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

Kos, Anja (author), Delić, Teo (author), Kos, Ivan (author), Kozel, Peter (author), Polak, Slavko (author), Zagmajster, Maja (author)

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.

• Language: English
• Keywords: biodiversity, Eupolybothrus obrovensis, Lithobius stygius, Lithobius zveri, subterranean
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Number of pages: Str. 165-185
• Numbering: Iss. 45
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-153188
• UDC: 59
• ISSN on article: 1768-1448
• DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.45.101430
• COBISS.SI-ID: 152722179
• Publication date in RUL: 20.12.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Subterranean biology
• Shortened title: Subterr. biol.
• Publisher: International Society of Subterranean Biology
• ISSN: 1768-1448
• COBISS.SI-ID: 24145709

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: biodiverziteta, Eupolybothrus obrovensis, Lithobius stygius, Lithobius zveri, podzemlje