Remarkable diversity of the genus Endonura Cassagnau, 1979 (Collembola: Neanuridae: Neanurinae) in the Caucasus

Abstract

Endonura alticola (Stach, 1951) comb. nov. is redescribed based on the type material and seven new species of the genus Endonura are described from the various parts of the Caucasus. E. paracantabrica sp. nov. can be recognized by the number of chaetae (L+So) on head and a fusion of tubercles Di and De on the first thoracic segment. Specific traits of E. aibgai sp. nov. include small body size, low number of chaetae (L+So) on head, nonogival labrum, dentate claws, and long tibiotarsal chaetae B4 and B5. E. diminutichaeta sp. nov. is characterized by an unusually short chaeta Di1on abdomen IV. E. dobrolyubovae sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by notably long chaeta Ocp on head and the presence of male ventral organ. The absence of chaetae E and O on head, ogival labrum, cryptopygy and dentate claws are typical of E. cryptopyga sp. nov. E. ossetica sp. nov. is most easily recognized by an unusual shape of tubercle Af on head connected with chaetae D and E. Main characteristics of E. kremenitsai sp. nov. include the presence of chaeta E and five chaetae Dl on head. A key to all known species of the genus including the above outlined taxa is given. General remarks on distribution and possible historical biogeography of the genus are also provided.

Endonura Cassagnau in Iran, with a key to species of the genus (Collembola, Neanuridae, Neanurinae)

“…It is worth saying that the greatest diversity of the genus through the continent is more or less correlated to the areas of land that have never been subjected to glaciations. Till now, the occurrence of only a few species is documented outside Europe, especially in the Middle East (Smolis and Kaprus 2003, 2009; Smolis et al 2011). The recent and present discoveries of Endonura species in Kyrgyzstan (Smolis et al 2011) and Iran significantly expand the list of species and also our knowledge on the genus.…”

“…Nowadays, including the taxa described herein, the genus contains 40 members and is the second largest of the tribe Neanurini, after Deutonura Cassagnau, 1979. Moreover, after the publication of Deharveng’s paper (date), a few species were redescribed and one taxon was synonymised (Smolis and Kaprus’ 2003, Smolis 2008, Smolis et al 2007, 2011). Considering these facts, the preparation of an updated key to all species of the genus seemed to be highly recommended.…”

“…Later, Deharveng (1982) raised it to the generic level. At present, Endonura is one of the largest (37 valid species) and most accurately studied genera within the subfamily Neanurinae (Dallai 1983, Deharveng 1979, 1982, Fanciulli and Dallai 2008, Pomorski and Skarżyński 2000, Pozo and Simón 1982, Smolis and Kaprus’ 2003, 2009, Smolis 2006, Smolis et al 2007, 2011). It is mostly a Palaearctic genus and only one species, Endonura reticulata (Axelson, 1905), is known from the Nearctic (Alaska, Smolis et al 2011).…”

“…At present, Endonura is one of the largest (37 valid species) and most accurately studied genera within the subfamily Neanurinae (Dallai 1983, Deharveng 1979, 1982, Fanciulli and Dallai 2008, Pomorski and Skarżyński 2000, Pozo and Simón 1982, Smolis and Kaprus’ 2003, 2009, Smolis 2006, Smolis et al 2007, 2011). It is mostly a Palaearctic genus and only one species, Endonura reticulata (Axelson, 1905), is known from the Nearctic (Alaska, Smolis et al 2011). According to a recent definition (Smolis 2008), Endonura is characterized by the following characters: 0–2 ocelli, reduced mouth parts with a thin mandible and a styliform maxilla, separate tubercles Di and De on the head, the non-cross-type of chaetotaxy on the head and three or two tubercles on abdomen V. The highest species diversity is observed in Europe (32 from among the 37 known species).…”

The genera Albanura Deharveng, 1982 and Persanura Mayvan et al., 2015 are no longer monotypic: description of new species from the Caucasus (Collembola, Neanuridae, Neanurinae, Neanurini)

“…Interestingly, the term ‘splitter’ was used for the first time by one of the most famous biologists, Charles Robert Darwin. Among Neanurini, one of the six tribes within the subfamily Neanurinae (Cassagnau, 1989), there are both large and “megadiverse” genera, e.g., Deutonura Cassagnau, 1979 and Endonura Cassagnau, 1979 comprising 57 and 51 valid species, respectively (Cassagnau 1979, Smolis and Kaprus’ 2009, Porco et al 2010, Smolis et al 2011, Deharveng et al 2015, Smolis et al 2016, Smolis and Kuznetsova 2016, Smolis et al 2017), and several monotypic ones, e.g. Albanura Deharveng, 1982, Cansilianura Dallai & Fanciulli, 1983, Edoughnura Deharveng et al, 2007, Xylanura Smolis, 2011, or Persanura Mayvan et al, 2015 (Deharveng 1982, Dallai and Fanciulli 1983, Deharveng et al 2007, Smolis 2011, Mayvan et al 2015).…”