On the Lithobius species (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha) from Israel and adjoining areas

Specimens of Lithobiomorpha collected in Israel and adjoining areas (= Palestinian region) during 1990 and 1995 form the basis of some new taxonomic. faunistic, ecologic, and zoogeographic data concerning five species of the genus Lithobius: L.(L.) viriatus Sseliwanoff, 1878: L.(L.) carinatus L. Koch, 1862; L.(L.) erythrocephalus his C. L. Koch, 1847 (ssp. cronebergii Sseliwanoff, 1881); L. (Porobius) parvicornis Porat, 1893; and L. (Ezembius) zeylanus (Chamberlin, 1952). Two new synonymies are established: L. ocellatus Verhoeff, 1925 is a junior synonym of L. parvicornis and L. tahirensis Matic, 1983 is a junior synonym of L.(E.) zeylanus. The species L.(E.) zeylanus is redescribed, based on material from Israel, and illustrated for the first time. Precise localities for the five species are also indicated for the first time. A key to the eight Lithobius species recorded to date in Israel is provided. Some zoogeographic considerations are presented.