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Three new troglobitic leiodid beetle species have been described from several underground habitats in Central Bosnia and Herzegovina: Leonhardia jajcensis sp. n., from the Kapnica Cave, village of Božikovac, near Jajce, Mt. Dnolučka Planina, Katobatizon apfelbecki sp. n., from the Jama Ispod Puta, village of Božikovac, and the Snježara Pits, village of Brvanci, near Jajce, Mt. Dnolučka Planina, and Protobracharthron dusinae sp. n., from the Dusina Cave, village of Dusina, near Fojnica, Mt. Pogorelica. The three leiodid species are easily distinguished from related taxa. All important morphological characteristics of the species have been listed, along with the diagnoses and images of the taxa. The new species are relicts and endemics of Central Bosnia and Herzegovina and probably belong to old phyletic lineages of Tertiary or even pre-Tertiary origin. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

A new blind false scorpion, Microchthonius kasteli n. sp., from the Mićoletova Jama Pit, Rudine, nr. Kaštel, Dalmatia, has been described. The new pseudoscorpion is different from all other congeners. It is probable that this new taxon is the remain of an old tropical soil fauna, which now inhabits the subtropical area of the Mediterranean seaside. Morphometric ratios, figures, and linear measurements of the new species are presented in detail. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

A careful analysis of samples of pseudoscorpions (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones) from two underground habitats, one near Trebinje (Herzegovina) and the other from the National Park Paklenica (Croatia), has yielded two species of the genus Roncus L. Koch new to science, Roncus tribunus n. sp. and R. argyrunti n. sp. Both new species are described thoroughly, illustrated, and diagnosed. Some biogeographical and evolutionary characteristics of the two taxa are briefly discussed. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

New faunistic and taxonomic data for the species: Sulcia oculata Kratochvil, 1938, Thyphlonesticus absoloni (Kratochvil, 1934), Centromerus serbicus Deltshev, 2003, Palliduphantes spelaeorum (Kulczyński, 1914) and Porrhomma convexum (Westring, 1851), found in the caves of Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia are presented. Photos of the male palps and epigynes of the species S. oculata. T. absoloni and C. serbicus, are published for first time.

A new species of troglobitic false scorpion, Roncus bosniensis n. sp. (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones), is described from inside an underground habitat, the Jama Pored Puta Pit, nr. Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The analyzed pseudoscorpion proves to differ from all other congeners, but is closest to R. hajnehaj Ćurčić & Dimitrijević. It is possible that the subterranean pseudoscorpion analyzed represents a relict of an old tropical faunal pattern of the Mediterranean. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

A new endemic pseudoscorpion species from the Jama Pit nr. Daorson, Stolac, Southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, is presented, thoroughly described and illustrated. It is named Chthonius (Globochthonius) daorsoni n. sp. Its main morphometric characters and important diagnostic features are analyzed and compared to those of its phenetically and phylogenetically closest congeners.

A new endogean bembidiine ground beetle species, Winklerites serbicus sp. n., from a cave in the southeastern part of Serbia is both described and diagnosed. Male and female genital structures and other taxonomically important characters are illustrated. The new species is clearly distinct from its closest congeners. Fifteen species of the genus so far known are arranged in six groups. The new species is both endemic and relict, inhabiting southeastern Serbia only. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038 i br. 47007]

The cave-dwelling forms of the genus Neobisium L. koch comprise many phyletic lines, some less specialized and others highly adapted to cave life. To trace their origin, biogeography and evolution, it is necessary to compare the evidence about troglobitic species with that of the epigean forms from different European habitats, especially in the Mediterranean or Dinaric regions. In this study, descriptions of Neobisium crucis n. sp. and N. pluzinensis n. sp., both from caves in Montenegro, are presented, with some details on the comparative morphology and morphometric ratios. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

Five years ago, Ćurčić et al. (2008) described two new pseudoscorpions: Roncus diocletiani Ćurčić, Dimitrijević and Rađa (from Croatia) and R. orjensis Ćurčić, Dimitrijević and Rađa (from Montenegro). The pseudoscorpions studied were mounted on slides with gum-chloral medium. They are deposited in the collection of the Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia and in the collection of the Natural History Museum, 21000 Split, Croatia. It has been shown that only the male of R. diocletiani belongs to the nominal species, while the female of the same taxon belongs to Archaeoroncus tenuis (Hadži). Therefore, the “allotype male” of R. diocletiani is actually a holotype of this species, while the “holotype” of R. diocletiani becomes a paratype of A. tenuis. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

A new eyeless pseudoscorpion, Microchthonius tragurion n. sp., from a cave in Blizna Donja (near Trogir), from the Jama kod Gomilje Pit, Dalmatia, is described. This new false scorpion differs from all other congeners. There exists a probability that this new taxon is a relict of a tropical fauna incorporating the once northern and tropical area, now representing the subtropical part of the Mediterranean. Morphometric ratios, figures and linear measurements of the new taxon are presented in detail. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

Two new polydesmid species are described, illustrated, and diagnosed: a troglobitic, Brachydesmus mulaomerovici n. sp., from Bosnia and Herzegovina and epigean Brachydesmus verrucosus n. sp. from Macedonia. The new taxa belong to inferus- and stygivagus-groups of species, respectively. Relationships with congeners are briefly discussed. The distribution map and key are given for all currently known taxa belonging to these groups of species. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

A new eyeless false scorpion, Microchthonius elegantissimus n. sp. from inside an underground (cave) system, i.e. Jama Golubinka u Kalaševin Dugin Njivaman Cave (= Kalaševa Jama Pit), Kladnjice, Croatia, is described. This new pseudoscorpion differs from all other congeners. There exists a probability that the new false scorpion belongs to relicts of an old tropical area incorporating the northern subtropical part of the Mediterranean. Morphometric ratios, linear measurements and figures of the taxon are presented in detail.

Two new endemic species from the Jama Bezdan Pit between the villages of Komaji and Vignje, southeast from Ćilipi and Dubrovnik, Dalmatia (Croatia) - Chthonius (Chthonius) croaticus n. sp. B. Ćurčić & Rađa (Chthoniidae) and Roncus ragusae n. sp. B. Ćurčić & Rađa (Neobisiidae), are herein erected, described and thoroughly illustrated. Their main morphometric features and important diagnostic characters are analyzed and compared to their closest congeners, Chthonius (Chthonius) pristani Ćurčić and Roncus podaga Ćurčić, respectively. [Acknowledgments. This study is financially supported by the Serbian Ministry of Education and Science (Grant 173038).]

The pseudoscorpion sample discovered under a stone in Dalmatia (Croatia) was studied. A new species is described herein: Chthonius (Chthonius) makirina n. sp. This taxon is considered endemic to Dalmatia and the Balkan Peninsula. Along these lines, the diagnostic characters of the analyzed species are thoroughly described and figured. Taxonomic interrelationship and geographic distribution are briefly discussed.

An analysis of the pseudoscorpion material from Croatia has supported the elevation of two taxa to full species rank: Chthonius (Chthonius) pagus n. sp. and Roncus navalia n. sp., both from Dalmatia; Croatia. Most diagnostic characters of the analyzed species are thoroughly described or figured. Some taxonomic interrelationships and features of geographic distribution have also been briefly discussed. Both studied taxa, which currently inhabit a cave on the Island of Pag in Dalmatia (Croatia), are probably endemics and relics of the Tertiary period. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

Two species of troglobitic false scorpions, Roncus meledae n. sp. and Neobisium oculatum n. sp. (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones), are described from inside underground habitat, i.e. the Jama Na Žutim Kokom Cave, the Island of Mljet, Dalmatia, Croatia. The analyzed pseudoscorpions prove to differ from all other congeners. It is possible that the subterranean pseudoscorpions analyzed represent relicts of an old north tropical faunal pattern of the Mediterranean. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

A new genus (Punctoduvalius gen. n.) and a species of trechine ground beetles (Punctoduvalius orlovacensis sp. n.) from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been described and diagnosed. Punctoduvalius gen. n. is clearly distinct from all other phenetically close genera in many important respects, such as: the presence of depigmented reduced eyes, the presence of a pigmented eye border, the presence of deep and complete frontal furrows, the presence of tiny setae on the genae, the presence of distinct longitudinal fissures on the protibias, the ratio of length/width of the first protarsal article in males, the presence of two elytral discal setae, the presence of numerous setiferous punctures in interstrial spaces, the specific position of the humeral setae, and the specific shape of the copulatory piece. This new genus comprises four species: Punctoduvalius pilifer (Ganglbauer, 1891) (endogean from Mts. Treskavica and Bjelašnica, and from a cave on Mt. Visočica, Bosnia and Herzegovina), P. protectus (Winkler, 1926) (from the Pećina kod Ostojića Cave, Mt. Treskavica, and endogean from Mt. Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina), P. brevipilosus (Knirsch, 1927) (endogean from Lupoglav Peak, Mt. Prenj, Bosnia and Herzegovina), and P. orlovacensis sp. n. (from the Orlovača Cave, village of Donje Biševo, near Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina). The four species clearly differ in many important respects. The following three taxonomic changes are proposed: Punctoduvalius pilifer (Ganglbauer, 1891), comb. n., P. protectus (Winkler, 1926), comb. n., and P. brevipilosus (Knirsch, 1927), comb. n. The new genus and its members belong to an old separate phyletic lineage, distinct from all other existing species groups. Additionally, these forms are relict and endemic to the deep soil and caves of Bosnia and Herzegovina. [Acknowledgments. This study was financially supported by the Serbian Ministry of Education and Science (Grant No. 173038).]

A new leptodirine leiodid beetle species, Parapropus vitorogensis sp. n., from a cave in the western part of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is described and diagnosed. Both male and female genitalia and other taxonomically important characters are illustrated. The new species is clearly distinct from its closest congeners. The new taxon is of Tertiary or even pre-Tertiary age and originated during the Alpine Orogeny that affected vast areas of the Balkan Peninsula, including the Dinarides, its terra typica. The new species is both endemic and relict, inhabiting western Bosnia and Herzegovina only. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038 and br. 47007]

The pseudoscorpion sample from a cave in Bosnia has been studied. Two new species have been described herein: Chthonius (Chthonius) protobosniacus n. sp. and C. (C.) kladanjensis n. sp. Both taxa are considered endemic of Bosnia and the Balkan Peninsula. In this paper, diagnostic characters of the analyzed forms are thoroughly described and figured. Taxonomic interrelationship amd geographic distribution are briefly discussed.

A new species of epigean pseudoscorpion pertaining to the genus Chthonius C. L. Koch 1843 from Macedonia is erected. Its relationship to phenetically close congeners is briefly discussed. The new species, Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) lagadini n. sp. is a relict form presently known only from its type locality (Lagadin, nr. Ohrid, Macedonia).

A new pseudoscorpion from the family Chthoniidae - Chthonius (Chthonius) aquasanctae n. sp. from west Serbia is described. The newly erected taxon is endemic to the area studied. Its taxonomic relationship to its phenetically close congeners Chthonius (Chthonius) lesnik Ćurčić and Chthonius (Chthonius) iugoslavicus Ćurčić, as well as the comparative morphological traits, are described in detail.

A new cave-dwelling pseudoscorpion from the Badanj (or Vilišnica) Cave, nr. Sveti Filip i Jakov, Dalmatia (Croatia) is thoroughly described and illustrated. Its main morphometric characteristics and important diagnostic traits are analyzed and compared to those of its phenetically close congener Chthonius (Chthonius) absoloni Beier from Dalmatia. The new species is relict and endemic to the area studied.

Two new epigean pseudoscorpion species belonging to the family Chthoniidae - Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) metohicus n. sp. and Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) civitatisveti n. sp. from the UN Administered Province of Kosovo and Southern Croatia, respectively, are described. The newly erected taxa are endemic to each of the areas studied. Their taxonomic relationship with their phenetically close congeners Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) bidentatus Beier, 1939, Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) kemza Ćurčić, Lee et Makarov, 1993 and Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) tetrachelatus (Preyssler, 1790) and comparative morphological traits are described.

Two new endemic cave pseudoscorpion species from the Petropavlova Pećina Cave, village Bihovi, 6 km from Trebinje, Herzegovina, are presented, thoroughly described and illustrated. These are named Chthonius (Globochthonius) petroupauli n. sp. and Roncus paulipetrou n. sp. Their main morphometric characteristics and important diagnostic features are analyzed and compared to those of their phylogenetically closest congeners.

Three new species of the pseudoscorpion genus Roncus L. Koch (Neobisiidae) are described from Croatia (from nr. Omiš, Dalmatia: R. almissae n. sp.) and Serbia (near the town of Krupanj, north-western Serbia, Lukića Pećina Cave and nr. Izvor: R. krupanjensis n. sp., and R. radji n. sp.), and their diagnostic characteristics are illustrated. Their interrelations with phenetically close congeners are analyzed; in addition, the presence/absence of microsetae proximal to the trichobothria eb and esb is established as an important taxonomic characteristic.

A new epigean pseudoscorpion, Chthonius (Chthonius) onaei n. sp. is erected from Podašpilje, nr. Omiš, Mt. Omiška Dinara, Dalmatia, Croatia. Its interrelations with two close congeners, Chthonius (C.) litoralis Hadži, 1933 and Chthonius (C.) dalmatinus Hadži, 1930 are briefly discussed.

A careful analysis of samples of pseudoscorpions (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones) from two epigean habitats, one near Split (Croatia) and the other on Mt. Orjen (Montenegro), has yielded two species of the genus Roncus L. Koch new to science: Roncus diocletiani n. sp. and R. orjensis n. sp. Both new species are described, thoroughly illustrated, and diagnosed. Some biogeographical and evolutionary characteristics of the two taxa are briefly discussed.

A new species of the endemic pseudoscorpion genus Protoneobisium Ćurčić, 1988, P. basilice sp. n. from Croatia has been found, described and diagnosed. From its phenetically close congener, P. biocovense (Müller, 1931), the new taxon differs in many respects of both qualitative and quantitative nature. Both species of Protoneobisium have a limited distribution; they inhabit Mt. Biokovo, Croatia, and are probably the remnants of some ancient Maditerranean fauna of pre-Tertiary origin.

Gammarus aequicauda (Martynov, 1931) (Amphipoda, Gammaridea) is known as an euryhaline and euryvalent species in warm temperate waters, including lagoon systems and shallow coastal waters. The estuary of the River Jadro is a part of Kaštela Bay (Adriatic Sea), and after construction works on the downstream watercourse of the river, some ecological conditions have changed. A concrete barrier that was built decreases the influence of fresh water, which resulted in an increased salinity and a raised level of dissolved organic compounds. Such conditions were favourable for macroalgae, especially Enteromorpha sp., thus overgrowing riversides and providing amphipods with food and protection against predators. There are no earlier published data confirming the presence of G. aequicauda in Kaštela Bay. This is the first record of G. aequicauda from the River Jadro estuary as well as the first record of the species for Croatian rivers in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of a survey on the population of Congeria kusceri Bole, 1962 from the pit ‘Jama u Predolcu’ near Metković (Croatia). This species is ‘a living fossil’ and the only subterranean bivalve in the world living in the subterranean waters of the Dinaric karst of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. The investigation of Congeria kusceri population in the Pit ‘Jama u Predolcu’ included the collection of live specimens for morphometric and histological analyses (sex determination). The survey was carried out from January to December 2009 and samples were collected every month. As Congeria kusceri is a protected subterranean species, we obtained permission to collect only 30 specimens per month. We measured several physical and chemical variables of the underground water in an attempt to examine the relationship between the underground ecological conditions and the reproductive cycle. Physical and chemical values did not show any seasonal changes that could affect the reproductive cycle of Congeria kusceri, contrary to the case of surface freshwater mussels. The histological examination of the gonads revealed hermaphroditic as well as gonochorist specimens. The prepared sections of gills did not confirm that Congeria kusceri brood its larvae in them. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]