MilliBase

S. t. pygmaeus (Manfredi, 1953) comb. nov.; Remarks: The subspecies S. t. pygmaeus (Manfredi, 1953) comb. nov. has already caught the attention of Strasser (1962). On page 60 of the latter work, the author commented on the significant size difference between pygmaeus (23 mm of length) and the typical tobias (50–67 mm of length), and also emphasized the apparent confusion of Manfredi (1953b) regarding the gonopods of her newly described subspecies, which she stated to match well (along with most other characters) to the descriptions of tobias given by both Attems (1927) and Verhoeff (1930). In fact, what Attems (1927) recorded and depicted was S. maximus comb. nov. (see Remark under the latter species). The short and straight epiproct in pygmaeus (as originally described), unlike the long and upwards curved process in the typical form, adds further uncertainty about the identity of Manfredi’s subspecies. We agree with Strasser’s (1962) opinion that pygmaeus most likely represents a separate species. However, its status can only be resolved after examination of type or topotype material.