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19
SPIXIANA 35 119-27 München, August 2012 ISSN 0341-8391
Review of the subspecies of Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1815
with the new description of the South Chinese member of the genus
Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758
named Scolopendra hainanum spec. nov.
(Myriapoda, Chilopoda, Scolopendridae)
Christian Kronmüller
Kronmüller, C. 2012. Review of the subspecies of Scolopendra subspinipes Leach,
1815 with the new description of the South Chinese member of the genus Scolo-
pendra Linnaeus, 1758 named Scolopendra hainanum spec. nov. (Myriapoda, Chilo-
poda, Scolopendridae). Spixiana 35 (1): 19-27.
To clarify their discrimination, the taxa of the Scolopendra subspinipes group,
formerly treated as subspecies of this species, are reviewed. Scolopendra dehaani stat.
revalid. and Scolopendra japonica stat. revalid. are reconfirmed at species level.
Scolopendra subspinipes cingulatoides is raised to species level. This species is re-
named to Scolopendra dawydoffi nom. nov. to avoid homonymy with Scolopendra
cingulatoides Newport, 1844 which was placed in synonymy under Scolopendra
cingulata Latreille, 1829 by Kohlrausch (1881). Scolopendra subspinipes piceoflava syn.
nov. and Scolopendra subspinipes fulgurans syn. nov. are proposed as new synonyms
of Scolopendra subspinipes, which is now without subspecies. Lewis already syno-
nymized Otostigmus politoides Attems, 1953 and Otostigmus puncticeps Attems, 1953
under Scolopendra subspinipes without going down to subspecies level – both species
are synonymized now (syn. nov.) under Scolopendra japonica. Furthermore, Scolo-
pendra hainanum spec. nov., a species near allied to S. subspinipes is described from
Hainan Island, China.
Scolopendra subspinipes cingulatoides = Scolopendra dawydoffi nom. nov.
Scolopendra subspinipes piceoflava = Scolopendra subspinipes syn. nov.
Scolopendra subspinipes dehaani = Scolopendra dehaani stat. nov.
Scolopendra subspinipes japonica = Scolopendra japonica stat. nov.
Scolopendra subspinipes fulgurans = Scolopendra subspinipes syn. nov.
Otostigmus puncticeps = Scolopendra japonica syn. nov.
Otostigmus politoides = Scolopendra japonica syn. nov.
Christian Kronmüller, Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Münchhausen-
str. 21. 81247 München, Germany; e-mail: shifu@shaolinquan.de
Introduction
Scolopendra subspinipes is a common centipede in
the whole Asian subtropics and tropical area and is
also introduced in many other countries and areas
around the world. Within the species, the taxonomi-
cal characters show a wide range of variety, which
makes the determination of several subspecies im-
possible. As there are neither geographical factors
nor taxonomical details to distinguish the individual
subspecies, in my opinion, it is useful to abolish the
subspecies according to the latest taxonomical and
geographical knowledge.
To date, Scolopendra subspinipes comprises six
valid subspecies named Scolopendra subspinipes sub-
spinipes Leach, 1815, Scolopendra subspinipes cingula-
20
species spination of the prefemur
of the terminal legs prefemoral
process
(corner spine)
coxopleural
process antennomere
(number of
segments)
Scolopendra subspinipes subspinipes ventral (1)-2-(3); medial 1-2;
dorsal-medial 1-3(1)-2-(3-5) 2 (1-3) 17-20
Scolopendra subspinipes dehaani ventral 0; dorsal-medial 0-3 (1)-2-(3) 1-2?
Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans ventral (1)-2; medial 1; dorsal 1 2 (5) (1)-2-(3) ?
Scolopendra subspinipes japonica ventral 2-3; medial 1-2; dorsal 2-4(2) 3 (2) 3 ?
Scolopendra subspinipes cingulatoides ventral 2; medial/dorsal; 4 3-43?
Scolopendra subspinipes gastroforeata ventral 2; 2-2, 1; dorsal 1, 2 22
17-19
Scolopendra subspinipes piceoflava ventral 2; dorsal-medial 1-22-5217-19
Scolopendra subspinipes fulgurans ventral 2; medial 2; dorsal 1 2-3218-19
Scolopendra multidens ventral 2-3; medial 2; dorsal 2 (2) 3 (-)318
Scolopendra hainanum spec. nov. ventral-lateral 1; ventral-medial 1;
dorsal-medial 1-222
17-20
toides Attems, 1938, Scolopendra subspinipes dehaani
Brandt, 1840, Scolopendra subspinipes japonica L. Koch,
1878, Scolopendra subspinipes fulgurans Bücherl, 1946
and Scolopendra subspinipes piceoflava Attems, 1938.
All of them occur in Asia except for Scolopendra sub-
spinipes fulgurans which was described from South
America, more exactly Brazil.
Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch, 1878 and
Scolopendra subspinipes gastroforeata Muralewicz, 1913
have already been synonymized with Scolopendra
subspinipes subspinipes (Schileyko 2001, 2004, Lewis
2010). The subspecies Scolopendra subspinipes multi-
dens Newport, 1844, has been upgraded to species
level by Chao & Chang (2003). It is distinguished
from Scolopendra subspinipes by lacking gonopods in
males and a strong punctation of the head capsule.
Methods
All examinations are made with a Bresser Advance ICD
binocular. All photos are made with a Canon EOS 60D
either connected to the binocular or used with a Canon
macro 100 mm lens, apart from the habitat photo which
is made with a standard lens. The drawings are made
with a 0.4 mm fineliner.
Taxonomy
Comparing the taxonomic details of the remaining
subspecies of Scolopendra subspinipes, it is obvious,
that they can be divided into two groups: The first
group consists of taxa with usually a two spined
prefemoral process, a coxopleural process with two
spines, the prefemur of the terminal legs with one
or two spines ventrally and with tarsal spurs from
locomotory leg 1 to 20; while the second group com-
prises the subspecies having a prefemoral process
with usually more than two spines, a coxopleural
process with usually more than 2 spines, a divergent
number of ventral spines at the prefemur of the
terminal legs and tarsal spurs only from locomotory
legs 1 to 19 (see Table 1).
Group 1
Scolopendra subspinipes subspinipes
Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans
Scolopendra subspinipes piceoflava
Scolopendra subspinipes fulgurans
Scolopendra subspinipes gastroforeata
Group 2
Scolopendra subspinipes dehaani*
Scolopendra subspinipes japonica
Scolopendra subspinipes cingulatoides*
* The original description of these subspecies is incom-
plete.
Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1815, sensu stricto
Scolopendra subspinipes piceoflava Attems, 1938, syn. nov.
Scolopendra subspinipes fulgurans Bücherl, 1946, syn. nov.
Distribution. Russia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,
Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Hong
Kong, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, São Tomé,
Príncipe, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Zanzibar, South
Table 1. Taxonomic characters of the Scolopendra subspinipes subspecies, Scolopendra multidens and Scolopendra hai-
nanum spec. nov.
21
Africa, Seychelles, Reunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues,
Madagascar, Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands,
Pacific Islands, Bermuda, Central America, Carib-
bean Islands, Colombia, Guyana, French Guyana,
Surinam, Brazil.
Description
(according to Attems, 1930)
General: Length up to 150 mm, colouration vari-
able.
Head: No anterior transverse sulcus, from 4 to
9 (mostly 5-6) coxosternal teeth, antennomere with
18-19 (rarely just 17 or more than 19) articles, 4
1
/2
to 6 of them are sparsely hirsute.
Tergites: Paramedian sulci start on tergite 3
(sometimes tergite 2 or more caudal), margination
starts from tergit 5 to 16.
Sternites: Sternite 2 to 19 with two paramedian
furrows (very weak at sternite 16 to 19).
Coxopleural process: 2 coxopleural spines (sel-
dom only 1 or up to 3).
Locomotory legs: All legs with two accessory
spurs, 20th pair of legs mostly with tarsal spur.
Prefemur of terminal legs: Ventral-lateral with 2
(rarely 1 or 3) spines, medial 1 or 2 and dorsal-medial
1 to 3 spines; prefemoral process with usually 2,
rarely with 1 or 3-5 tips.
Remarks on the description of
Scolopendra subspinipes piceoflava Attems, 1938
Distribution. Indonesia.
Attems (1934) described the species with weak
paramedian sulci on the tergites, only seen at the
caudal end of tergit 3 to 20. In my opinion, the sulci
are not weaker than in other subspecies. Sometimes,
a short median sulcus can be seen on tergit 9 to 20.
This character can also be observed for example in
specimens of Scolopendra subspinipes subspinipes from
Japan and also from the Philippines (Negros Island).
The terminal legs have two ventral spines and one or
two dorsal-median spines. The prefemoral process
shows between 2 and 5 tips.
Scolopendra subspinipes piceoflava differs from
Scolopendra subspinipes s. str. only in its colour as
it is described with a reddish brown head capsule
and first tergites, while the other tergites are dark
brown with a lighter (or even yellowish) caudal
border. In centipede taxonomy, colouration is not
a reliable scientific character for distinguishing a
species. Therefore it is herewith synonymized with
Scolopendra subspinipes.
Remarks on the description of
Scolopendra subspinipes fulgurans Bücherl, 1946
Distribution. Brazil.
Bücherl (1946) stated that beside Scolopendra viridi-
cornis Newport, 1844 the species Scolopendra sub-
spinipes is the most common species in Brazil,
especially in the southern parts. This might be
interpreted as an argument for the introduction of
this species to South America by ships from Asia.
Nevertheless, in 1946 he described that common
species found in Brazil as a new subspinipes sub-
species Scolopendra subspinipes fulgurans, similar
to Scolopendra subspinipes subspinipes but differing
in colour from Brazil, South America. Since then,
many myriapodologists assumed that Scolopendra
subspinipes was introduced to South America by
human activity. For that reason and the lack of clear
glabrous
segments of
antennomere
paramedian sutures
of the sternite margination of the tergites paramedian sutures
begin at tergit coxosternal
teeth on
each side
tarsal spines
62-19 begins from tergit 5 to 16 3 (4)-5-6-(9) 1-19 (20)
?? ? ???
?2-19 begins from tergit 8 to 10 4-95 in 2/3 1-20
?2-19 begins from tergit 10 to 12 3 4-61-19
? absent ? ? ? ?
4.5-62-19, 1-17 depressions begins from tergit 5 2 5 1-19
6 last sternit with median suture begins from tergit 5 to 7 3 5-61-20
62-20 begins from tergit 5 to 7 3 4-5?
? weak ? 2 6 1-19
5-62-20, getting weaker caudally 3-21 absent, in some
specimens noticeable 5-61-19,
sometimes 2-19
22
differences to Scolopendra subspinipes sensu stricto I
herewith synonymize S. s. fulgurans with Scolopendra
subspinipes. As it wasn’t possible to examine the type
material (probably lost), I examined the Brazilian
material of the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology,
Munich (ZSM) which consists of two specimens
labelled as Scolopendra subspinipes which key out as
Scolopendra subspinipes fulgurans. One of them was
in very good condition (ZSMA20051154).
Scolopendra dawydodffi nom. nov.
(pro S. subspinipes cingulatoides Attems, 1938,
as direct substitute)
Distribution. Vietnam, Laos.
Description
(according to Attems, 1938)
Attems executed an incomplete description of this
species, but he stated that Scolopendra subspinipes
cingulatoides unites the taxonomical characters of
Scolopendra subspinipes and Scolopendra cingulata La-
treille, 1829. Although the only character he describes
as cingulata-like is the shape and the thickness of the
prefemur of the terminal legs. The relation between
length and width, according to Attems, is 5.5 : 3.2
compared to Scolopendra subspinipes dehaani with
8 : 2.5 (both species from the same locality).
Scolopendra subspinipes cingulatoides also differs
from the nominate subspecies by a coxopleural
process which ends in 3 coxopleural spines and the
spinulation of the prefemur of the terminal legs: 2
ventral spines, 4 medial and dorsal medial spines.
The prefemoral process is 3-, seldom 4-tipped.
Lewis (2010) wrote in his new keys, that the
relationship between Scolopendra cingulata and Scolo-
pendra subspinipes cingulatoides should be observed.
The two species can be clearly distinguished by the
spinulation of the prefemur of the terminal legs:
Scolopendra subspinipes cingulatoides has medial
spines while Scolopendra cingulata lacks them, which
supports the assumption that they are separate spe-
cies.
For that reason, S. s. cingulatoides is raised to
species level. As Scolopendra cingulatoides Newport,
1844 is a junior synonym of Scolopendra cingulata La-
treille 1829, I herewith propose the name Scolopendra
dawydoffi nom. nov., in honour of Dr. C. Dawydoff
the collector of this species.
A
C
B
D
Fig. 1. Scolopendra hainanum. A. dorsal view of the head; B. ventral view of the head; C. two-tipped corner spur;
D. reproductive organs with the splitted genital sternit 1 and the knob-like genital sternit 2.
23
Fig. 2. A. Scolopendra hainanum spec. nov., habitus, adult specimen, 22 cm; B. The primeval forests of Hainan Island
and probably South China are the habitat of Scolopendra hainanum spec. nov.
A
B
A
24
Scolopendra dehaani Brandt, 1840 (stat. nov.)
Distribution. India, Burma, Bangladesh, Malay Pen-
insula, Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands, China,
Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan,
Okinawa, Cambodia.
Scolopendra subspinipes dehaani, which is the larg-
est subspecies (over 22 cm body length), is clearly
separable from all other taxa of the Scolopendra
subspinipes group by the absence of ventral spines
at the prefemur of the terminal legs (see Fig. 3). As
this character is stable, S. dehaani is revalidated at
species level.
Scolopendra japonica L. Koch, 1878 (stat. nov.)
Otostigmus puncticeps Attems, 1953, syn. nov.
Otostigmus politoides Attems, 1953, syn. nov.
Distribution. Japan, Taiwan, Cambodia.
Scolopendra japonica differs from S. subspinipes in the
spinulation of the prefemur of the terminal legs, a
prefemoral process with sometimes 2, but usually
3 spines, a coxopleural process with 2-3 spines and
no tarsal spur on locomotory leg 20. In contrast
to Scolopendra dehaani, it shows between 2 and 3
ventral spines at the prefemur of the terminal legs
and differs from Scolopendra dawydoffi by remark-
able long and slender terminal legs instead of the
cingulata-like short and thick legs of S. dawydoffi (see
Fig. 4). Therefore Scolopendra japonica L. Koch, 1878
is revalidated at species level.
Fig. 4. Prefemur of the right terminal leg, ventral view. A. Scolopendra hainanum; B. Scolopendra japonica; C. Scolo-
pendra subspinipes; D. Scolopendra dehaani; E. Scolopendra dawydoffi (drawing after Attems).
Fig. 3. Coxosternal teeth, ventral view. A. Scolopendra hainanum; B. Scolopendra subspinipes; C. Scolopendra dehaani;
D. Scolopendra japonica.
AB
DC
ABCDE
25
Lewis (2004) noticed, that the type material of
Otostigmus puncticeps Attems, 1953 and Otostigmus
politoides Attems, 1953 in the Naturhistorisches
Museum in Wien (NHMW), was misidentified
to generic level but shows clear characters of the
genus Scolopendra. According to the latest keys, the
species keys out as Scolopendra japonica. Because of
the confusing situation of the S. subspinipes complex,
Lewis (2004) proposed the synonymy of Otostigmus
puncticeps and Otostigmus politoides with Scolopendra
subspinipes without going down to subspecies level.
Although the type material of both species consists
of juvenile or adolescent stages (size from 24-33 mm,
head capsule wider than the tergites, antennomeres
with 17 segments and margination only seen in the
end tergit), it shows some characters which clearly
lead to Scolopendra japonica. The single holotype of
Otostigmus puncticeps, the smaller specimen, has a
Fig. 5. Terminal two segments including coxosternal process, sternites and complete terminal legs, ventral view. A. Sco-
lopendra japonica; B. Scolopendra dehaani; C. Scolopendra subspinipes; D. Scolopendra hainanum.
C
BA
D
26
short coxopleural process with 2-3 tips, 20th pair of
locomotory legs without tarsal spur and spinulation
of the prefemur of the terminal legs is as follows: two
ventrolateral, one medial and one or two dorsome-
dial spines. Otostigmus politoides (single holotype,
33 mm) shows a coxosternal process with 3 spines,
the 20th pair of locomotory legs without tarsal spur
and the prefemur of the terminal legs with 3 ventro-
lateral, one medial and two dorsomedial spines. The
prefemoral process shows 3 spines. I herewith pro-
pose to synonymize them with Scolopendra japonica,
as the descriptions match most closely to this species.
For that reason the occurrence of Scolopendra japonica
in Cambodia has to be added. Further faunistic
investigation should be made, to show whether the
species occurs in other Asian countries as well.
Scolopendra hainanum spec. nov.
During my analysis of the Scolopendra subspinipes
complex I got some living specimens from Hainan
Island, China, which were labelled as Scolopendra
subspinipes dehaani “tigerleg” but attracted attention
by a constantly difference to all other known mem-
bers of the genus Scolopendra: The new species has
a heart-shaped (or even splitted) genital sternit 1
and to date, it looks like both sexes have a structure
that resembles to a genital sternit 2. During mating
attempts sexed males did not show visible gonopods
like Scolopendra subspinipes and also no spinning
organ could be seen.
Material. Holotype: 156 mm long, of unknown sex,
(preserved in 70 % ethanol, deposited at the Bavarian
State Collection of Zoology in Munich, ZSMA20110500
– the 12th locomotory leg of the left side has been cut-
ted off and preserved in 96 % ethanol for further DNA
analysis), South China, Hainan Island near the city of
Puqian, leg. Liu Meijun, 17 August 2010. – Additionally,
10 still living paratypes presently in the collection of the
author, same collecting data as holotype.
Distribution. Hainan Island (possibly also occurring
in South China (continent)).
Description
General: Scolopendra hainanum has dark brown (or
even black) coloured tergites and orange-brown
striped legs. The head capsule and first tergites are
sometimes coloured reddish brown. It can grow up
to a length of 230 mm.
Head capsule: The head capsule has no sulci but
very fine punctated areas (see Fig. 1). The prefemoral
teeth have 2(-3) apical tubercles and one medial tu-
bercle which is clearly separated. On each side there
are between 6-7 coxosternal teeth on a broad-based
and wide toothplate. The coxosternum has no visible
sulci. The antennomeres have between 17-19 seg-
ments of which 6 are glabrous (the antennomeres of
the holotype seem to be damaged and have around
14-15 segments).
Tergites: Complete and good visible margina-
tion starts at tergite 5. Some specimens show light
paramedian sulci starting on tergite 3 or 4 (the
holotype without paramedian sulci). Tergite 21 is
rounded smoothly without median keel, sulcus or
depression.
Sternites: Starting on sternite 2 and ending on
sternite 19 or 20, all sternites show nearly complete
paramedian sulci. Sternite 21 long, gradually nar-
rowed and caudally rounded. Some specimens show
a longitudinal depression on sternite 21.
Coxopleural process: The coxopleural process is
conically shaped, and usually 2-tipped (sometimes
only 1 tip). A dense, small stripe-like pore area leads
to the tip of the coxopleural process.
Locomotory legs: All locomotory legs have 2
accessory claws, legs 1-19 show 1 tarsal spine.
Terminal legs: The terminal legs are long and
slender. The prefemur shows 1 ventrolateral spine,
1 ventromedial spine and 2 dorsomedial spines. The
prefemoral process is 2-tipped.
Sexual organs: The specimens supposed to be
males show neither visible gonopods nor a spinning
organ, but all examined specimens show an anatomi-
cal structure that resembles a genital sternit 2. In all
specimens, the genital sternit 1 is splitted into two
valve-like parts (see Fig. 1d).
Remarks on Scolopendra multidens Newport,
1844
Scolopendra multidens once was supposed to be
another subspecies of Scolopendra subspinipes. Chao
(2008) treated it as a separate species. The spinulation
of the prefemur of the terminal legs, the prefemoral
process and also the coxopleural process exhibit
clear differences to Scolopendra subspinipes. Another
important fact is, that similar to Scolopendra haina-
num, the males of Scolopendra multidens don’t have
visible gonopods.
Discussion
The confusing situation of the Scolopendra subspinipes
group was a well-known problem. The present
investigation is based on morphology solely. As
I know, Jui-Lung Chao is presently working on
Scolopendra subspinipes by studying the molecular
data (COI sequences). His first results suggest, that
27
the DNA results support the taxonomy presented
here. As far as there won’t be any new scientific
results connected with drastic changes within the
genus Scolopendra, I prefer not to distinguish any
subspecies within Scolopendra subspinipes but to
treat Scolopendra dehaani, S. japonica, S. dawydoffi,
S. multidens and S. hainanum as full species. Probably,
S. multidens is closer related to S. hainanum than to
S. subspinipes, as the shape of the genital organs is
similar and should be regarded as an important
taxonomical character. As this character is more
stable than the spinulation of the terminal legs, the
coxopleural process or the number of the coxosternal
teeth or segments of antennomere, the genital organs
of scolopendrid centipedes should be checked and
described in taxonomic papers now.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Dr. John Lewis for the many advices and the
inspiring email contact. Thanks also to Dr. Greg Edge-
combe and the staff of the Natural History Museum in
London, to Dipl.-Biol. Stefan Friedrich and Prof. Dr.
Roland Melzer of the Zoological State Collection in
Munich for their help. Many thanks to my friend Dipl.-
Biol. Martin Thierer-Lutz for the daily phone calls,
meetings and all other support. Also many thanks go to
Turgut Kocer who provided me the photos of the type
material of Scolopendra subspinipes piceoflava.
References
v. Attems, C. 1930. Myriapoda. 2. Scolopendromor-
pha. In: Schulze, F. E., Kükenthal W., Heider, K.
& Hesse, R. (eds). Das Tierreich, vol. 54. 308 pp.,
Berlin (Walter de Gruyter).
– – 1934. Neue Myriopoden des Museums Basel. Ver-
handlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in
Basel 45: 43-62.
– – 1938. Die von Dr. C. Dawydoff in Französisch
Indochina gesammelten Myriopoden. Mémoires
du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle 6 (2):
187-353.
Bücherl, W. 1946. Novidades sistemáticas na ordem Sco-
lopendromorpha. Memorias do Instituto Butantan
19: 135-158.
Chao, J.-L. 2008. Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda) of
Taiwan. 94 pp., Saarbrücken (VDM Verlag Dr.
Müller).
– – & Chang, H.-W. 2003. The scolopendromorph
centipedes (Chilopoda) of Taiwan. African Inver-
tebrates 44: 1-11.
Kohlrausch, E. 1881. Gattungen und Arten der Scolo-
pendriden. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 47: 50-
132.
Lewis, J. G. E. 2001. The scolopendrid centipedes in
the collection of the National Museum of Natural
History in Sofia (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha:
Scolopendridae). Historia Naturalis Bulgarica 13:
5-51.
– – 2004. Notes on the type specimens of three spe-
cies of Otostigmus described from Indo-China
by Carl Attems (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha:
Scolopendridae). Annalen des Naturhistorischen
Museums in Wien 105 B: 27-33.
– – 2010. A key and annotated list of the Scolopendra
species of the Old World with a reappraisal of
Arthrorhabdus (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha:
Scolopendridae). International Journal of Myria-
podology 3 (2010): 83-122.
Schileyko, A. 2001. New data on chilopod centipedes
of Vietnam. Pp. 417-445 in: Biological diversity of
Vietnam. Data on zoological and botanical studies
in Vu Quang National Park (Ha Tinh Province,
Vietnam).
28
Buchbesprechungen
Fortsetzung von Seite 18
Trotz des konsequent homogenen Aufbaus der einzelnen
Beiträge, ist der vorliegende Band abwechslungsreich
und lädt zum Blättern und Lesen ein. So konnte der
Herausgeber eine schöne Auswahl verschiedener Arthro-
podengruppen zusammenstellen. Kurze Beiträge wech-
seln mit langen ab, bedingt durch die sehr unterschied-
liche Artenzahl der einzelnen Taxa. Nachträge zu Grup-
pen, die in früheren Bänden bearbeitet wurden, führen
dem Leser zudem die Dynamik des Projektes vor Augen.
Auf den ersten Blick erstaunlich ist die recht gute Reprä-
sentanz von in oder auf Gewässern lebenden Taxa wie
Wasserwanzen, Wasserläufer, Taumel- und Schwimm-
käfer, aber auch von humicolen Arthropoden wie Asseln
oder Palpenkäfern. Häufig handelt es sich um die Be-
wohner flächenmäßig kleiner Habitate, die durch den
Menschen stark gefährdet sind. Gute Arteninventare
bilden eine wichtige Grundlage zu deren Schutz.
Zu den aus der 2005 von A. van Harten publizierten
Bestandsaufnahme “Insects of the UAE: a checklist of
published records” bekannten 830 Arten und den in den
ersten drei Bänden dieser Serie hinzugekommenen 570,
390 und 400 Arten , werden diesmal 469 weitere Neu-
funde hinzugefügt, was wiederum einem Zuwachs von
über 20 % entspricht. Eine statistische Auswertung dieses
beständigen Fortschrittes zeigt noch kein Anzeichen einer
nahenden Sättigung. Wir hoffen deshalb, dass die Reihe
mit weiteren inhaltlich und aufmachungsmäßig ähnlich
hochstehenden Bänden weiter wachsen wird, und möch-
ten uns dem Dank anschließen, den Tony van Harten
seiner Hoheit Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
ausspricht für dessen großzügige und dauerhafte finan-
zielle Unterstützung des Projektes.
Marion Kotrba, Daniel Burckhardt
2. Ptak, Roderich 2011. Birds and beasts in Chinese texts
and trade. Lectures related to South China and the
overseas world. Maritime Asia Vol. 22, Harrassowitz
Verlag, Wiesbaden, 140 Seiten, 10 Tafeln, in englischer
Sprache. ISBN 978-3-447-06449-1.
Auch in der neuen Folge der Serie “Martitime Asia”
werden eine Reihe von zoologischen Themen im kultur-
historischen Kontext behandelt. Das Werk enthält fünf
Essays, die ursprünglich zu unterschiedlichen Anlässen
erarbeitet wurden und hier zusammengestellt sind.
Im ersten Artikel geht der Autor, ein Sinologe mit
weitreichenden zoologischen Interessen der Frage nach,
inwieweit es sich bei den chinesischen Tiernamen um
echte oder “literarische” Arten handelt. Dazu analysiert
er vor allem zwei Werke der konfuzianischen Klassiker,
dem Buch der Oden (“Shijing”) und der enzyklopädischen
Schrift “Erya”, in denen viele Tiere erwähnt sind. Aus
dem Buch der Oden konnten kürzlich die Besucher der
taiwanischen Ausstellung “Singende Insekten” in der
Zoologischen Staatssammlung München Zitate über
Laubheuschrecken, Grillen und Zikaden kennen lernen.
Manchmal, wie in diesem Fall ist der Bezug der Texte zu
realen Arten oder Taxa offensichtlich. Dies gilt zum
Beispiel auch bei Texten über den Panda oder die Karett-
schildkröte. In anderen Fällen kann selbst genaues Stu-
dium nicht erhellen, ob sich ein bestimmter chinesischer
Ausdruck auf eine reale Art bezieht. Zum Beispiel wird
ein Tier beschrieben (“lushu”), das wohl am ehesten ein
Zebra sein könnte, aber es ist nicht klar, ob die Chinesen
der damaligen Zeit schon Kunde von einem Zebra gehabt
haben können. Auch, ob ein Vogel namens “jujiu” wirk-
lich ein Vogel oder eher ein Symbol war, bleibt unklar,
obwohl dieses Tier vielfach genannt und beschrieben
wurde und sich schon manche Sinologen um eine Deu-
tung bemüht haben. Vieles kann man nicht mehr klären,
weil ja die Überlieferung auf schriftliche Quellen be-
schränkt ist und die zweifellos vielfältigen mündlichen
Traditionen nicht zugänglich sind. Interessant ist auch,
dass verschiedentlich ähnliche Tiere durch eine gemein-
same Wurzel des Schriftzeichens als zu einem Cluster
gehörig gekennzeichnet sind.
Dass mit Seide und Perlen zwei Handelsgüter tieri-
scher Herkunft von überragender Bedeutung waren ist
allgemein bekannt. Ptak zeigt aber, dass noch viel mehr
Tiere und tierische Produkte im späten Mittelalter und
der frühen Neuzeit in China wesentliche Handelsgüter
waren. Zum Beispiel ist von bemalten japanischen Para-
vents bekannt, dass Schweine, Hunde, Vögel und sogar
Elefanten von China nach Japan exportiert wurden. Auch
verschiedene Vögel, deren Gefieder bewundert wurde,
wie z. B. Eisvögel (kingfisher, “feicui”) waren ein vielfach
bezeugtes Handelsgut. Straußeneier waren als “Drachen-
eier” besonders interessant. Natürlich waren zum Beispiel
auch Ambra (die wachsartige Substanz aus dem Verdau-
ungstrakt der Pottwale) und rote Koralle wichtige,
wertvolle Güter.
In je einem Artikel wird über die Literatur über
Kamele der Tang- und Ming-Zeit sowie über Pferde
(speziell den Pferdehandel auf der Insel Hainan) referiert;
diese beiden Säuger waren von besonderer Bedeutung
für den Transport und selbst wichtiges Handelsgut. In
einem Essay analysiert Ptak die älteste Liste von Vögeln
auf Macao in dem Buch “Aomen jilüe” von 1751 von den
beiden Autoren Yin Guangren und Zhang Rulin. Der
Autor kommt allerdings zu dem Schluss, dass die Auto-
ren der Liste wohl manche der Arten selbst nicht gesehen
haben; nur wenige der Vögel können klar einer Art zu-
geordnet werden. Im letzten Essay wird die Auseinan-
dersetzung der Quellen mit Tierbeschreibungen, die für
chinesische Verhältnisse exotisch waren, dargestellt. Das
Wissen über viele Tiere wurde von den Jesuiten in das
Reich der Mitte gebracht.
Auch dieser Band der Serie “Maritime Asia” setzt
sich mit Tieren auseinander, oft mit philologischem
Schwerpunkt, aber stets mit zoologischem Hintergrund.
Es ist wieder ein Werk von hohem interdisziplinärem
Wert das Aspekte der chinesischen Kultur erschließt.
Klaus Schönitzer
