title: A multivariate study of differentiating characters between three European species of the genusLasiochernesBeier, 1932 (Pseudoscorpiones, Chernetidae).
abstract: Morphological variation in three rarely collected European species of the genusLasiochernesBeier, 1932 is thoroughly examined in the present study. Detailed descriptions of previously ignored morphological characters ofLasiochernes cretonatusHenderickx, 1998,Lasiochernes jonicus(Beier, 1929) andLasiochernes pilosus(Ellingsen, 1910) are presented. The female ofLasiochernes cretonatusand the nymphs ofLasiochernes pilosusare described for the first time. Multivariate morphometric techniques (principal coordinate analysis and discriminant analyses) were employed to confirm morphological differentiation of the threeLasiochernesspecies and to identify the most reliable characters for their separation. The usefulness of particular body parts for species identification was evaluated. An identification key for the females of theLasiochernesspecies studied is provided. Geographic distribution and habitat preferences of the three species are summarized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, SK-842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Christophoryová
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, SK-842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Katarína
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krajčovičová
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Universiteit Antwerpen (UA), Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium; Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Department of Entomology, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000, Brussels.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Henderickx
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia; Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, CZ-128 01 Praha, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Španiel
keywords: Caves; mole nests; morphology; morphometric analysis; pseudoscorpion; taxonomy