The Scolopendra species (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae) of Greece (E-Mediterranean): a theoretical approach on the effect of geography and palaeogeography on their distribution

Abstract

The species of the genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 are very widely distributed in the Mediterranean region. Current knowledge is summarized, with references to material derived mainly from the well-explored islands of the Aegean Archipelago, several localities in continental Greece and old bibliographic reports. We suggest that Scolopendra species represent examples of both paradigms of historical biogeography, namely vicariance and dispersal. We propose that the dispersal routes of Scolopendra species in Greece were mainly influenced by late Miocene and upper Pleistocene palaeogeography. The formation of the Mid-Aegean trench (c. 12 -9 Mya) considered as a remarkable geographical barrier between the Anatolian peninsula and mainland Greece, prevented the entry of certain Scolopendra species westwards. In total, five Scolopendra species have been recorded from mainland and insular Greece. A vicariance event that occurred in the area more than 17 Mya, when the Aegean region was part of a united landmass, better explains the biogeographical history of S. canidens. Cyclades harbours remnants of the ancient populations of S. canidens, whereas during the late Pleistocene (c. 400.000 -21.000 ya) S. canidens was isolated in Dodecanese. S. cretica is the only endemic, being distributed in Crete and its adjacent islets. S. clavipes in E-Mediterranean and S. dalmatica in W-Mediterranean evolved from ancient canidens populations. S. cingulata entered central and southern Europe from the east (c. 20 -11 Mya), while the formation of the Mid-Aegean trench (c. 12 -9 Mya) prevented its entry in Crete.

Cryptic speciation in theMerodon luteomaculatuscomplex (Diptera: Syrphidae) from the eastern Mediterranean

“…n. is most likely related to the presence of multiple refugia among mountains of the Peloponnese that played a key role in sustaining populations under unfavorable conditions during the Pleistocene. Similar examples of species radiations in Pleistocene refugia on the Peloponnese have been reported for genera of ants (Csősz et al., ), centipedes (Simaiakis & Mylonas, ), scorpions (Tropea, Fet, Parmakelis, Kotsakiozi, & Stathi, ), and lizards (Thanou et al., ).…”

“…Later, there were several more, less extensive glaciations (190–130, 110–11.7 ka) (Hughes et al., ). Simaiakis and Mylonas () and Thanou, Giokas, and Kornilios () presented the paleogeography of the Aegean region, which is important to understand the distribution patterns of the M. luteomaculatus complex. Here, we summarize the main events.…”

“…The Mid‐Aegean trench is a sea barrier that led to the disjunction of western and eastern Aegean islands. During the upper Miocene (12–5 Mya), the paleogeography of the south Aegean Archipelago changed completely (Simaiakis & Mylonas, ). Marine expansion and continental compartmentalization took place during the Pliocene (5–2 Mya).…”

The evolutionary history of the Mediterranean centipede Scolopendra cingulata (Latreille, 1829) (Chilopoda: Scolopendridae) across the Aegean archipelago

“…The Aegean centipede fauna has only recently been the focus of systematic, biogeographical and ecological studies (Zapparoli, 2002; Simaiakis, 2005; Simaiakis, Minelli & Mylonas, 2005). Following these studies, however, several questions, summarized in Simaiakis & Mylonas (2008), have been raised. Besides the fact that the phylogenetic relationships of the Scolopendra species distributed in the area remain incompletely resolved (Simaiakis, Giokas & Korsós, 2011), the patterns of distribution exhibited by the species within the Aegean area are difficult to interpret.…”

“…In mainland and insular Greece this genus is represented (Fig. 1) by five species (Simaiakis & Mylonas, 2008).…”