Abstract
Discovery of several geophilomorphs in Martinique, with the description of a new species of the genus Portoricona (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha). Between 2016 and 2023, hundreds of centipedes have been collected in Martinique by the second author, mainly by soil and litter samples and extracting with Berlese funnels, also by hand collecting. The whole was then identified by the first author over the years. After the examination of the type material of P. adjunta Chamberlin, 1950, and P. socia Chamberlin, 1950, a new species of Portoricona Chamberlin, 1950 (Geophilidae), collected in Martinique island (Lesser Antilles), is described: P. carbetensis n. sp. It is easily distinguishable by the criteria of its anterior sternites and its number of legs. A modern diagnosis of the genus Portoricona is given, with also some morphological complements on the descriptions of P. adjunta and of P. socia after their typical material, and an identification key of the three species. Ityphilus idanus Crabill, 1960 (Schendylidae) and Piestophilus carribeanus (Chamberlin,1915) (Geophilidae) are recorded for the first time in Martinique. Schizonampa barberi Iorio & Coulis, 2019, has been observed in the mountains of pitons du Carbet. A specimen of Piestophilus carribeanus, from an unpubished locality in Cuba, is documented in the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) of the Harvard University. After the literature and all our unpublished identifications, eleven geophilomorph centipedes species are recorded in Martinique, taking into account an unknown minute Geophilidae, possibly halophilic. A checklist of the Geophilomorpha of this island is proposed. The diagnosis and the key are translated in English.
Publisher
Societe entomologique de France
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