Two new glomeridellids (Glomeridellidae, Diplopoda) from Montenegro and Macedonia

Abstract

Background and Purpose: This study, based on an analysis of some paleo-Mediterranean diplopods is an outstanding improvement of our knowledge of relict and distributionally limited millipedes from the paleo-Mediterranean area. Materials and Methods: The analysed material comes from some caves in Macedonia and Montenegro, respectively. Results: A thorough analysis has shown that the representatives of the genus Typhloglomeris Verhoeff belong to two endemic forms: T. varunae n. sp., from Macedonia, and Typhloglomeris seuti n. sp,, from Montenegro. In addition, a supplementary description of Typhloglomeris coeca Verhoeff 1898 from Montenegro is presented. Conclusions: It may be resumed that both T. coeca- and T. album-group represent the most primitive membres of the genus. Furthermore, the Balkan Peninsula is the site of origin of all Glomeridellidae; their differentiation and dispersion to the East and West probably took place before the destruction of the ancient Aegeis.