The snakeflies of the Mediterranean islands: review and biogeographical analysis (Neuropterida, Raphidioptera)

The Mediterranean region representsone of the hotspots biodiversity many organisms and among these also Raphidioptera. With about 250 known species world-wide Raphidioptera is smallest order extant holometabolous insects. harbors 113 (= >45% world fauna), 33 >13% fauna) have been found on islands Sea. In course past 50 years most larger intensively explored for Raphidioptera, particularly all (except Baleares) which had no connection to mainland throughout whole Pleistocene. Altogether, 11 (9 Raphidiidae, 2 Inocelliidae) are endemic (usually)one, rarely a few islands: Phaeostigma (Ph.) euboica (Euboea), Ph. (Aegeoraphidia) prophetica (Rhodes), (Ae.) karpathana (Karpathos), biroi (Crete), (Superboraphidia) minois Subilla principiae (Sardinia), S. colossea Raphidia (R.) peterressli (Chios), R. ariadne Fibla (F.) maclachlani (Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), F. (Reisserella) pasiphae (Crete). Aegean Sea there remarkable difference between eastern western marked by so-called Rechinger line based results analysis flora. confirm this impressively. It rather unlikely that further still be detected – with one exception: Baleares. A additional from various parts continents surrounding will probably so total number may around 40, possibly 45 species. possible ways times colonization discussed. present paper serve as basis studies natural anthropogenic dispersals snakeflies island island, islands, in phylogeographic investigations.