Taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the Neotropical false dragon millipede tribe Cornalatini Verhoeff, 1941 (Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae)

We present the most comprehensive revision to date of the Neotropical false dragon millipede tribe Cornalatini Verhoeff, 1941. We (1) test the monophyly of Cornalatini through a morphology-based cladistic analysis; (2) conduct the first molecular study to extensively sample Chelodesmidae across multiple taxa and gene regions in a phylogenetic context; and (3) revise the taxonomy of the tribe. Our morphology-based phylogenetic analysis, in which 56 morphological characters were scored across 11 ingroup and 9 outgroup terminals, recovered 6 synapomorphies supporting the monophyly of the tribe and providing the basis for a revised classification of the group. In addition, we provide the first molecular analysis of Chelodesmidae, based on the nuclear EF1α gene, including six ingroup and four outgroup species, and discuss implications for future phylogenetic studies of the family. Based on our results, we include within Cornalatini the genera Cornalatus Attems, 1931, Leodesmus Mauriès & Geoffroy, 2000, Obiricodesmus Schubart, 1955, Pseudoleptodesmus Brölemann, 1902, and the newly proposed genera Monidracodesmusgen. nov. and Pseudodracodesmusgen. nov. We also describe three new species for the tribe, Leodesmus acutussp. nov. and Leodesmus alambarisp. nov. from limestone caves in São Paulo state, Brazil, and Monidracodesmus maysp. nov. from forested habitats in Bahia state, Brazil. We recognize Cornalatus tabulus Hoffman, 1990 as a junior synonym of Cornalatus permutatus (Attems, 1938), and Obiricodesmus terrigena (Attems, 1943) and Obiricodesmus brasiliae (Brölemann, 1902) as junior synonyms of Obiricodesmus rosascens (Brandt, 1839). Our study clarifies the taxonomy of Cornalatini and provides a solid framework for future studies of Chelodesmidae. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1D7C09AC-DA1D-4453-BA5D-5F2A28501FD5.