Allozyme and literature study of Glomeris guttata Risso, 1826, and G. connexa Koch, 1847, a case of taxonomic confusion (Diplopoda : Glomeridae)

The names Glomeris guttata and G. connexa are each used for at least two di fferent tare, all of which show a dorsal colour pattern of four rows of lig ht spots on a dark ground. We use allozyme and literature studies to docume nt that the name G. guttata Risso. 1826, can only be applied to a species t hat is endemic to the Var Valley in Southern France, while G. connexa C. L. Koch, 1837, must be used for the species which has a disjunct distribution in Silesia. Bavaria, Savoy and from the Southern Alps to the Apennines. Ba sed on allozyme data, G. guttata proved to be closely related to G, valesia ca Rothenbuhler. 1899, that is distributed from Western Switzerland along t he Alps to Provence. G. tetrasticha Brandt, 1833, is the valid name fur the species that was erroneously called G. connexa in the literature; G. tetra stichu is distributed from Eastern Europe over Germany to Switzerland. G. c onnexa C. L. Koch is clearly separated by its colour pattern from the other three taxa. A separate position is also supported by the allozyme data. Fu rthermore, we show that G. tetrasticha which is morphologically similar to the northern populations of G. valesiaca, is clearly differentiated from G. valesiaca and from G. guttata according to the genetic data. A key to the identification of the species, distribution maps and figures with specific colour patterns are presented.