The troglomorphic pseudoscorpions of the genus Neobisium from Corsica, Sardinia and mainland Italy, with description of new species (Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae).

A taxonomic revision and a key to the pseudoscorpion species of Neobisium Chamberlin, 1930so far attributed to the subgenus Ommatoblothrus Beier, 1956from Corsica, Sardinia and mainland Italy are provided. The taxonomic status of the subgenera of Neobisium Chamberlin, 1930 is evaluated and the following new synonymies are proposed: Ommatoblothrus Beier, 1956 is a junior subjective synonym of Neobisium Chamberlin, 1930 (n. syn.), Heoblothrus Browning, 1965 is a junior subjective synonym of Neobisium Chamberlin, 1930 (n. syn.), Pennobisium uri 1988 is a junior subjective synonym of Neobisium Chamberlin, 1930 (n. syn.). The following new species are described: Neobisium (Neobisium) corsicum n. sp. (, loc. typ.: Corsica, Corte, Grotte de Valletto), Neobisium (N.) leolatellai n. sp. (, loc. typ.: Latium, Bassiano, Grotta della Cava 384 La/LT), Neobisium (N.) magrinii n. sp. (, loc. typ.: Latium, Coreno Ausonio, Grotta lArnale 871 La/FR), Neobisium (N.) petruzzielloi n. sp. (, loc. typ.: Campania, Avella, Grotta degli Sportiglioni 184 Cp/AV) and Neobisium (N.) vignai n. sp. (, loc. typ.: Latium, Amaseno, Grotta degli Ulivi 474 La/FR). The specimens of five populations from as many caves of the Lepini Mountains are provisionally attributed to Neobisium (N.) sp. aff. patrizii Beier, 1953, and the following new synonymy is proposed: Neobisium patrizii romanum Mahnert, 1980 is a junior subjective synonym of Neobisium patrizii patrizii Beier, 1953 (n. syn.).

Checklist of Pseudoscorpions (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones) of Albania.

A checklist is presented comprising 42 species in 21 genera and 10 families of the arachnid order Pseudoscorpiones from Albania. Two taxa are identified only to the genus level -Neobisium Chamberlin, 1930 and Roncus L. Koch, 1873. The checklist was constructed according to available published data, material deposited in the Natural History Museum in Vienna and newly collected material. Individual families contained the following numbers of species: Chthoniidae (8), Neobisiidae (13), Garypinidae (1), Geogarypidae (2), Olpiidae (1), Cheiridiidae (1), Atemnidae (1), Cheliferidae (7), Chernetidae (7) and Withiidae (1). Sixteen species and four families (Garypinidae, Cheiridiidae, Atemnidae, Withiidae) are recorded for the first time in Albania -Chthonius jonicus Beier, 1931, C. rhodochelatus Hadzi, 1933,C. tenuis L. Koch, 1873, Ephippiochthonius serbicus (Hadzi, 1937), E. tuberculatus (Hadzi, 1937), Amblyolpium dollfusi Simon, 1898, Geogarypus italicus Gardini, Galli and Zinni, 2017, Apocheiridium ferum (Simon, 1879), Atemnus syriacus (Beier, 1955), Beierochelifer peloponnesiacus (Beier, 1929), Hysterochelifer cyprius (Beier, 1929), H. meridianus (L. Koch, 1873), Rhacochelifer peculiaris (L. Koch, 1873), Dinocheirus panzeri (C.L. Koch, 1837), Lamprochernes chyzeri (Tömösváry, 1883) and Withius piger (Simon, 1878). Moreover, A. dollfusi and G. italicus are newly recorded from the Balkans. Data on European distribution, habitat preferences and taxonomic considerations are reported. The Albanian pseudoscorpion fauna is compared with that of other Balkan countries.

The Italian species of the Chthonius ischnocheles group (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae), with reference to neighbouring countries.

A taxonomic revision and a key to the Chthonius C.L. Koch, 1843 species of the ischnocheles group from Italy, with records from neighbouring countries, are provided. The following new species are described: Chthonius gallettii n. sp. (♂, locus typicus: Sicily, Ragusa Province, Ragusa, Grotta delle Lame 6009 Si/RG), Chthonius gentianae n. sp. (♂, Veneto, Treviso Province, Fregona, Pian del Cansiglio, Bus della Genziana 1000 V/TV), Chthonius herminii n. sp. (♂♀, Veneto, Treviso Province, Cavaso del Tomba, Costalunga, Speoncia del Diaol 1811 V/TV); Chthonius inguscioi n. sp. (♂♀, Apulia, Lecce Province, Presicce, Grotta Madonna della Rutta 533 Pu/LE), Chthonius lanai n. sp. (♂♀, Piedmont, Cuneo Province, Bernezzo, Pertus d'la Kassetta 1323 Pi/CN), Chthonius marciai n. sp. (♂, Sardinia, Nuoro Province, Dorgali, Grotta del Bue Marino 12 Sa/NU) and Chthonius nicolosii n. sp. (♂♀, Sicily, Catania Province, Nicolosi, Grotta Lunga 1029 Si/CT). The following new subjective synonymies are proposed: Chthonius malatestai Callaini, 1980 n. syn. of C. agazzii Beier, 1966; Chthonius ruffoi Caporiacco, 1951 n. syn. of C. densedentatus Beier, 1938; Chthonius mingazzinii Callaini, 1991 n. syn. of C. euganeus Gardini, 1991; Obisium megachelum Amary, 1840 n. syn. of C. ischnocheles (Hermann, 1804); Chthonius dalmatinus Hadzi, 1930 n. syn. of C. ischnocheles (Hermann, 1804); Chthonius litoralis Hadzi, 1933 n. syn. of C. ischnocheles (Hermann, 1804); Chthonius rhodochelatus Hadzi, 1937 of C. ischnocheles (Hermann, 1804) (rest. syn.). Chthonius horridus Beier, 1934 (n. stat.) is upgraded from subspecies of C. doderoi Beier, 1930 and Chthonius reductus Beier, 1939 (n. stat.) from subspecies of C. ischnocheles (Hermann, 1804). A lectotype is designated for Chthonius rayi L. Koch, 1873. Twenty-eight species of Chthonius of the ischnocheles group are known at present from Italy, of which three are endemic to Sicily and two to Sardinia. New country records are established for Chthonius alpicola Beier, 1951 (Croatia and Slovenia); Chthonius guglielmii Callaini, 1986 (mainland France), Chthonius halberti Kew, 1916 and Chthonius ilvensis Beier, 1963 (Corsica); Chthonius pygmaeus Beier, 1934 (Switzerland), and Chthonius densedentatus Beier, 1938 (France, Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania and Greece).

Zaragozachthonius (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae), a new genus with species in Italy and the Balkan peninsula.

Zaragozachthonius siculus n. gen. n. sp. is described from Sicily and Z. karamanianus (Hadzi, 1937) (n. comb.), originally described from Macedonia, is newly recorded from central-southern Italy and Sicily. Relationships of the genus Zaragozachthonius among the other Chthonius-related genera sensu Zaragoza (2017), are discussed and a diagnostic key is proposed.

Karyotype diversity of pseudoscorpions of the genus Chthonius (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae) in the Alps.

Pseudoscorpions are found in almost all terrestrial habitats. However, their uniform appearance presents a challenge for morphology-based taxonomy, which may underestimate the diversity of this order. We performed cytogenetic analyses on 11 pseudoscorpion species of the genus Chthonius C. L. Koch, 1843 from the Alps, including three subgenera: Chthonius (Chthonius) C. L. Koch, 1843, Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) Beier, 1930 and Chthonius (Globochthonius) Beier, 1931 inhabiting this region. The results show that the male diploid number of chromosomes ranges from 21-35. The sex chromosome system X0 has been detected in all male specimens. The X sex chromosome is always metacentric and represents the largest chromosome in the nucleus. Achiasmatic meiosis, already known from the family Chthoniidae, was further confirmed in males of Chthonius. C-banding corroborated the localization of constitutive heterochromatin in the centromere region, which corresponds to heteropycnotic knobs on the standard chromosome preparations. Morphological types and size differentiation of chromosomes in the karyotype suggest that the main chromosomal rearrangements in the evolution of Chthonius are centric or tandem fusions resulting in a decrease in the number of chromosomes. Pericentric inversions, inducing the change of acrocentric chromosomes into biarmed chromosomes, could also be expected. Variability in chromosome morphology and number was detected in several species: Chthonius (Chthonius) ischnocheles (Hermann, 1804), Chthonius (Chthonius) raridentatus, Chthonius (Chthonius) rhodochelatus Hadzi, 1930, and Chthonius (Chthonius) tenuis L. Koch, 1873. We discuss the intraspecific variability within these species and the potential existence of cryptic species.

The species of the Chthonius heterodactylus group (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae) from the eastern Alps and the Carpathians.

The species of the subgenus Chthonius (Chthonius) C.L. Koch, 1843 displaying a sigmoid fixed chelal finger from the Eastern Alps and the Carpathians, assigned to the informal heterodactylus species-group, are revised and a key given for their identification. The following species are present in this area: Chthonius cavernarum Ellingsen, 1909 (Italy, Romania, Slovenia), C. heterodactylus Tömösváry, 1882 (Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine), C. hungaricus Mahnert, 1981 (Hungary, Romania, Slovakia), C. lessiniensis Schawaller, 1982 (Italy), C. pusillus Beier, 1947 (Austria, Slovenia) and C. raridentatus Hadzi, 1930 (Austria, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia). The following synonymies are proposed: Chthonius diophthalmus Daday, 1889, C. (C.) orthodactylus gracilis Beier, 1935, C. (C.) ksenemani Hadzi, 1939 and C. (C.) leruthi Beier, 1939 are junior subjective synonyms of C. heterodactylus Tömösváry, 1882 (n. syn.); C. (C.) pivai Gardini, 1991 is a junior subjective synonym of C. (C.) lessiniensis Schawaller, 1982 (n. syn.); C. (C.) ellingseni Beier, 1939, C. (C.) brandmayri Callaini, 1986 and C. (C.) jalzici Curcic, 1988 are junior subjective synonyms of C. (C.) raridentatus Hadzi, 1930 (n. syn.). Lectotypes are designated for C. cavernarum Ellingsen, 1909 and C. (C.) ellingseni Beier, 1939. Chthonius (C.) pusillus is newly recorded from Slovenia, C. (C.) hungaricus and Mundochthonius carpaticus Rafalski, 1948 are newly recorded from Romania, and the presence of C. (C.) cavernarum in Italy is confirmed.

A revision of the species of the pseudoscorpion subgenus Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae) from Italy and neighbouring areas.

A taxonomic revision and a key to the species of the subgenus Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) Beier, 1930 from Italy, Corsica and the Swiss Canton of Ticino are provided. The species are arranged in two species-groups (tetrachelatus group and fuscimanus group) on the basis of the shape of pedipalpal hand and of the type of dentition of the fixed and movable chelal fingers. The following new species are described: i) in the tetrachelatus group: Chthonius (E.) altamurae n. sp. (♀, loc. typ.: Apulia, Bari Prov., Altamura, Grotta Lamalunga 1295 Pu/BA), C. (E.) elymus n. sp. (♂, loc. typ.: Sicily, Trapani Prov., Custonaci, Abisso del Purgatorio 8064 Si/TP), Chthonius (E.) messapicus n. sp. (♂, loc. typ.: Apulia, Brindisi Prov., San Pietro Vernotico, Cerano); ii) in the fuscimanus group: C. (E.) aeneae n. sp. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Liguria, Genoa Prov., Sestri Levante, Punta Manara), C. (E.) etruscus n. sp. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Tuscany, Grosseto Prov., Semproniano, Grotta di Montecchio 254 To/GR), C. (E.) gallii n. sp. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Liguria, Savona Prov., Bergeggi), C. (E.) intemelius n. sp. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Liguria, Imperia Prov., Apricale, Mt Cianela), C. (E.) latellai n. sp. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Latium, Latina Prov., Bassiano, Grotta di Fiume Coperto 1361 La/LT), C. (E.) ligur n. sp. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Liguria, Imperia Prov., near Baiardo), C. (E.) magrinii n. sp. (♂, loc. typ.: Latium, Frosinone Prov., San Giovanni Incarico, Grotta sulla strada per il Santuario della Madonna della Guardia n. c. La/FR), C. (E.) monguzzii n. sp. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Lombardia, Brescia Prov., Sulzano, Oricina de la Pofa del Giardì 438 Lo/BS), C. (E.) sulphureus n. sp. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Marche, Ancona Prov., Genga, Grotta di Frasassi 1 Ma/AN), C. (E.) tyrrhenicus n. sp. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Liguria, Genoa Prov., Genoa, Quinto al Mare, Mt Moro). The following new synonymies are proposed: Chthonius (E.) bauneensis Callaini, 1983 is a junior subjective synonym of C. (E.) berninii Callaini, 1983 (n. syn.), C. (E.) aegatensis Callaini, 1989 is a junior subjective synonym of C. (E.) berninii Callaini, 1983 (n. syn.), Chthonius (E.) maltensis Mahnert, 1975 is a junior subjective synonym of Chthonius (E.) concii Beier, 1953 (n. syn.), Chthonius (E.) bartolii Gardini, 1976 is a junior subjective synonym of Chthonius (E.) concii Beier, 1953 (n. syn.), Chthonius (E.) elbanus Beier, 1963 is a junior subjective synonym of Chthonius (E.) nanus Beier, 1953 (n. syn.), Chthonius (E.) cavicola Gardini, 1990 is a junior subjective synonym of Chthonius (E.) troglophilus Beier, 1930 (n. syn.). Thirty-nine species of Ephippiochthonius are known at present from the above-mentioned areas, of which one is presumably endemic to Sicily, four to Sardinia and four to Corsica. C. (E.) gibbus Beier, 1953 is excluded from the Ital-ian fauna and C. (E.) vachoni Heurtault-Rossi, 1963 is newly recorded from Italy. Chthonius (E.) poeninus Mahnert, 1979 is transferred to the subgenus Globochthonius Beier, 1931.