The centipede fauna (Chilopoda) of Crete and its satellite islands (Greece, Eastern Mediterranean)

An overview of the centipede fauna of Crete is presented, with distribution maps, based on the rich centipede collection of the Natural History Museum of Crete and existing data. Centipede records from the satellite islets of Crete are presented for the first time. Distribution patterns according to latitude/longitude and altitude data of Crete are identified. The analysis of the faunistic elements showed that 25% of the Cretan centipedes have European and South European affinities, 36% have Mediterranean, Northeast, and East Mediterranean affinities, 12% are Balkanic, 10% have Palaearctic affinities, 5% have West Asiatic affinities, and 12% are Cretan endemics. Forty-two species and subspecies are recorded from Crete and the satellite islets. Strigamia acuminata is recorded for the first time from Greece, and 6 additional species (Lithobius lucifugus, L. pamukkalensis, Haploschendyla europea, Nannophilus eximius, Tuoba poseidonis, and Insigniporus sturanyi) are recorded for the first time from Crete. Data on habitat and phenology of each species are also given.