[Arachnida • 2019] Typhloroncus guatemalensis • A New Troglobitic Species of Typhloroncus (Pseudoscorpiones: Ideoroncidae) from Guatemala

Typhloroncus guatemalensis 

 Viana & Ferreira, 2019

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4576.2.4

Abstract

Typhloroncus guatemalensis sp. n., found in Gruta de Lanquín, a limestone cave located in the municipality of Lanquín (Alta Verapaz, Guatemala), is described. It can be distinguished from the congeneric species mainly by the presence of lanceolate ventrodistal telotarsal setae on all legs; by the chelal teeth, which exhibit a varied morphology; by the number of trichobothria (30‒32); and by its measurements. Typhloroncus guatemalensis sp. n. represents the first record for the genus in Guatemala and is considered to be troglobitic.

Keywords: Pseudoscorpiones, taxonomy, pseudoscorpions, troglomorphism, cave

Typhloroncus guatemalensis 

Ana Clara M. Viana and Rodrigo L. Ferreira. 2019. A New Troglobitic Species of Typhloroncus (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Ideoroncidae) from Guatemala. Zootaxa. 4576(2); 288–300. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4576.2.4

[Arachnida • 2019] Sarax timorensis • Amblypygids of Timor-Leste: First Records of the Order from the Country with the Description of A Remarkable New Species of Sarax (Amblypygi, Charinidae)

Sarax timorensis 

 Miranda & Reboleira, 2019

 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.820.30139 

twitter.com/SReboleira

Abstract

The whip spider genus Sarax Simon, 1892 is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia and part of the Indo-Malayan region. The genus is recorded from several Indonesian islands, but no species are known from inside the area that comprises the biogeographical region of Wallacea, despite being recorded from both sides of the area. An expedition to survey the biology of caves in Timor-Leste (formerly East-Timor) discovered populations of amblypygids living underground and including a remarkable new species of Sarax, S. timorensis sp. n., the first Amblypygi known from the island of Timor. The new species is here described bears the unique character state of two pairs of lateral eyes, instead of three or none as in all other living species of Amblypygi, and expands the biogeographic range of the genus. New records of amblypygids are given for two caves in Timor-Leste. A detailed description and a discussion of its distribution and the species characters are also provided.

Keywords: cave, tailless whip scorpions, troglobiont, Wallacea

Figure 1. Details of Sarax timorensis sp. n. A Dorsal habitus B Frontal process and eyes C Sternum D Dorsal view of pedipalp E Ventral view of pedipalp. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Taxonomy

Charinidae Quintero, 1986

Sarax Simon, 1892

Sarax timorensis sp. n.

Type material: Holotype: Timor-Leste: Lautém district, Puropoko Cave, 8.543832N 127.066215E, 6–12.ix.2016, A.S.P.S. Reboleira leg. (male, NHMD). Female unknown.

Diagnosis: Sarax timorensis sp. n. can be recognized by the large size (body total length 12.82 mm), presence of only two pairs of lateral eyes, eight frontal setae, cheliceral claw with six teeth, two spines on dorsal pedipalp tarsus, male gonopod with sclerotization on the base of fistula, dorsal lobe and lateral lobe II, basitibia IV with four pseudoarticles and distitibia IV with six trichobothria on the frontal and caudal series. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the presence of only two pairs of lateral eyes, a unique character state known only from a few fossil species (Kronocharon longicalcaris Wunderlich, 2015 and Paracharonopsis cambayensis Engel & Grimaldi, 2014). Sarax timorensis sp. n. differs from the fossil species by the size (new species much larger) and the number of spines on the pedipalp. Female unknown.

Figure 2. Details of carapace and pedipalp of Sarax timorensis sp. n. A Dorsal view of carapace B Detail of the left pair of eyes C Detail of the right pair of eyes D Detail of the spines on right dorsal tarsus E Details of spines on left dorsal tarsus. Scale bar: 1 mm (A, D, E); 0.5mm (B, C).

Habitat: The new species was found in a cave on the border of the Ira Lalaro Lake, a huge closed karst depression in the Eastern part of the Timor Island (Freire et al. 2017; O’Connor et al. 2017). The atmospheric temperature in the cave is 32 °C. The cave has a stream with a high density of leeches in its substrate and harbors a large colony of Chiroptera. Some snakes were also observed hunting the bats in its narrow galleries. The high content in bat guano gives rise to high densities of cockroaches which are very active along the cave.

 Gustavo Silva de Miranda and Ana Sofia P. S. Reboleira. 2019. Amblypygids of Timor-Leste: First Records of the Order from the Country with the Description of A Remarkable New Species of Sarax (Arachnida, Amblypygi, Charinidae). ZooKeys. 820: 1-12. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.820.30139

 twitter.com/SReboleira/status/1089929767183413248

[Arachnida • 2018] Four New Troglophilic Species of Loxosceles Heinecken & Lowe, 1832 (Araneae, Sicariidae): Contributions to the Knowledge of Recluse Spiders from Brazilian Caves

[upper]  Loxosceles ericsoni  Bertani, von Schimonsky & Gallão, 2018;
[lower]  L. cardosoi Bertani, von Schimonsky & Gallão, 2018

in Bertani, von Schimonsky, Gallão & Bichuette, 2018. 

  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.806.27404

Abstract
Four new species of recluse spiders from Brazilian caves are described with both males and females. Loxosceles ericsoni Bertani, von Schimonsky & Gallão, sp. n. and L. karstica Bertani, von Schimonsky & Gallão, sp. n. both occur in caves in the Peruaçu region, located in the northern area of the state of Minas Gerais; L. karstica sp. n. is additionally found in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, located in the southwestern region of the state of Bahia. These two species belong to the gaucho group. Loxosceles carinhanha Bertani, von Schimonsky & Gallão, sp. n. and L. cardosoi Bertani, von Schimonsky & Gallão, sp. n. occur exclusively in caves of the Serra do Ramalho karst area and belong to the rufescens/amazonica species group. The discovery of two additional and highly distinct species in the rufescens/amazonica group (L. carinhanha sp. n. and L. cardosoi sp. n.) increases the debate on the origin, evolution, and geographical distribution of this widely distributed group of recluse spiders in the New and Old World. The presence of three species (L. ericsoni sp. n., L. carinhanha sp. n., and L. cardosoi sp. n.) with marked differences in morphological characters in a relatively small area indicates that the region seems to be an important center for Loxosceles diversity, which remains poorly studied.

Keywords: Bahia, brown spider, karst area, Minas Gerais, taxonomy

 Living specimens in their habitats.
55 Loxosceles ericsoni sp. n. female, Bonita Cave, Peruaçu Caves National Park, Januária, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil
56, 57 Loxosceles cardosoi sp. n., Gruna da Altina Cave, Serra do Ramalho karst area, Carinhanha, state of Bahia, Brazil. 56 Female 57 Male.

Photographs by PP Rizzato (55), ME Bichuette (56, 57). 

 Rogério Bertani, Diego M. von Schimonsky, Jonas E. Gallão and Maria E. Bichuette. 2018. Four New Troglophilic Species of Loxosceles Heinecken & Lowe, 1832: Contributions to the Knowledge of Recluse Spiders from Brazilian Caves (Araneae, Sicariidae). ZooKeys. 806: 47-72. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.806.27404

[Arachnida • 2018] Annotated Checklist of Gonyleptoidea (Opiliones: Laniatores) Associated with Brazilian Caves

Giupponia chagasi Pérez & Kury, 2002

in Ázara & Ferreira, 2018.

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4439.1.1 

Abstract  

In Brazil, the order Opiliones has been well studied, making this country the leader in research with the group, but few extensive works have been made on the distribution of harvestmen associated with caves. In this context, the present paper aims to list all records of the superfamily Gonyleptoidea associated with Brazilian caves, using records from the literature and unreported data from scientific collections. The compiled checklist contains the largest number of harvestmen species recorded for caves in one country, worldwide. A total of 155 species belonging to 7 families were recorded from 952 caves throughout 152 municipalities and 17 states of Brazil. A considerable number of 46 putative (undescribed) new species were recognized, including 9 troglomorphic species. Additionally, 161 new municipal records where found for 58 known species. The most diverse family was Gonyleptidae (104 spp.), with the subfamilies Pachylinae (55 spp.), followed by Goniosomatinae (18 spp.) and Mitobatinae (16 spp.). The number of described species analysed in the present work represents about 12% of the Brazilian opiliofauna of Gonyleptoidea, with many species widely distributed, being indicative of affinity of the group with the cave environments. Thus, the compilation of distribution data of such species (mainly the troglobitic and troglomorphic) can directly contribute to a higher valuation of their habitats, leading to better preservation policies, as well as being useful for future ecological and biogeographical studies.

 Keywords: Opiliones, Harvestmen, species list, caves, distribution, Brazil

Ludson Neves De Ázara and Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira. 2018. Annotated Checklist of Gonyleptoidea (Opiliones: Laniatores) Associated with Brazilian Caves. Zootaxa. 4439(1); 1–107. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4439.1.1

Pérez-González, A. and Kury, A.B. 2002. A new remarkable troglomorph gonyleptid from Brazil (Arachnida, Opiliones). Revista Ibérica de Aracnología. 5, 43–50.  museunacional.ufrj.br/mndi/Aracnologia/aracnopdfs/043050A%20new%20genus%20gonyleptid.pdf

[Crustacea • 2018] Mayaweckelia troglomorpha • A New Subterranean Amphipod Species (Amphipoda, Hadziidae) from Yucatán State, México

Mayaweckelia troglomorpha Angyal

in Angyal, Solís, Magaña, Balázs & Simoes, 2018

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.735.21164 

Abstract

A detailed description of a new stygobiont species of the amphipod family Hadziidae, Mayaweckelia troglomorpha Angyal, sp. n. is given, based on material collected in four cenotes of Yucatán federal state, México. Morphology was studied under light microscopy and with scanning electron microscopy. Morphological description is complemented with mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences as barcodes, with affinities to the related taxa and with notes on the species’ ecology. Using COI Bayesian inference and genetic distance analyses, we show that the closest relative of the new species is M. cenoticola, forming a monophyletic group referring to the genus Mayaweckelia. Based on the available sequences, we also revealed that Mayaweckelia and Tuluweckelia are sister genera, standing close to the third Yucatán subterranean genus, Bahadzia. The data gathered on the habitat, distribution, abundance, and ecology will contribute to the conservation planning for M. troglomorpha Angyal, sp. n.

Keywords: cenote, description, endemic, Hadziidae, mitochondrial marker, morphology, SEM, sinkhole, subterranean

Figure 2. Mayaweckelia troglomorpha sp. n., living specimens.
Above: allotype ♀ collected in Cenote Kankirixché;
below: individual photographed in its natural habitat during research dive in Cenote Kanún (not collected).

Taxonomy

Order Amphipoda Latreille, 1816

Suborder Senticaudata Lowry & Myers, 2013

Family Hadziidae S. Karaman, 1943

Genus Mayaweckelia Holsinger, 1977

Mayaweckelia troglomorpha Angyal, sp. n.

Diagnosis: Medium-sized, eyeless hadziid with conspicuous troglomorphic traits. The first antenna almost twice as long as body and three times as long as the second antenna; gnathopod I propodus palm armed with distally notched spine teeth, carpus more than 1.5 times as long as corresponding propodus, merus as broad as but shorter than carpus, ventrally produced lobe with three long sensory setae; gnathopod II propodus twice as long as propodus I, palm armed with unnotched spine teeth, carpus slightly shorter than propodus on males. Dactylus, propodus. and carpus of pereopods VI-VII extremely long; therefore, pereopods VI and VII are 1.3 times as long as body length; epimeral plates I-III ventro-posterior corner tiny but distinct, ventral margin without robust setae, posterior margins concave; surfaces of uropods I-III pubescent; telson lobes each possess five-six robust setae and one-three slender setae on outer margin and six-seven robust setae on inner margin. Largest males and females both measured 10 mm.

Etymology: The name troglomorpha refers to the highly adaptive troglomorphic features of the new species, particularly the elongation of appendages, the increased number of sensory setae and papillae, and general appearance of fragility. Gender feminine.

Distribution and remarks on ecology: The new species is known from four cenotes in the state of Yucatán, covering a distribution distance of 52 km (distance between the farthest cenotes Dzonbakal and Xaan). All the individuals were found in fresh water habitat, in most cases far from the cenote entrances, deeper in the associated cave passages, where sunlight does not penetrate. Water temperature was between 26 and 27 °C. Specimens were collected between 20 and 33 meters depth; in cenote Kankirixché some individuals were observed below 45 meters depth. The new species was represented in all four localities with low abundance, though it proved to be more common and more abundant than M. cenoticola, of which a single specimen was found in only one (Ayun-Nah) of the 14 visited cenotes, during an underwater waste collecting activity, hidden in a plastic soft drink bottle. In the type locality and in cenotes Xaan and Kankirixché the new species co-occurred with the hadziid amphipod Tuluweckelia cernua. Other co-occurring stygobiont macro-crustaceans (in the four cenotes) were the mysid Antromysis cenotensis Creaser, 1936, the stygiomysid Stygiomysis cf. holthuisi (Gordon, 1958), the isopods Creaseriella anops (Creaser, 1936) and Yucatalana robustispina Botosaneanu & Iliffe, 1999, and the decapods Typhlatya mitchelli Hobbs & Hobbs, 1976, Typhlatya pearsei Creaser, 1936, and Creaseria morleyi (Creaser, 1936).

....

Conclusions: 

To date, only a small proportion of the cenotes and other aquatic hypogean ecosystems have been studied in Yucatán state in zoological aspect. Our expedition has led to the discovery of a new species of subterranean hadziids, which confirms that exploration and further studies of the region’s groundwater Crustacea diversity is necessary. Description of the new species was completed with comparative scanning electron microscopy, which was used for first time on Mayaweckelia. It proved to be a rather useful method for discovering, analysing, and illustrating barely visible diagnostic characters. As contributions to the future molecular genetic studies on Yucatán subterranean hadziids, COI sequences as barcodes of M. troglomorpha sp. n., M. cenoticola, and T. cernua are now publicly available in GenBank. The phylogenetic studies have shown that based on the available sequences, the closest relative of the new species is M. cenoticola. In accordance with the previous cladistic studies, Mayaweckelia and Tuluweckelia prove to be sister genera, closely related to Bahadzia, the third Yucatán subterranean Hadziidae genus. This knowledge may contribute to the species’ future conservation planning.

 Dorottya Angyal, Efraín Chávez Solís, Benjamín Magaña, Gergely Balázs and Nuno Simoes. 2018. Mayaweckelia troglomorpha, A New Subterranean Amphipod Species from Yucatán State, México (Amphipoda, Hadziidae). ZooKeys. 735; 1-25.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.735.21164

[Entomology • 2017] Xuedytes bellus • A Most Remarkable Cave-specialized Trechine Beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae) from southern China

Xuedytes bellus  Tian & Huang, 2017

in Tian, Huang & Wang, 2017

 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.725.21040 

Abstract

Xuedytes bellus Tian & Huang, gen. et sp. n. is described from a limestone cave in Du’an Karst of Guangxi, a kingdom of cavernicolous trechine beetles in southern China. From a morphological point of view, Xuedytes Tian & Huang, gen. n. seems to be the most extremely cave-adapted trechines in the world. Superficially, it looks much like Giraffaphaenops Deuve, 2002 in general body shape, in particular the structure of the prothorax, but simultaneously it is similar to Dongodytes (s. str.) Deuve, 1993, based on elytral characters, including chaetotaxy. Hence the new genus seems to represent a lineage intermediate between Giraffaphaenops and Dongodytes (s. str.).

Keywords: aphaenopsian, Guangxi, ground beetle, troglobite

      

Figure 1. Habitus of Xuedytes bellus Tian & Huang, gen. et sp. n., holotype male.

Figure 2. Head (ventral) of Xuedytes bellus, a paratype female.

Taxonomic treatment

Xuedytes Tian & Huang, gen. n.

 Type species: Xuedytes bellus Tian & Huang, sp. n.

Generic characteristics: Highly modified aphaenopsian trechines, body shape, in particular prothorax, similar to that in Giraffaphaenops, but elytra generally like in Dongodytes (s. str.) (Fig. 1); large-sized, with body (especially prothorax and elytra) and appendages thin and extremely elongated, eyeless and unpigmented; fore body part (head including mandibles, plus prothorax) much longer than, or as long as (excluding mandibles) elytra, respectively; body smooth; three pairs of frontal setiferous pores present on head; mandibles thin and elongated, feebly curved apically, longer than head width, right mandible edentate; labial suture completely missing; mentum bisetose on either side of tooth at base, base broadly concave; mental tooth simple, short and blunt at tip; submentum 8-setose; ligula bisetose at apex (Fig. 2); antennae very long, antennomeres 10 and 11 extending beyond elytral apices. Prothorax similar to that of Giraffaphaenops, wider than head, very strongly elongated, much longer than head including mandibles, propleura distinctly tumid in basal 1/3, visible from above; pronotum barrel-shaped, thin and distinctly elongated, lateral margins visible throughout from above, slightly narrower than head; hind latero-marginal setae absent, but two long latero-marginal setae plus two or three additional short setae present from middle to front. Elytra similar to those in Dongodytes (s. str.), narrow anteriorly and dilated posteriorly, side margins narrowly bordered throughout, shoulders lacking; striae virtually missing, only weakly traceable; two dorsal and the pre-apical setiferous pores present, each with a very long seta; chaetotaxy similar to that in Dongodytes (s. str.). Protibia smooth, without longitudinal sulcus; protarsomeres not modified in male. Ventrites VII bisetose apically in male, but quadrisetose in female. Male genitalia moderately sclerotized, small, strongly curved ventrally in lateral view, with a quite large and thin sagittal aileron; apical lobe wide and broad in dorsal view; parameres much shorter than median lobe, yet well-developed.

Etymology: “Xue + dytes”. “Xue” in Chinese means “cave”, to indicate that the beetles are cavernicolous. Gender masculine.

Generic range: China (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region).

Xuedytes bellus Tian & Huang, sp. n.

Diagnosis: A large-sized, blind, cave-adapted trechine, remarkably modified morphologically, with both prothorax and elytra highly elongated and slender so that body five times longer than wide, antennae slightly shorter than body including mandibles, extending beyond elytral apices; head, pronotum and base of elytra covered with sparse erect setae. Habitus as in Figs 1 and 3.

Etymology: “Bellus”, in Latin meaning “beautiful”, to refer to this beautiful aphaenopsian beetle.

Figure 5.  Cave II, southeastern Du’an, the type locality of Xuedytes bellus, and sympatric cave animals
 a, b cave environs and opening c a chamber in the cave where the beetles were collected d a running beetle in cave e, f cave spiders g, h cave millipedes i a cave woodlouse j a cave cricket. 

Distribution: China (Guangxi: Du’an). Known only from Cave II.

This cave maintains a natural condition, opening on a small hill on the northern bank of the Hongshui River. The entrance is surrounded by dense bushes and not readily accessible (Fig. 5a, b). The total length of the cave is still unknown, but said to be about 200 m, according to local people. It is sufficiently wet inside the gallery and is good for cave fauna. The beetles were found running on walls and stalactites (Fig. 5c, d), sympatric with spiders (Fig. 5e, f), millipedes (Fig. 5g, h), woodlice (Fig. 5i) and crickets (Fig. 5j).

 Mingyi Tian, Sunbin Huang and Dianmei Wang. 2017. Discovery of A Most Remarkable Cave-specialized Trechine Beetle from southern China (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae).  ZooKeys. 725: 37-47.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.725.21040

[Crustacea • 2017] Cherax acherontis • the First Cave Crayfish (Decapoda: Parastacidae) from the Southern Hemisphere (Papua Province, Indonesia)

Cherax acherontis 

Patoka, Bláha & Kouba, 2017

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4363.1.7  

Abstract

Cherax acherontis n. sp., is a crayfish endemic to the submerged river Yumugima in Hagepma/Jugurama cave in the New Guinea Highlands, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Province, Indonesia. This species is the first cave crayfish from the Southern Hemisphere. The new species is most similar to Cherax monticola. Both species can be easily distinguished by certain morphological characteristics, which easily demonstrate C. acherontis n. sp. is a valid species.

Keywords: Crustacea, Yumugima crayfish, New Guinea, troglobiont, endemism, morphology

Jiří Patoka, Martin Bláha and Antonín Kouba. 2017. Cherax acherontis (Decapoda: Parastacidae), the First Cave Crayfish from the Southern Hemisphere (Papua Province, Indonesia). Zootaxa. 4363(1); 137–144.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4363.1.7

[Hexapoda • 2017] Turkmenocampa mirabilis • A Striking New Genus and Species of Troglobitic Campodeidae (Diplura) from Central Asia

Turkmenocampa mirabilis Sendra & Stoev, 2017 

 DOI:  10.3897/subtbiol.23.14631  

Abstract

A striking new genus and species of Campodeidae (Diplura), Turkmenocampa mirabilis Sendra & Stoev, gen.n., sp.n., found in Kaptarhana cave in Eastern Turkmenistan is described. This represents the first record of Diplura from Central Asia and also the first terrestrial troglobiont found in Turkmenistan. The new taxon shows several unique characters such as the lack of crests on the telotarsus, the presence of a side-shoot process and the shape of barbs on the ventral side of the laminar telotarsal processes hitherto unknown in other members of this family. Although T. mirabilis is tentatively placed in the subfamily Plusiocampinae, its true affinities remain uncertain. The new finding provides further support to the importance of Kaptarhana as a refuge for a number of endemic invertebrates.

Keywords: Turkmenistan, Koytentag Mountain, Turkmenocampa mirabilis, identification key, Plusiocampinae, cave fauna

Figures 1–2. Turkmenocampa mirabilis Sendra & Stoev, sp. n.
 1 Dorsal view of the frontal process and right side of the head, holotype 2 Head, ventral view, E23 female paratype. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

A two-pronged bristletail of the family Campodeidae.

photo: Alberto Sendra

Turkmenocampa Sendra & Stoev, gen. n.

 Type species: Turkmenocampa mirabilis Sendra & Stoev, sp. n.

Etymology: Turkmenocampa is a composite name comprising “Turkmeno”-referring to the type locality and the suffix ‘-campa’ traditionally used in Campodeidae taxonomy. Gender: feminine.

Turkmenocampa mirabilis Sendra & Stoev, sp. n.

Etymology: ‘mirabilis’ is a Latin adjective meaning “unusual, amazing, wonderful, remarkable”. The specific epithet refers to the unique micro-sensilla in the cupuliform organ which resemble sponges and micro-corals.

Habitat: Although Turkmenocampa mirabilis has so far been found only in the larger gallery of the cave, some 200–250 m inside the cave, it might well be that it also inhabits the other main passage of the cave. The species is a troglobiont, all records deriving from the aphotic zone of the cave. No specimens were however observed during the exploration of the cave, those that were trapped being found in humid locations, rich in guano.

Entrance of the cave Kaptarhana, Lebap Province, Eastern Turkmenistan.

photo: Aleksandr Degtyarev

 Alberto Sendra, Boris Sket and Pavel Stoev. 2017. A Striking New Genus and Species of Troglobitic Campodeidae (Diplura) from Central Asia.  Subterranean Biology. 23; 47-68.  DOI:  10.3897/subtbiol.23.14631

Strange troglodyte species found in Turkmenistan cave  upi.com/6632360t ข้อมูลจาก @upi

 phys.org/news/2017-09-extraordinary-cave-animal-eastern-turkmenistan.html

    

[Diplopoda • 2017] Two New Species of the Millipede Genus Glyphiulus Gervais, 1847 (Spirostreptida: Cambalopsidae) from Southwest China

Glyphiulus latus Jiang, Lv,  Guo, Yu & Chen, 2017

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4323.2.3

Abstract

Two new Chinese species of the millipede genus Glyphiulus Gervais, 1847, Glyphiulus latus sp. nov. and Glyphiulus liangshanensis sp. nov., from three caves in Sichuan Province are described. According to the structure of the first male leg pair, the new species belong to the javanicus-group.

Keywords:  Myriapoda, taxonomy, troglobitic, endemic, biodiversity

  

Xuan-Kong Jiang, Jing-Cai Lv, Xuan Guo, Zhi-Gang Yu and Hui-Ming Chen. 2017. Two New Species of the Millipede Genus Glyphiulus Gervais, 1847 from Southwest China (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Cambalopsidae). Zootaxa. 4323(2); 197–208.   DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4323.2.3

[Arachnida • 2017] Charinus spelaeus & C. santanensis • Two New Species of Cave-dwelling Charinus Simon, 1892 (Amblypygi: Charinidae) from Brazil

Charinus spelaeus  Vasconcelos & Ferreira, 2017

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4312.2.4

Abstract

Two new species of the genus Charinus are described from caves of Brazil: Charinus spelaeus sp. n., the fourth described species of the genus for the state of Minas Gerais, and Charinus santanensis sp. n., the sixth described species of the genus for the state of Bahia. Charinus spelaeus sp. n. has reduced median and lateral eyes, and is the sixth troglobitic Charinus described for Brazil. We present here an updated key and a distribution map for all the Brazilian species of Charinus.

Keywords: Amblypygi, taxonomy, Neotropics, whip spider, troglobite, identification key

Ana Caroline Oliveira Vasconcelos, and Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira. 2017. Two New Species of Cave-dwelling Charinus Simon, 1892 from Brazil (Arachnida: Amblypygi: Charinidae).
 Zootaxa. 4312(2); 277–292. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4312.2.4

[Crustacea • 2017] Xangoniscus itacarambiensis • A New Amphibious Troglobitic Styloniscid (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Synocheta) from Brazil

Xangoniscus itacarambiensis

 Pereira, Souza & Ferreira, 2017

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4294.2.11 

Abstract

Xangoniscus (Styloniscidae, Synocheta, Isopoda) includes only two species, both occurring in Brazil. Here a new amphibious troglobitic species of this genus found at Olhos D’Água Cave, Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, is described. Xangoniscus itacarambiensis sp. nov. differs from the congeneric species mainly due to the following characters: head well-detached from the first pereonite, second and third articles of antennula subequal in length, presence of six short aesthetascs in the antennula and reduced triangular lobe in the distal part of pleopod 2 endopod.

Keywords: Isopoda, Styloniscidae, Xangoniscus, Brazil

Rafaela Bastos Pereira, Leila Aparecida Souza and Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira. 2017. A New Amphibious Troglobitic Styloniscid from Brazil (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Synocheta). Zootaxa. 4294(2); 292–300.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4294.2.11

[Invertebrate • 2017] Pygmarrhopalites dbari & P. kovali • Two New Troglobiont Pygmarrhopalites Species of the principalis group (Collembola: Arrhopalitidae) from the West Caucasus

Pygmarrhopalites kovali  

Vargovitsh, 2017

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4250.1.2 

Abstract

Springtails of the principalis-group of the genus Pygmarrhopalites from the W Caucasian caves in Abkhazia are described: Pygmarrhopalites dbari sp. nov. from Psyrtskha Cave in Novy Afon and Pygmarrhopalites kovali sp. nov. from caves of Tsebelda Karst Massif. They differ from epigean relatives mainly by troglomorphies: reduced pigmentation, elongated appendages and modified foot complex. These new species as well as a great portion of endemic Caucasian speleofauna have highly restricted distribution and require protection. A new record of Arrhopalites abchasicus Vargovitsh, 2013 in Novoafonskaya Cave is added.

Keywords: Collembola, springtails, Symphypleona, taxonomy, new record, troglomorphic, Caucasus Mountains, Abkhazia

Pygmarrhopalites kovali, habitus of mounted male. 

Robert S. Vargovitsh. 2017. Two New Troglobiont Pygmarrhopalites Species of the principalis group (Collembola: Arrhopalitidae) from the West Caucasus. Zootaxa. 4250(1); 23-42.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4250.1.2

[Diplopoda • 2017] Four New Species of the Millipede Genus Eutrichodesmus Silvestri, 1910 (Polydesmida, Haplodesmidae) from Laos, Including Two with Reduced Ozopores

Figure 1.: Habitus photographs. 
B Eutrichodesmus deporatus sp. n., a male ecological photo from Cave Tham Pathok, sublateral view C E. paraster sp. n., male holotype (SMF) from Cave Tham Long Puang, lateral view D E. parvus sp. n., male paratype (ZFMK) from Cave Tham Nam Long, lateral view.  

Liu, Golovatch & Wesener, 2017 
 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.660.11780 

Abstract

Laos has large areas of primary forest with a largely unexplored fauna. This is evidenced by millipedes, class Diplopoda, with fewer than 60 species being recorded from the country. In the widespread Southeast Asian “Star Millipede” genus Eutrichodesmus Silvestri, 1910 (family Haplodesmidae), only two of 49 recorded species have been found in Laos. Four new species of Star Millipedes are here described from caves in Laos: Eutrichodesmus steineri Liu & Wesener, sp. n., E. deporatus Liu & Wesener, sp. n., E. paraster Liu & Wesener, sp. n. and E. parvus Liu & Wesener, sp. n.. A fifth species, for which only a female is available, remains unnamed. The defensive glands (ozopores) are found to be strongly or entirely suppressed in two of the new species, E. deporatus Liu & Wesener, sp. n. and E. paraster Liu & Wesener, sp. n., both troglobionts, which is new to the family. All of the Star Millipedes were collected during Northern Lao-European Cave Project faunal surveys conducted by the Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt. A key to the six species of Eutrichodesmus currently known to occur in Laos is provided.

Keywords: Millipede, reduced ozopores, biodiversity, taxonomy, cave adaptation, Laos

Figure 1.: Habitus photographs. A Eutrichodesmus steineri sp. n., male paratype (SMF) from Cave Tham Dout, ventrolateral view B E. deporatus sp. n., a male ecological photo from Cave Tham Pathok, sublateral view C E. paraster sp. n., male holotype (SMF) from Cave Tham Long Puang, lateral view D E. parvus sp. n., male paratype (ZFMK) from Cave Tham Nam Long, lateral view.

 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.660.11780

 Weixin Liu, Sergei Golovatch and Thomas Wesener. 2017. Four New Species of the Millipede Genus Eutrichodesmus Silvestri, 1910 from Laos, Including Two with Reduced Ozopores (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Haplodesmidae). ZooKeys. 660: 43-65. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.660.11780

[Ichthyology • 2017] Aspidoras mephisto • The First Troglobitic Callichthyidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes) from South America

Aspidoras mephisto  

Tencatt & Bichuette, 2017 
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171309 

Abstract

Aspidoras mephisto n. sp. is described from the Anésio-Russão cave system, upper Tocantins River basin, Goiás, Brazil. The species can be readily distinguished from its congeners by troglomorphic features and also by presenting the following combination of features: infraorbital 1 generally with well-developed ventral laminar; or moderately developed; poorly-developed serrations on posterior margin of pectoral spine; nuchal plate not externally visible; dorsal fin, even in conspicuously colored specimens, with only dark brown or black chromatophores concentrated on rays, forming spots in some specimens; membranes hyaline; or sparse dark brown or black chromatophores on membranes, not forming any conspicuous pattern; and inner laminar expansion of infraorbital 1 moderately developed. Information about its habitat, ecology, behaviour and conservation status are provided and also a brief description of the juvenile stage.

Aspidoras mephisto, new species

Fig 3. Aspidoras mephisto, holotype, MNRJ 48268, 45.6 mm SL, in dorsal (a), lateral (b) and ventral (c) views. 

Fig 9. Live uncatalogued specimen of Aspidoras mephisto from the Anésio III cave, Posse, Goiás, Brazil.

 Photograph: Danté Fenolio. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171309 

Fig 12. Foraging habitat observed for Aspidoras mephisto.
 (a), touching the bottom parallel to; (b), touching the silty-bottom + roots showing a 60° angle to; (c), starting to foraging under the small roots; and (d), foraging behavior under the roots (arrow).

Photographs: Maria E. Bichuette. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171309 

Fig 11. Map of the type-locality of Aspidoras mephisto, showing the Anésio-Russão cave-system, Posse, Goiás Brazil.

Author: Diego M. von Schimonsky. 

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171309 

Fig 2. Habitat of Aspidoras mephisto at Anésio III cave, Posse Goiás, Brazil,
showing (a), a small stretch of the drainage showing the roots reaching the water, lentic and formed by small roots and silt; (b), a pool with rocky in the border and silty-bottom, the black arrow indicates an adult specimen .

(Photographs: Maria E. Bichuette).   DOI:  10.1371/journal.pone.0171309

Geographical distribution: The new species is known only from the Anésio-Russão cave system (Anésio III and Russão II caves), part of the upper rio Tocantins basin (Fig 11).

Etymology: The epithet “mephisto” refers to the shortened name of Mephistopheles, demon from the German folklore. Mephistopheles comes from the Greek by the combination of three words: με (me), a negation, φῶς (phōs), meaning light, and φιλις (philis), meaning loving, literally “not-light-loving”, or the one who does not love the light, making allusion to the subterranean behavior of the new species. A noun in apposition.

Habitat, ecological and behavioral notes: Aspidoras mephisto shows preference to slow waters (small values of dissolved oxygen), small depths (ca. 0.05 m) and bottom formed by silt, clay and boulders, showing higher values of Total Dissolved Solutes compared to the epigean drainage. Its abundance is relatively high compared to other troglobitic fishes (ca. 50 individuals in pools), and population densities of 5–6 inds.m-2. Juvenile individuals were observed along small stretches of the drainage, always in lentic and shallow places, isolated from the adults and frequently under roots (Fig 2C).

Aspidoras mephisto forages calmly close to small submersed roots and silty-bottom (Fig 12A and 12B). They use the anterior extremity of the snout exploring the substrate in a parallel position or forming an angle of ca. 60° in relation to the bottom (Fig 12B), sometimes under the small roots (Fig 12C and 12D). The fish showed this behavior throughout the entire observation time (ca. 20 min) and did not show escape and/or avoidance behavior due to lamp-light or other external disturbances (such as the presence of the observer).

Luiz Fernando Caserta Tencatt and Maria Elina Bichuette. 2017. Aspidoras mephisto, New Species: The First Troglobitic Callichthyidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes) from South America. PLoS ONE. 12(3): e0171309. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171309

  

[Crustacea • 2017] Spelaeogammarus uai • A New Troglobitic Amphipod (Bogidielloidea: Artesiidae) from Brazil

Spelaeogammarus uai  

Bastos-Pereira & Ferreira, 2017  

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4231.1.2 

Abstract

A new species was recently found in a cave from Southeastern Brazil, in the state of Minas Gerais, which is here described. Considering all the species of the genus, Spelaeogammarus uai sp. nov. is very similar to S. santanensis and S. sanctus, although the new species differs mainly in relation to the number of plumose setae in the apical margin of maxilliped inner plate, number of setae in the anterior margin of gnathopod 1 basis and number of setae in the posterior margin of gnathopod 2 basis. Furthermore, the ratio “length/width” of several articles of the new species is higher than in other species. An identification key of the Spelaeogammarus genus is provided, as well as a complemented multivariate statistical approach of the morphometry of the genus based on a previous work of the genus.

Keywords: Crustacea, Subterranean biodiversity, Amphipoda, taxonomy, Brazil

Rafaela Bastos-Pereira and Rodrigo L. Ferreira. 2017. Spelaeogammarus uai (Bogidielloidea: Artesiidae): A New Troglobitic Amphipod from Brazil.

Zootaxa. 4231(1); 38–50.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4231.1.2