Historia naturalis bulgarica, 13, 2001: 5-51
The scolopendrid centipedes in the collection
of the National Museum
of Natural History in Sofia (Chilopoda:
Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae)
John G. E. LEWIS
Introduction
The National Museum of Natural History in Sofia possess a large collection
of scolopendrid centipedes from Cuba, the Mediterranean, Africa and Asia
made by Dr P. Beron (PB), Dr V. Beshkov (VB), Dr St. Andreev (SA) and Mrs
T. Ivanova (TI). It is probable that all the genera represented in the collection
require revision but, clearly, a revisional treatment is not possible here.
Uncertainties and inconsistencies are pointed out, however, and in most
cases the specimens are described in detail and illustrated to allow future
assessments to be made. One new species, Otostigmus beroni from Nepal, is
described and the following new synonymies proposed: Cormocephalus bre-
vicornis Kraepelin, 1903 and C. anceps segnis Attems, 1930 = С anceps
anceps Porat, 1871; С nitidus calvus Attems, 1928 = С nitidus nitidus For at,
1871; Asanada zambiana Dobroruka, 1969 = Asanada socotrana Pokock,
1889; Otostigmus politus mandchurius Verhoeff, 1942 = Otostigmus politus
politus Karsch, 1881 and O. politus pigmentatus Attems, 1930 and O. politus
schindleri Wiirmli, 1972 = O. angusticeps Pokock, 1889. Congobius schoute-
deni Dobroruka, 1968 = Otostigmus (Parotostigmus) schoutedeni (new com-
bination).
The classification adopted here is that of Attems (1930). Recently SCHI-
LEYKO (1992) and SCHILEYKO and Pavlinov (1997) have suggested alternatives
but an analysis based on morphological and molecular evidence by Edge-
combe et al. (1999) has not altogether supported them. As the classification
of the Scolopendromorpha is the subject of discussion, Attems' classification
is here retained, although it too is clearly unsatisfactory.
Full synonymies are not given: they may be found in Attems (1930).
Subsequent synonyms are given where appropriate. The descriptions are of
the specimens in the collection.
BioStor
