Abstract
The genus Pectenoniscus Andersson, 1960 currently presents two described species, one epigean, Pectenoniscus angulatus Andersson, 1960, from Nova Teutônia municipality, Santa Catarina state (Southern Brazil) and the hypogean Pectenoniscus liliae Campo-Filho, Bichuette and Taiti, 2019, found in two caves in the Serra do Ramalho karst area (Carinhanha municipality), Bahia state (northeastern Brazil). Recent surveys in karstic areas of Minas Gerais and Bahia revealed six new cave species from this genus, which are herein described. Two species occur in Minas Gerais state in the transition between the biomes Cerrado (Brazilian savannah) and Caatinga (mesophytic and xeromorphic forests): Pectenoniscus montalvaniensis n. sp. from Abrigo da Ema cave (Montalvânia municipality) and Pectenoniscus juveniliensis n. sp. from Gruta do Tabuleirinho cave (Juvenilia municipality). The other four species were found in Bahia state, in Caatinga biome: Pectenoniscus iuiuensis n. sp. from Baixa da Fortuna cave (Iuiu municipality); Pectenoniscus carinhanhensis n. sp. from three caves in Serra do Ramalho (Carinhanha municipality); Pectenoniscus santanensis n. sp. from Gruta do Padre cave (Santana municipality); and Pectenoniscus morrensis n. sp. from Gruta dos Brejões cave (Morro do Chapéu municipality). Aside from the taxonomic descriptions, we provide ecological notes for each described species, as well as an identification key for Pectenoniscus.
Highlights
At present, the family Styloniscidae includes 16 genera, from which five can be found in Brazil: Pectenoniscus Andersson, 1960; Cylindroniscus Arcangeli, 1929; Spelunconiscus Campos-Filho, Araújo and Taiti, 2014; Xangoniscus Campos-Filho, Araújo and Taiti, 2014 (Styloniscinae); and Iuiuniscus Souza, Ferreira and Senna, 2015 (Iuiuniscinae) (Boyko et al, 2008; Campos-Filho et al, 2014; 2017; 2019; Souza et al, 2015; Taiti and Montesanto, 2020).Currently, the genus Pectenoniscus, erected by Andersson (1960), is composed of two species
The type-species, Pectenoniscus angulatus Andersson, 1960 is an epigean isopod found under stones in Nova Teutônia municipality, Santa Catarina state and is described as a small species with no eyes and no pigment
Six new species of Pectenoniscus are described from caves in Minas Gerais and Bahia states in the biomes Cerrado and Caatinga, along with additional information about their habitats and an identification key for the genus
Summary
The family Styloniscidae includes 16 genera, from which five can be found in Brazil: Pectenoniscus Andersson, 1960; Cylindroniscus Arcangeli, 1929; Spelunconiscus Campos-Filho, Araújo and Taiti, 2014; Xangoniscus Campos-Filho, Araújo and Taiti, 2014 (Styloniscinae); and Iuiuniscus Souza, Ferreira and Senna, 2015 (Iuiuniscinae) (Boyko et al, 2008; Campos-Filho et al, 2014; 2017; 2019; Souza et al, 2015; Taiti and Montesanto, 2020). In the last twelve years, an intensification of biospeleological surveys has occurred in Brazil due to modifications in the laws guiding the conservation of the speleological heritage of this country. Such improvement of surveys has been culminating in the discovery of several new taxa, revealing a rich troglomorphic fauna, including terrestrial and amphibious isopods (Fernandes et al, 2019). Six new species of Pectenoniscus are described from caves in Minas Gerais and Bahia states in the biomes Cerrado and Caatinga, along with additional information about their habitats and an identification key for the genus
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