A new genus of the millipede tribe Brachyiulini (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae) from the Aegean region

Abstract

A new genus of the julid tribe Brachyiulini, Enghophyllum gen. nov., is described, comprising two species from Greece. The type-species, E. naxium (Verhoeff, 1901) comb. nov. (ex Megaphyllum Verhoeff, 1894), appears to be rather widespread in the Aegean: it is known from Antiparos Island and Naxos Island (the type locality), both in the Cyclades, as well as East Mavri Islet, Dodecanese Archipelago (new record). The vulva of E. naxium is described for the first time. In addition, E. sifnium gen. et sp. nov. is described  based on a single adult male from Sifnos Island, Cyclades. The new genus is distinct from other genera of the Brachyiulini mainly by its peculiar gonopod structure, apparently disjunct and at least mostly apomorphous: (1) promeres broad, shield-like, in situ protruding mostly posteriad, completely covering the opisthomeres and gonopodal sinus; (2) transverse muscles and coxal apodemes of promere fully reduced; (3) opisthomere with three differentiated processes, i.e., lateral, basal posterior and apical posterior; (4) solenomere rather simple, tubular. The evolution and biogeography of the new genus are briefly discussed, both suggesting its profoundly long isolation in the Aegean region from the contribal genera in the adjacent Balkans and Anatolia.