An Updated Checklist and Perspective Study of Millipedes (Arthropoda: Myriapoda: Diplopoda) in the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

The Korean peninsula has diverse habitats and so would be expected to have a rich millipede fauna because of its location between the Paleoarctic and Oriental regions. To facilitate studies on millipedes, this work provides an updated list and discussion of Korean millipedes. A total of 69 species had been recorded up to 2010, but since then no new species have been reported. Among 69 species, 49 are endemic to the Korean peninsula. From 1950 to the present, an average of only seven new species from the Korean peninsula has been described per decade. This number does not reflect the biodiversity of millipedes in Korea, especially when compared to Taiwan, which has only one-third the area of the Korean peninsula, but from which a greater number of millipede species have been recorded (75 vs. 69 species). Japan has twofold the land area of the Korean peninsula, and an almost threefold higher number of millipede species. Further, more-intensive surveys will likely result in identification of more millipede species in the Korean peninsula.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the millipede Epanerchodus koreanus Verhoeff, 1937 collected in limestone cave of Korea (Polydesmidae: Polydesmida)

“…Total eight millipedes belonging to the genus Epanerchodus Attems, 1901 have been reported in Korea (Mikhaljova and Lim 2006). Epanerchodus koreanus Verhoeff, 1937 (Polydesmidae: Polydesmida) is presented in both Korea and Asian part of Russia (Nguyen et al 2016). In ecological aspects, E. koreanus is detritivores, and the most typical habitats of E. koreanus are leaf litter, the litter/soil, and around the organic matter at both entrance and twilight zone in a cave (Golovatch and Kime 2009;Golovatch 2015;Choi et al 2016).…”

New and poorly-known millipedes (Diplopoda) from Korea

“…Amblyiulus lobatus: Verhoeff, 1941Miyosi, 1957: 315;Miyosi, 1959: 55, figs;Takano, 1980: 55;Nishikawa & Murakami, 1991: 299;Nguyen et al, 2016: 45. Japanioiulus lobatus: Takakuwa & Takashima, 1944: 24;Takakuwa, 1954: 181, figs;Miyosi, 1957: 315;Paik, 1958: 364;Shinohara, 1960: 28.…”

“…Then Takakuwa (1954) and Nguyen et al (2016) repeated the dubious information concerning the Korean find of this species. So the above specimens of Japanioiulus lobatus are the first reliable confirmation of inhabitation of this species in Korea.…”

“…A short historical account of investigation and a list (unfortunately incomplete and not entirely reliable) of the Korean Diplopoda were recently provided by Nguyen et al (2016). At least, three additional species (Ansiulus deminutus Mikhaljova, 2001, Anaulaciulus parvulus Mikhaljova, 2001 and Epanerchodus multiprocessus Mikhaljova, 2001) are known from South Korea too (Mikhaljova & Lim, 2001).…”