Three new hypogean species of the false scorpions genus <i>Ephippiochthonius</i> Beier, 1930 (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Chthoniidae) from the Crimean Peninsula
Three new hypogean species of the false scorpions genus Ephippiochthonius Beier, 1930 from the caves of the Crimean Peninsula, i.e. E. tauroscythicus sp.n., E. volkeri sp.n. and E. pliginskyi sp.n. are described. Diagnostic and ecological features of these species are presented and discussed, as well as compared with the related species of this genus. A hypothesis about a possible scenario of speciation of troglomorphic species of the genus Ephippiochthonius in the caves of the Crimean Mountains in connection with global climate changes is proposed.