The millipede genus Metopidiothrix Attems (Diplopoda : Chordeumatida : Metopidiotrichidae)

Abstract

The millipede genus Metopidiothrix Attems, 1907 (Chordeumatida : Heterochordeumatoidea : Metopidiotrichidae), of south-east Asia, is examined and 30 new species (M. abuyog, M. anderssoni, M. apoensis, M. baletei, M. baybay, M. burckhardti, M. calamei, M. cameronensis, M. danao, M. dolok, M. gallus, M. gressetti, M. hoogsraali, M. kagpili, M. kalang, M. laguna, M. layang, M. lehtineni, M. leyte, M. loebli, M. mada, M. matang, M. mujong, M. nebulosa, M. samuelsonorum, M. santubong, M. schawalleri, M. sedgwicki, M. visca, M. werneri) are added to the genus. The synonymy of M. javana Chamberlin under M. lacertosa Attems is confirmed. Notes are provided on natural history, biogeography and taxonomic characters. The family Metopidiotrichidae is closely related to the Heterochordeumatidae. A key to the genera of Metopidiotrichidae is presented. The family is divided for the first time into three subfamilies: Metopidiotrichinae Attems contains Metopidiothrix and Reginaterreuma Mauriès, 1987; Neocambrisomatinae Mauriès (new status) includes Neocambrisoma Mauriès, 1987, Australeuma Golovatch, 1987, Nesiothrix Shear & Mesibov, 1997 and Nipponothrix Shear & Tanabe, 1994; and Schedotrigoninae Mauriès (new status) includes only Schedotrigona Silvestri, 1903.