Eupolybothrus (Schizopolybothrus) excellens (Silvestri)

C. A. W. Jeekel, 1967, On two Italian Lithobius species described by Silvestri, with taxonomic notes on the genus Eupolybothrus Verhoeff (Chilopoda, Lithobiida), BEAUFORTIA SERIES OF MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS 14, No. 175, pp. 165-175 : 166

Eupolybothrus (Schizopolybothrus) excellens (Silvestri)

Lithobius (Archilithobius) excellens Silvestri, 1894 : 580.

Lithobius (Lithobius) occultus Silvestri, 1894 : 579.

Type material. The type material of excellens consists of a single female specimen labelled La Spezia , Caverna del Ginepro , 1869, Abdul Kerim. As there is no evidence in Silvestri s description that he had more than one specimen, I have labelled it as holotype. The material of occultus was labelled Grotta del Gazzo , 19.IX.1888, Barberi and consisted also of a single female specimen. Apparently, Silvestri also had but one specimen of this species, and, consequently, I have labelled it also as holotype .

Descriptive notes. The specimen of occultus is apparently not fully mature: the medial spur of the gonopods is distinctly smaller than the lateral one. This condition accounts for most of the differences between the two type specimens. The following notes made after the type of both species may supplement Silvestri s descriptions.

Colour of both specimens much as in Lithobius forficatus : light castaneous.

Head as long as wide. Antennae about four fifths of the body length ( excellens ) or about two thirds of the body length ( occultus ), composed of 76 (exc., right antenna mutilated) and 73 (occ., right) and 61 (occ., left) antennomeres. 2nd antennomere two and a half times as long as the 3rd. Ocelli small.

Forcipular coxosternite without particulars.

Tergites slightly uneven, in the second half of the body with dispersed short setae. Posterior angles of T. 6 obtuse, of T. 7 about rectangular. T. 9, T. 11 and T. 13 with acutely angular projections (fig. 1).

Sternites dispersedly impresso-punctate.

Legs of the 14th and 15th pairs from the femur onwards with dense pore sieves on the medial (posterior) side only. Relative length of the pedomeres of the 15th leg (length of head = 100): P. 105 (exc.), 100 (occ.); F. 118 (exc.), 126 (0cc.); Ti. 145 (exc.), 156 (occ.); Ta. 1 141 (exc.), 148 (occ.); Ta. 2 105 (exc.), 100 (occ.). Spinulation of legs, see table. Spines very long, the VPm spine of the first leg almost as long as the greatest length of the prefemur.

Female gonopods without particulars.