Biokoviella

Dragan Ž. Antić, Tvrtko Dražina, Tonći Rađa, Luka R. Lučić & Slobodan E. Makarov, 2016, Taxonomic status of the family Biokoviellidae Mršić, 1992 (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida): reconsideration, with a description of one new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 205, pp. 1-23 : 18

Notes on the ecology and distribution of Biokoviella

Biokoviella mosorensis sp. nov. inhabits cold caves on Mt. Mosor, those in which the air temperature does not exceed 7º C and humidity ranges from 95 to 100%. A similar ecological preference is also characteristic of B. mauriesi . Chordeumatidans are known to tolerate low temperature, and they can be active in the soil and in rocky crevices below the snow cover ( Mauriès 1986, 1988). Thus, this group of diplopods is well adapted for colonization of cold underground habitats.

The subterranean habitats of Mts Biokovo and Mosor have diverse and endemic troglobiotic faunas. Turbulent geological history and the role of the Dinaric area as a refuge during glacial periods promoted continuous colonization of suitable underground habitats. A high rate of endemism is present throughout the entire Dinarides, and Mosor is no exception – even after more than 100 years of speleological and biospeleological research ( Girometta 1914), new species are still being discovered.