The Oriental millipede genus Nepalella Shear, 1979, with the description of a new species from Thailand and an updated key (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Megalotylidae)

Abstract

The Oriental genus Nepalella is reviewed, rediagnosed and shown to comprise 28 species, including N. siamensissp. nov. from southeastern Thailand. All Nepalella species are keyed, and their distributions mapped, being highly localized and mainly allopatric. Unlike most congeners, which are largely confined to subtropical environments (including montane to high-montane conditions, up to 3800 m a.s.l.) or karst caves (eight species, all in southern China alone), the new species is the southernmost in the distribution area of the entire genus, also being among the very few (four) that are restricted to lowland, purely tropical habitats.