Socotroniscus sacciformis Ferrara & Taiti, 1996

Socotroniscus sacciformis Ferrara & Taiti, 1996: 120, figs 1, 2; Ferrara & Taiti, 2004: 287, pls 18–20.

Material examined. Socotra: 5 ♁♁, 6 ♀♀, 5 juvs, Arresh, Diehamt, 12°35'26.8"N 53°48'54.6"E, 18 m, 11.I.2003, leg. S. Taiti, MZUF-9253 ; 4 ♁♁, 6 ♀♀, same data,

NHCY (MZUF); 5 ♁♁, 5 ♀♀, 8 juvs, Lem-chegeranit, 12°35'04.5"N 53°30'49.3"E, under stones in meadow near pool, 12.I.2003, leg. S. Taiti, MZUF-9254 ; 5 ♁♁, 5 ♀♀, same data, NHCY (MZUF); 1 ♀, 1 juv., Moeqehar, 12°32'39.5"N 53°34'46.2"E, 11.I.2003, leg. S. Taiti, MZUF-9255 ; 4 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀, Kathar, 12°29'48.4"N 53°39'29.3"E, 11.I.2003, leg. S. Taiti, MZUF-9256 ; 3 ♁♁, same data, NHCY (MZUF); 3 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀, Diksam, near Giniba Cave, 6.I.2003, leg. K. Van Damme, MZUF-9257 ; 1 ♁, 1 ♀, 1 juv., along path to Hoq Cave, 12°35'40"N 54°21'00.6"E, 170 m, under stones, 14.I.2003, leg. S. Taiti, MZUF-9259 ; 1 ♁, 1 ♀, along path from Wadi Daneghan to Adho Dimelho, 12°35'22.4"N 54°02'58.3"E, 550 m, under stones near spring, 22.I.2003, leg. S. Taiti, MZUF-9260 ; 9 ♁♁, Abelhen, 12°36'19"N 54°19'14"E, 28. VI.2004, leg. V. Bartolino, MZUF-9261 ; 2 ♀♀, Momi, near Kazekas Cave, under stones, 12°33'20.9"N 54°18'23.1"E, 15.I.2003, ca. 500 m, leg. S. Taiti, MZUF-9258 ; 5 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀, same data, MZUF-9262; 2 ♁♁, 4 ♀♀, Wadi Ayhaft, 12°36'14.7"N 53°59'31.1"E, ca. 240 m, granite, under stones near wadi, 21.I.2003, leg. S. Taiti, MZUF-9263 ; 5 ♀♀, 18 juvs, same data, NHCY (MZUF); 4 ♁♁, 5 ♀♀, 2 juvs, Wadi Ayaft 12°36'38"N 53°58'42.9"E, ca. 170 m, limestone, under stones, 21.I.2003, leg. S. Taiti, MZUF-9264 ; 8 ♁♁, 5 ♀♀, Ma' lih, Hafoer-e-megademihan, 12°38'39.8"N 53°26'09.2"E, 510 m, 12.I.2003, leg. S. Taiti, MZUF-9266 ; 7 ♁♁, 5 ♀♀, same data, NHCY (MZUF); 4 ♁♁, 9 ♀♀, 12 juvs, Ma' lih, Fisreher, 12°37'38"N 53°30'42"E, 690 m, along wadi, 12.I.2003, leg. S. Taiti and A. K. Nasher, MZUF-9265 ; 2 ♁♁, 5 ♀♀, same data, NHCY (MZUF) .

Distribution. Species endemic to the islands of Socotra, Darsa and Samha.

Remarks. As pointed out in Taiti and Ferrara (2004) this species shows a great variability in the colour pattern and dorsal granulation, while the male characters are very stable in the different populations. The colour varies from pale cephalon, pereion, pleon epimera, telson and uropods, and dark pleonal tergites (Pl. 18 in Taiti and Ferrara 2004), to dark brown-grey with pale uropods and distal part of telson (Pl. 19 in Taiti and Ferrara 2004), to reddish as in some specimens from Samha (Pl. 20 in Taiti and Ferrara 2004) and western Socotra. The dark brown-grey specimens usually show more developed dorsal granulations. A molecular study of the different populations is necessary to find out if we are in front of a single variable species or to a complex of closely related species.

Family Eubelidae