A review of the Australian Symphyla (Myriapoda)

Abstract

The present study consists mainly of taxonomic diagnoses of new species of Symphyla from a collection sent to the present author from the collector, Dr. G. F. Bornemissza, Division of Entomology, C.S.I.R.O., Canberra. The collection consists of 285 specimens from the south-western, northern, and north-eastern parts of the Australian continent. The material studied here contains representatives of 13 species. All but one are new. Two of them are in hand only as inadequate material and have not been described. The additional two species known from Australia have been listed in their appropriate systematic position among the others. Family Scolopendrellidae is reported from Australia for the first time. More than four-fifths of the collection belongs to this family which seems to be common in suitable biotopes. Two genera have been found: Scolopendrellopsis with one species and Symphylella with six species, of which four are described below. The remaining two species are unnamed. Family Scutigerellidae consists for the most part of five Hanseniella species of which four are new. Besides, there is a new member of the rare genus Scolopendrelloides. The generic diagnosis of Scolopendrelloides given by Bagnall has been modified. To the extent that we have satisfactory knowledge of the distributional areas of the reported genera it is evident that the Australian species belong to very old and widespread genera but their species are all endemic and seem to have more restricted areas.