 ♂ paratype (NMNHS) (in 3 pieces, anterior and posterior paragonopods, and anterior and posterior gonopods dissected; left antenna, leg-pair 2 &amp; mid-body leg cut-off), same collecting locality and method as for holotype but 03.III–03.IV.2023, M. Naumova, G. Hristov, B. Vagalinski leg.; 1 ♂ paratype (IBER) (in 3 pieces, anterior and posterior gonopods, and posterior paragonopods dissected), same collecting data as previous; 3 ♀ paratypes (NMNHS) (unbroken, one with dissected right legs 1 &amp; 2), same collecting data as previous; 1 ♀ paratype (NMNHS) (unbroken), same collecting data as previous; 1 ♀ paratype (IBER) (unbroken), same collecting data as for holotype.</p><p>Diagnosis. A species of Melogona with 28 body segments, like M. albanica, M. broelemanni, M. scutellaris and M. transsylvanica . Differs from M. scutellaris most noticeably by the higher number of ommatidia (on each side 14–16 in M. sintica sp. nov., vs. 7–12 in M. scutellaris) and the shape of the syncolpocoxite of the anterior gonopods (with a narrow apex in M. sintica sp. nov. vs. a broadly rounded apical margin in M. scutellaris). The new species is very similar to M. albanica, M. broelemanni and M. transsylvanica in both external and gonopodal characters. Differs from these species mainly by details of the anterior gonopods, viz., syncolpocoxite roughly leaf shaped in anterior view (i.e. oblong, with convex side margins, gradually tapering in a narrow apical part), vs. same being broader distally, forming distinct, pointed, disto-lateral corners and a massive apicomedian process in M. broelemanni or a small apicomedian hump in M. albanica, angiocoxites with an axe-like apex, vs. same being apically scoop/visor-like in M. broelemanni and M. albanica, and lateral lobes of syncolpocoxite nearly as high as wide, vs. same being markedly oblong in vertical direction in M. broelemanni; syncolpocoxite rather slender, 2.5–3 times as high as wide, with a narrow apical part forming a short, blunt tip turned anteriad, vs. same being stouter, 1.5–2 times as high as wide and with a broadly rounded to flattened apex in M. transsylvanica, angiocoxites apically axe-like vs. same being scoop/visor-like in M. transsylvanica, and lateral lobes of syncolpocoxite nearly as broad as the syncolpocoxite itself, vs. same being narrower in M. transsylvanica .</p><p>Etymology. Honours the Sintians – an ancient Thracian tribe that lived around the middle current of Struma River in present-day northern Greece and southwestern Bulgaria. Also referring to the currently excavated ancient city of Heraclea Sintica by the village of Rupite, Bulgaria, ca 10 km in a straight line from the type locality. Adjective.</p><p>Description. Measurements.With 28 segments including telson, penultimate segment not bearing legs; holotype male (Fig. 2A) 6.7 mm long, VD 0.63 mm; paratype males 7.3–8.7 mm long, VD 0.63–0.77 mm; paratype females 8.9–10.2 mm long, VD 0.86–1.02 mm,</p><p>Colouration (after up to one and a half month stay in formaldehyde-propylene glycol solution) (Fig. 2). Yellowish-beige; head and antennae in both sexes and legs in males with darker, brownish tinges.</p><p>Head. Relatively evenly setose, setae of various lengths. Labrum (Fig. 4A) with 3 median teeth and 4+4 labral setae. Gnathochilarium (Fig. 4A) with promentum broad, triangular, without setae; lingual plates with 5+5 setae arranged in a longitudinal row or with the basal-most seta positioned laterally, perpendicular to the row; stipital palps relatively long, mesal ones almost twice as broad as lateral ones, both bearing several apical sensilla. Antennae ca 2.1 times as long as head; relative lengths of antennomeres (excluding 8th): 3&gt;5&gt;4&gt;2&gt;6≥7&gt;1. 14–16 blackish ommatidia on each side arranged in 6 rows: 1+1+2+3+4+(3–5).</p><p>Trunk. Collum narrower than head, anterior margin strongly convex, posterior margin very gently concave, lateral edges narrowly rounded, hidden under the mandibles. Segments mostly smooth, metazonae with sparse, short and very fine longitudinal striae. Paraterga completely absent. Macrochaetae rather short (ca 11% of rings’ VD) and thin, somewhat longer in first and last several segments. CIX = 1.3; MIX = 0.5; MA = 150˚.</p><p>Telson. Epiproct with a pair of paramedian and 2+2 marginal setae. Paraprocts with 3+3 submarginal setae. Hypoproct with a pair of distal setae.</p><p>Walking legs (Fig. 3A–F). Leg-pairs 1 (Fig. 3A) and 2 (Fig. 3B) shorter than following legs, with tarsal combs in both sexes; male genital openings placed on small humps meso-ventrally on coxae 2. Next leg-pairs in males (Fig. 3C–E) slightly incrassate, with a dense row of flattened and pointed papillae ventrally on tarsus, these progressively diminishing in size and number towards posterior end of body. Tarsus of mid-body leg (Fig. 3F) ca 3.4 times as long as tibia.</p><p>Anterior paragonopods (leg-pair 7) (Fig. 3G). Reduced to very small knob-like coxites bearing several setae; telopodital remnants not evident.</p><p>Anterior gonopods (leg-pair 8) (Figs 4B–D, 6A, D, G). Syncolpocoxite (Fig. 6A, D, sc in Fig. 4B) relatively elongate, appearing leaf shaped in anterior view, laterally at mid-height with expanded margins bent anteriad, distally gradually narrowing, ending with a short, blunt tip turned anteriad, basally bearing two rounded, lamellar, densely pilose lateral lobes (ll). Angiocoxites (Figs 4C, D, 6G, ac in Fig. 4B) slender, with a deep mesal groove, apically forming an axe blade-like structure turned mesad.</p><p>Posterior gonopods (leg-pair 9) (Fig. 4E). With the usual for the genus conformation. Anterior coxal process (ap) massive, spatulate, gradually tapering to a club-like distal part directed somewhat posteriad. Median coxal process (mp) distally bifurcate into a larger blade-like branch (bb) and a smaller spinigerous branch (sb). Posterior coxal process or pseudoflagellum (pf) very long and slender, with a brush-like ending, i.e. a slightly enlarged fimbriate structure. Telopodites (t) massive, rounded, densely setose lobes.</p><p>Posterior paragonopods (leg-pair 11) (Fig. 4F). Coxites (c) stout, bent anteriad, somewhat tapering distally, ending with a rounded tip, with a small posterior process (pp) at mid-height. Telopodites (t) much smaller than coxites. Distal parts of both coxites and telopodites setose.</p><p>Type locality. Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad District, ca. 1.5 km W of village Kulata, a riverside agricultural land, at a soil levee overgrown with various grasses, shrubs and deciduous trees (Fig. 1) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5F0887FFDC368259FF5BFA5A0F65615C	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Vagalinski, Boyan	Vagalinski, Boyan (2025): Melogona sintica sp. nov. - a surprising seventh member of Melogona Cook, 1895, with a key to species of the genus (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida: Chordeumatidae). Zootaxa 5728 (3): 549-560, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.3.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.3.5
5F0887FFDC318259FF5BFE6308F06718.text	5F0887FFDC318259FF5BFE6308F06718.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melogona broelemanni (Verhoeff 1897)	<div><p>Melogona broelemanni (Verhoeff, 1897)</p><p>Figs 5, 6B, E</p><p>Material examined (All from Bulgaria). 1 ♂, 3 ♀, Western Rhodope Mts, Plovdiv District, between the villages of Yugovo and Belitsa, on the left side of the road in direction to Belitsa, ca. 1.5 km after the junction leading to v. Borovo, 41.83895°N, 24.85941°E, ca. 670 m a.s.l., carved limestone scree with sparse Corylus, young Carpinus and Pinus, Viburnum, etc., in soil and litter between stones, 1. V.2015, P. Mitov &amp; B. Vagalinski leg.; 3 ♂, Pirin Mts, Blagoevgrad District, above v. Ilindentsi, in soil at the base of marble rocks, 11. V.2014, P. Mitov &amp; B. Vagalinski leg. ; 1 ♂, Western Rhodopi Mts, Smolyan District, N of v. Uhlovitsa by the path to Uhlovitsa Cave, Fagus forest, under stones, 5. V.2018, P. Mitov &amp; B. Vagalinski leg. ; 9 ♂, 2 ♀, Blagoevgrad District, ca 1.5 km NNE of v. Mesta, near the right bank of <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=23.68149&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=41.777" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 23.68149/lat 41.777)">Mesta River</a>, 41.77700°N, 23.68149°E, 663 m a.s.l., stony area with various scattered broadleaf trees and shrubs, pitfall trap next to a young Salix, 02.III–02.IV.2023, M. Naumova, G. Hristov, B. Vagalinski leg. ; 1 ♂, Blagoevgrad District, ca 2.5 km SSW of v. Slashten, 41.46843°N, 24.01734°E, 417 m a.s.l., meso-xerophytic meadow with sparse trees and shrubs by the left bank of <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=24.01734&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=41.46843" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 24.01734/lat 41.46843)">Mesta River</a>, pitfall trap under a young Quercus, 02.III– 02.IV.2023, M. Naumova, G. Hristov, B. Vagalinski leg.</p><p>Descriptive notes. Anterior paragonopods (Fig. 5C) very similar to those in M. sintica sp. nov., but setose also posteriorly, not only apically. Anterior gonopods (Figs 5A, 6B, E, H) with very characteristic syncolpocoxite (Fig. 6B, E, sc in Fig. 5A): with distinct distolateral corners and a long and stout, subtriangular apicomedian process, both structures ending with sharply pointed tips turned anteriad; lateral lobes (ll) oblong, distally narrowing.Angiocoxites (Figs 5E, 6H, ac in Fig. 5A) apically with scoop/visor-like projections directed mesad. Posterior gonopods (Fig. 5B) practically indistinguishable from those in M. sintica sp. nov., except for the fimbriate tip of pseudoflagellum (pf) being short and somewhat fan-like broadened, unlike its more slender, somewhat tapering shape in M. sintica sp. nov. Posterior paragonopods (Fig. 5D) differing in details from those in M. sintica sp. nov., viz., posterior process (pp) larger, plus presence of a well-pronounced hump distally of the latter.</p><p>Remark. The distribution range of M. broelemanni extends southwards to Chalkidiki and Epirus in Greece (Kime &amp; Enghoff 2021), so it is very likely that the species co-occurs with M. sintica sp. nov. in parts of southwestern Bulgaria and northern Greece. M. broelemanni was recently reported as new to Germany (Decker et al. 2025)</p><p>Mauriès et al. (1997), in their review of the Albanian millipedes, listed M. albanica as a subspecies of M. broelemanni, but without giving any comments on its taxonomic history and status. This publication was probably used as the source of synonymy between the two species in the later treatments in Kime &amp; Enghoff (2021) and www. millibase.org (accessed on 1.X.2025), as, to my knowledge, neither has M. albanica been officially synonymized nor has it been treated as subspecies in older publications. However, considering that Mauriès et al. (1997) explicitly indicated all other new synonymies and supported them with comments, the mere listing of “ M. b. albanica ” in the paper’s supplement can hardly be regarded as a proper nomenclatural act. Also given the fact that Verhoeff (1901) emphasized the similarity between M. albanica and M. broelemanni, and listed few but significant characters to distinguish between the two species, it seems reasonable to accept M. albanica as a separate species, until the type material is re-examined or new, topotypic material is made available.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5F0887FFDC318259FF5BFE6308F06718	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Vagalinski, Boyan	Vagalinski, Boyan (2025): Melogona sintica sp. nov. - a surprising seventh member of Melogona Cook, 1895, with a key to species of the genus (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida: Chordeumatidae). Zootaxa 5728 (3): 549-560, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.3.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.3.5
5F0887FFDC3F8256FF5BFF2E09AD60E4.text	5F0887FFDC3F8256FF5BFF2E09AD60E4.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melogona transsylvanica (Verhoeff 1897)	<div><p>Melogona transsylvanica (Verhoeff, 1897)</p><p>Fig. 6C, F</p><p>Material. 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (IBER), Bulgaria, Pernik District, v. Bosnek, opposite to the entrance of Duhlata Cave, by the left bank of Struma River, 03.III.2017, P. Mitov leg.</p><p>Descriptive notes. Syncolpocoxite (Fig. 6C, F) of anterior gonopods relatively broad, without distinct lateral corners and with broadly rounded or flattened apical margin. Apical part of angiocoxites (Fig. 6I) very similar to the condition in M. broelemanni, but the scoop/visor-like projection somewhat more pronounced. Apex of pseudoflagellum of posterior gonopods similar to that seen in M. sintica sp. nov., rather than to that in M. broelemanni .</p><p>Remarks. The species is new to the fauna of Bulgaria, the present record marking the southernmost point of its currently known distribution. Both gonopod pairs of the examined male specimen are particularly similar to those in the subspecies M. t. hungarica (Sziráki, 1967) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5F0887FFDC3F8256FF5BFF2E09AD60E4	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Vagalinski, Boyan	Vagalinski, Boyan (2025): Melogona sintica sp. nov. - a surprising seventh member of Melogona Cook, 1895, with a key to species of the genus (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida: Chordeumatidae). Zootaxa 5728 (3): 549-560, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.3.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.3.5
5F0887FFDC3E8256FF5BFEF20EF161DF.text	5F0887FFDC3E8256FF5BFEF20EF161DF.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melogona Cook 1895	<div><p>Key to species of Melogona based on gonopodal and external somatic characters</p><p>1. Body consisting of 30 segments including telson............................................................ 2</p><p>- Body consisting of 28 segments including telson.............................................................3</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5F0887FFDC3E8256FF5BFEF20EF161DF	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Vagalinski, Boyan	Vagalinski, Boyan (2025): Melogona sintica sp. nov. - a surprising seventh member of Melogona Cook, 1895, with a key to species of the genus (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida: Chordeumatidae). Zootaxa 5728 (3): 549-560, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.3.5, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.3.5
