Autostreptus Silvestri 1905

Genus Autostreptus Silvestri, 1905 Autostreptus Silvestri, 1905: 742. Type species: Iulus (recte: Julus) chilensis Gervais, 1847, by monotypy. Diagnosis Modified after Demange & Silva (1971: 709). Species of Autostreptus differ from other Spirostreptidae by the combination of the following characters: anterior margin of collum unmodified, not thickened (Figs 4A, 8C); body rings mostly smooth. Prefemoral process (pfp) of first pair of male legs prominent (Figs 5A, 7A, 9A). Gonopods with proplica (pp) subrectangular (Figs 5C, 7C, 9C); metaplica (mp) with mesoapical process (map) prominent; lateroapical metaplical process (dmp) elongated, directed ectad (Figs 5C–D, 7C–D, 9C–D). Telopodite (tp) with lamellar expansion (ltp); seminal groove (sg) running along ectal margin of ltp; long, pointed antetorsal process (atp) (Figs 5C, E, 7C, E, 9C, E); tip of telopodite (tp) not branched, solenomere (sl) acuminated, partially covered by ltp (Figs 5F, 7F, 9F). Distribution Known from Canela in Coquimbo Region to Constitución in Maule Region, Chile. Composition Autostreptus chilensis (Gervais, 1847), A. yanezi Demange & Silva, 1971, and A. silvagonzalezi sp. nov. Remarks While Spirostreptidae is well-defined morphologically within Spirostreptida, its internal classification remains uncertain as a result of the lack of phylogenetic studies. A preliminary subdivision was suggested by Enghoff (2023), carefully organizing the family into five tribes: Spirostreptini Brandt, 1833 (African genera); Trachystreptini Cook in Cook & Collins, 1895 (African genera); Orthogoneptini Chamberlin, 1941 (American genera); Perustreptini Verhoeff, 1941 (African and America genera); and Metriostreptini Krabbe, 1982 (African genera). Here, we follow this intrafamilial organization, discussing below the position of the Chilean Autostreptus.