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The genus Plagigeyeria Tomlin, 1930 is one of the most typical elements representing the stygobiont fauna in the southern Dinaric Alps. In the current study I present the territory of Hercegovina (and its adjacent regions of Bjelašnica and the Dalmatian coast containing transboundary aquifers) as one of the two main biodiversity hotspots for distribution of the genus. It is comparable with the species radiation of Plagigeyeria in the Kotor Bay–Skadar Lake Basin area. My study of the karst springs and caves revealed, besides the presently known species, twelve new Plagigeyeria taxa detected in so-far uninvestigated karstic aquifers: Plagigeyeria erossi sp. nov., P. ljutaensis sp. nov., P. konjicensis sp. nov., P. pseudocostellina sp. nov., P. reischuetzorum sp. nov., P. olsavskyi sp. nov., P. listicaensis sp. nov., P. ozimeci sp. nov., P. jakabi sp. nov., P. angyaldorkae sp. nov., P. vriosticaensis sp. nov. and P. lewarnei sp. nov. Closer shell morphology investigation supported by the protoconch morphology revealed a presence of another genus within the former Plagigeyeria complex. The following taxa are transferred herein to Travunijana Glöer & Grego, 2019: Plagigeyeria robusta Schütt, 1959, P. robusta asculpta Schütt, 1972, P. ovalis Kuščer, 1933, P. edlaueri Schütt, 1961, P. klemmi Schütt, 1961, P. nitida Schütt, 1963, P. angelovi Schütt, 1972 and P. tribunicae Schütt, 1963, plus a new species, Travunijana gloeri sp. nov., is described for the genus. Distribution maps of both genera, Plagigeyeria and Travunijana, over the karst aquifers of Hercegovina and adjacent regions are presented with respect to the hydrogeological separation of the known spring karst conduits and aquifers.
Chiraziulus is a highly disjunct, hitherto monotypic genus of cambalid millipedes, geographically isolated in Iran by more than 7000 km from its presumed closest relatives in East Asia and North America. Recent fieldwork in caves of Iran has provided several specimens of this genus, allowing the description of Chiraziulus troglopersicus sp. nov. The intraspecific variability of the type species, C. kaiseri Mauriès, 1983, is illustrated with scanning electron micrographs. Chiraziulus is characterized by exceedingly long microtrichose gonopod flagella which from their insertion points on the posterior face of the anterior gonopod coxites first point distad instead of basad or basad-posteriad as in most other flagelliferous Cambalidea (and Julida), then traverse a groove on the mesal surface of the anterior gonopod coxites, making a full (360°) loop. The same feature is also illustrated for the first time in the genus Cambala. The patterns and prevalence of the infection with a species of ectoparasitic fungus of the genus Rickia (order Laboulbeniales) in the type material of C. kaiseri is described. An updated review of the cave-adapted fauna of Iran is given.
Over recent years, intense field work in caves of Portugal has provided new data on the distribution of subterranean Iberian leiodid beetles. Speonemadus algarvensis sp. nov. is described from caves of southern Portugal. The new species is included in the Speonemadus Jeannel, 1922 escaleraigroup (Cholevinae; Anemadini). All species of the S. escalerai-group are revised and S. breuili (Jeannel, 1922) is resurrected as a valid species. A key to identify the species of the S. escalerai-group is provided and the distinctive characters are illustrated. The distribution of all species of the group is mapped with new data together with biogeographic considerations.