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

Abstract

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 into species 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. C. omissus Ribaut, 1915 (Kenya), C. mirus Chamberlin, 1920 (Tahiti) and C. arapuni Archey, 1922 (New Zealand), lacking ultimate legs cannot be assigned to either the hortensis or the doriae group. C. inermipes Pocock, 1888, which lacks saw teeth on the ultimate legs is considered here. C. nanus Attems, 1938 (Hawaii), C. navis Chamberlin, 1930 (Singapore), C. philammus Attems, 1928 (Southern Africa), C. sinesicus Chamberlin, 1940 (China), C. stupendus Attems, 1928 (South Africa) and C. 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: C. covertus Chamberlin, 1951, C. daszaki Lewis, 2002, C. decoratus Lawrence, 1960, C. hortensis (Donovan, 1810), C. inermipes Pocock, 1888, C. lobatus Verhoeff, 1931, C. mauritianus Verhoeff, 1937, C. melanotypus Chamberlin, 1941, C. nigropictus Takakuwa, 1936, C. parisi Brolemann, 1920, C. songi Song et al., 2010 and C. stabilis Chamberlin, 1944. Examination of further material is required to establish the true status of C. brignolii Matic, 1977, currently regarded as valid. C. hortensis atlantis Pocock, 1891 is returned to full specific status as C. atlantis. C. basilewskyi Matic & Darabantu, 1977, C. kalobensis Goffinet, 1971 and C. niloticus Lewis, 1967 are junior subjective synonyms of C. nigropictus. C. penicillatus Lawrence, 1960 is a junior subjective synonym of C. decoratus and C. decoratus sensu Lewis (from Mauritius and Seychelles) is a junior subjective synonym of C. melanotypus. C. parisi cottarellii Matic, 1977, and C. parisi rhenanus Verhoeff, 1931 are junior subjective synonyms of C. parisi. C. campestris Attems, 1953, C. compositus Chamberlin, 1952, C. medius Verhoeff, 1901, C. orthus Chamberlin, 1951, C. parisi sebini Verhoeff, 1934 and C. 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 C. nigropictus, C. decoratus, C. melanotypus and C. 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.