[Diplopoda • 2020] The Millipede Genus Leucogeorgia Verhoeff, 1930 in the Caucasus, with Descriptions of Eleven New Species, Erection of A New Monotypic Genus and Notes on the Tribe Leucogeorgiini (Julida: Julidae)

A. Leucogeorgia abchasica (Lohmander, 1936) comb. nov., ♂ from Abraskila Cave. 
B. L. caudata sp. nov., type ♂ from Novoafonskaya Cave. 
C. L. gioi sp. nov., paratype ♀ (SMNG). 
D. L. lobata sp. nov., specimens from Motena Cave. 
E. L. prometheus sp. nov., specimen from Prometheus Cave. 
F. L. profunda sp. nov., non-type ♀ from Veryovkina Cave. 

 Antić & Reip, 2020. 

  DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.713

 (photos: Ilya Turbanov, Olga Chervyatsova, Hans Reip & Sergei Ivanov).

Abstract

The Caucasian leucogeorgiinine genera Archileucogeorgia Lohmander, 1936 and Leucogeorgia Verhoeff, 1930 are revised, with Leucogeorgia being considered as a senior subjective synonym of Archileucogeorgia, syn. nov. The following new combinations are thus warranted: Leucogeorgia abchasica (Lohmander, 1936) and L. satunini (Lohmander, 1936), both comb. nov. ex Archileucogeorgia. All four previously described species, viz., L. longipes Verhoeff, 1930, L. abchasica, L. satunini and L. rediviva Golovatch, 1983, are redescribed based on new material, partly also on the type series, with a lectotype being designated for L. longipes. In addition, eleven new species of Leucogeorgia are described, both with normal (L. borealis sp. nov., L. gioi sp. nov., L. golovatchi sp. nov., L. lobata sp. nov., L. oculata sp. nov. and L. prometheus sp. nov.) and modified mouthparts (L. caudata sp. nov., L. mystax sp. nov., L. profunda sp. nov., L. redivivoides sp. nov. and L. turbanovi sp. nov., all clearly troglobionts). Additionally, a new monotypic genus, Martvilia gen. nov., is erected, with M. parva gen. et sp. nov. as the type species, another presumed troglobiont. An identification key to both genera and all 16 species of Caucasian Leucogeorgiini is presented. Several other members of this tribe are also re-examined, including a syntype male of Telsonius nycteridonis Strasser, 1976, from Greece, herewith designated as the lectotype. Troglomorphisms and mouthpart modifications, as well as the distributions and relationships within both Leucogeorgia and Leucogeorgiini, and a Leucogeorgiini species richness estimate for the western Caucasus are discussed.

Keywords: Western Caucasus; modified mouthparts; troglomorphism; taxonomy; leucogeorgiinines

Leucogeorgia Verhoeff, 1930 species in situ. 
A. Leucogeorgia abchasica (Lohmander, 1936) comb. nov., ♂ from Abraskila Cave (photo: Ilya Turbanov). B. L. caudata sp. nov., type ♂ from Novoafonskaya Cave (photo: Olga Chervyatsova). C. L. gioi sp. nov., paratype ♀ (SMNG) (photo: Hans Reip). D. L. lobata sp. nov., specimens from Motena Cave (photo: Hans Reip). E. L. prometheus sp. nov., specimen from Prometheus Cave (photo: Hans Reip). F. L. profunda sp. nov., non-type ♀ from Veryovkina Cave (photo: Sergei Ivanov). G. L. turbanovi sp. nov., non-type ♂ from Krubera Cave (photo: Ilya Turbanov).

Dragan Ž. Antić and Hans S. Reip. 2020. The Millipede Genus Leucogeorgia Verhoeff, 1930 in the Caucasus, with Descriptions of Eleven New Species, Erection of A New Monotypic Genus and Notes on the Tribe Leucogeorgiini (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae). European Journal of Taxonomy. 713: 1–106. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.713