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Three new species of Eusarcus Perty, 1833 are described from Brazilian caves, increasing the number of species of the genus to 40, eight of which have occurrences in caves. Eusarcus capixaba sp. nov. is described from Lapa do Sítio Paraíso Cave, municipality of Ecoporanga, state of Espírito Santo. Eusarcus marmoreus sp. nov. is described from Caverna Archimides Panssini Cave, municipality of Vargem Alta, state of Espírito Santo. Finally, Eusarcus xambioa sp. nov. is described from Caverna da Explosão Cave, municipality of Xambioá, state of Tocantins. Notes on the species’ habitats and a distribution map are also provided.
We describe the first Neotropical troglobitic species of the genus Perigona Castelnau, 1835 from specimens collected in eight caves located in the Arcos-Pains-Doresópolis speleological province (APD), southeastern Brazil. Perigona spelunca sp. nov. is the fourth known microphthalmous species of the genus, and the second of the subgenus Neoperigona. Other specialisations to the subterranean environment include brachyptery, elongation of appendages and orangish brown body coloration. The new species has an umbilicate series of punctures on the 8th stria with 15 setae arranged linearly and not divided in three groups. We also provide historic biogeographical remarks on the new species.
The diversity of Palpigradi is not evenly distributed among its different branches. The widespread genus Eukoenenia includes 80% of the species, while the other genera are poorly known. Allokoenenia certainly is the most understudied genus because it is represented only by the African species Allokoenenia afra Silvestri, 1913. Its description is short and does not include many features depicted in modern taxonomy of Palpigradi. In this paper, we describe two troglobitic species of Allokoenenia, report the occurrence of a third species represented by an immature specimen from Brazilian caves, and provide brief notes on the morphology of A. afra. Allokoenenia canhembora sp. nov., A. stygia sp. nov., and Allokoenenia sp. differ from A. afra by several morphological features, including more elongated appendages and a greater number of blades on lateral organs. Thus, they are considered troglomorphic. These new species are vulnerable to extinction because they are endemic to a single or few caves directly impacted by mining activities and groundwater exploitation. This study represents the first step for the conservation of these species and their habitats, since Brazilian caves with rare troglobites cannot be irreversibly impacted. Also, it brings important contributions on the distribution and morphology of this enigmatic genus.
Samples collected in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, have revealed a hitherto unknown diversity of Campodeidae (Diplura) in soil and cave habitats, including a new genus and species, Kyrgyzstancampa sanare Sendra & Ferreira gen. et sp. nov., Turkmenocampa edaphica Sendra & Sánchez-García sp. nov. and a previously recognized soil-dwelling species, Campodea (Dicampa) catalana Denis, 1930. Kyrgyzstancampa sanare Sendra & Ferreira gen. et sp. nov. was collected in the deep zone of an interesting geological and cultural cave, Ak-Turpak Cave, located near the western margin of Kadamjay District, Batken Province. This genus belongs to the subfamily Campodeinae, sharing the morphology of the pretarsus with Eutrichocampa and other related genera, but differing from them in the shape of the claws and the laminar lateral processes, in addition to its unique cupuliform organ and the macrosetal pattern on the thorax and abdomen. Turkmenocampa edaphica Sendra & Sánchez-García sp. nov. was found in humid edaphic habitats, under stones or near roots, and is morphologically and geographically very similar to the cave-dwelling species Turkmenicampa mirabilis Sendra #38; Stoev, 2017, which occurs in an isolated cave in the nearby country of Turkmenistan.
Few species of Japygidae (Diplura) have been discovered in cave ecosystems despite their importance as large predators. A small collection of rare specimens of this hexapod group has allowed to explore the taxonomy of japygids from caves in New Zealand, Morocco and South Africa, and to describe one new genus: Imazighenjapyx Sendra & Sánchez-García gen. nov., as well as four new species: Austrjapyx wynbergensis Sendra & Sánchez-García sp. nov., Imazighenjapyx marocanus Sendra & Sánchez-García gen. et sp. nov., Opisthjapyx naledi Sendra & Sánchez-García sp. nov. and Teljapyx aotearoa Sendra & Sánchez-García sp. nov. For each of the new taxa we give a comprehensive description of their habitats. These new findings resulted in a revision of the distribution and allowed to re-evaluate the morphological traits of the fifteen cave-adapted japygids species already known worldwide. The functional morphology of the remarkable abdominal pincers of Japygidae and their adaptation to predation are discussed, as well as their potential role in mating behaviour.
