MACARONESIAN MILLIPEDES (DIPLOPODA) WITH EMPHASIS ON ENDEMIC SPECIES SWARMS ON MADEIRA AND THE CANARY-ISLANDS

Endemic species swarms constitute large fractions of the millipede faunas of Madeira (29 species of the Cylindroiulus madeirae group, plus six species of Acipes, out of a total of 60 species) and the Canary Islands (46 species of Dolichoiulus, plus four species of the Glomeris alluaudi‐group, out of a total of about 79 species). The poorer faunas of the Azores (22 species) and the Cape Verde Islands (15 species) in contrast only include a few endemics. The Cylindroiulus madeirae group and Dolichoiulus show a high degree of diversity of structure (size, colour, leg length etc.) and habitat (laurisilva, xeric habitats, caves). The C. madeirae group, unlike Dolichoiulus, is strongly concentrated in the laurisilva. In this habitat, microhabitat differentiation is pronounced in both swarms. Copyright © 1992, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved