Abstract
The study of subterranean Oniscidea in Portugal has been neglected for nearly 70 years, but recent investigations have revealed high diversity. All the terrestrial isopods from caves of mainland Portugal, including data from the literature and new material, are listed, revealing new biodiversity patterns. Twenty-seven species, belonging to 15 genera and six families, are known, of which 16 species are considered to be exclusively from subterranean ecosystems, i.e., troglobionts. Trichoniscidae is the most diverse family. Seven species in the family Trichoniscidae and one species in the family Styloniscidae are described as new (all with Reboleira & Taiti as authors): Trichoniscoides bellesi sp. nov. from the Montejunto Massif; T. sicoensis sp. nov. from the Sicó Massif; Metatrichoniscoides salirensis sp. nov. from the typhonic valley of Caldas da Rainha; Troglonethes olissipoensis sp. nov. from the Lisbon Peninsula; T. arrabidaensis sp. nov. from the Arrábida Massif; Miktoniscus longispina sp. nov. from the Sicó Massif and Cesaredas Plateau; Moserius inexpectatus sp. nov. from the Estremenho Massif; and Cordioniscus lusitanicus sp. nov. from Alentejo and Algarve, the southernmost provinces of Portugal. The subgenus Trogleluma Vandel, 1946 (Armadillidiidae) is raised to genus level. In this geographic region terrestrial isopods are the richest group of cave-adapted animals.
Highlights
IntroductionTerrestrial isopods (suborder Oniscidea) play a very important role in the decomposition of organic matter in land ecosystems (Hornung 2011)
Terrestrial isopods play a very important role in the decomposition of organic matter in land ecosystems (Hornung 2011)
Terrestrial isopods are the most diverse taxonomic group of troglobionts (Reboleira et al 2013b) in the caves of Portugal, with the number of known species doubled with the present work
Summary
Terrestrial isopods (suborder Oniscidea) play a very important role in the decomposition of organic matter in land ecosystems (Hornung 2011). In subterranean ecosystems they occupy a key-ecological position, recycling organic detritus and being frequent prey of cave predators (Řezáč et al 2008). Terrestrial isopods are successful land colonizers, but a great majority of species have a high dependence on hygrophilous habitats (Hornung 2011). They are quite abundant in subterranean ecosystems. Barros Machado (for a complete list of Portuguese terrestrial isopods see Schmalfuss 2003)
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