Morphology and distribution of the Middle Asian centipede genus Krateraspis Lignau, 1929 (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha, Mecistocephalidae)

A comprehensive redescription of the poorly known mecistocephalid genus Krateraspis Lignau, 1929 and its two species is provided, based on the examination of type material and new specimens, as well as the critical evaluation of all published information. Krateraspis is confirmed differing from all other Mecistocephalidae especially for a peculiar pattern of areolation and setation of the clypeus. Records from 24 localities indicate that Krateraspis is limited to a narrow area of Middle Asia, from the Western Tian-Shan to the western offshoots of Pamir Mountains. Two species are morphologically distinguishable: K. meinerti (Sseliwanoff, 1881) and K. sselivanovi Titova, 1975. They differ mainly in details of the clypeus and maxillae, in the pattern of forcipular denticles, and in the number of legs. Tygarrup asiaticus Verhoeff, 1930 is confirmed as a junior synonym of K. meinerti, and a lectotype is designated for the former.

Automated summary

A comprehensive redescription of the poorly known mecistocephalid genus Krateraspis and its two species is provided, based on the examination of type material and new specimens, as well as the critical evaluation of all published information. Krateraspis is confirmed to be different from all other Mecistocephalidae, especially in terms of its peculiar pattern of areolation and setation of the clypeus. Records from 24 localities indicate that Krateraspis is limited to a narrow area of Middle Asia. The two species, K. meinerti and K. sselivanovi, can be morphologically distinguished by details of the clypeus and maxillae, pattern of forcipular denticles, and number of legs. A junior synonym of K. meinerti is confirmed, and a lectotype is designated for it.