Centipedes (Myriapoda, Chilopoda) of Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles).

Abstract

Centipedes collected during Royal Society surveys of the arthropod fauna of the Aldabra Atoll in 1968-1975 are identified, described, and illustrated to provide the first checklist to the Aldabran centipede fauna, comprising 12 species. These newly include the lithobiomorph Lamyctestristani (Pocock, 1893), the scolopendromorphs ScolopendramorsitansLinnaeus 1758, Cryptopscf.japonicus Takakuwa, 1934, Cryptopsmauritianus Verhoeff, 1939, and Cryptopsnigropictus Takakuwa, 1936, and the geophilomorphs Ityphiluscf.taeniaformis (Lawrence, 1960), Mecistocephalusangusticeps (Ribaut, 1914), Mecistocephaluslohmanderi Verhoeff, 1939, Orphnaeusdekanius Verhoeff, 1938, Ribautiacf.paucipes Attems, 1952, and Tuobasydneyensis (Pocock, 1891). The geophilomorph genera Hovanyx Lawrence, 1960, syn. nov., and Mixophilus Silvestri, 1929, syn. nov., are revised in light of the examined material and hereby designated junior subjective synonyms of Tuoba Chamberlin, 1920 with the species Geophiluslemuricus Verhoeff, 1939, syn. nov., and Hovanyxwaterloti Lawrence, 1960, syn. nov., designated as junior subjective synonyms of T.sydneyensis. The oryid genus Nycternyssa Crabill, 1959, syn. nov., is revised and designated a junior subjective synonym of Orphnaeus Meinert, 1870. New data on intraspecific morphological variation are presented for C.nigropictus, with the validity of Cryptopsdaszaki Lewis, 2002 being questioned following examination of its type material. The affinities and possible origins of the Aldabran centipede fauna are found to be mainly East African, with several species occurring across other islands in the Western Indian Ocean.