Troglomorphic Species Research Articles

Systematic Revision of the Troglomorphic North American Scorpion Family Typhlochactidae (Scorpiones: Chactoidea)

Abstract The scorpion family Typhlochactidae Mitchell, 1971, endemic to eastern Mexico, comprises nine troglomorphic species specialized for life in hypogean and endogean habitats. Due to their cryptic ecology, inaccessible habitat, and apparently low population density, Typhlochactidae are poorly known. Only 29 specimens have been collected in 40 years. Four species are known from a single specimen, two species are known only from the male and three only from the female. We provide an illustrated revision of the family based on a reexamination of most specimens in the world's collections, including new specimens collected after the original descriptions and older specimens not previously described. Based on results of a recent cladistic analysis, Typhlochactidae are elevated, for the first time, from their former rank as subfamily, first of Chactidae and, more recently, of Superstitioniidae. Alacraninae, new subfamily is created to accommodate Alacran Francke, 1982. Stygochactas, new genus, is created to...

Natural history and population data of fishes in caves of the Serra do Ramalho karst area, Middle São Francisco basin, northeastern Brazil

During the exploration and mapping of new caves in Serra do Ramalho karst area, southern Bahia state, cavers from the Grupo Bambuí de Pesquisas Espeleológicas - GBPE (Belo Horizonte) noticed the presence of troglomorphic catfishes (species with reduced eyes and/or melanic pigmentation), which we intensively investigated with regards to their ecology and behavior since 2005. Non-troglomorphic fishes regularly found in the studied caves were included in this investigation. We present here data on the natural history of two troglobitic (exclusively subterranean troglomorphic species) fishes - Rhamdia enfurnada Bichuette & Trajano, 2005 (Heptapteridae; Gruna do Enfurnado) and Trichomycterus undescribed species (Trichomycteridae; Lapa dos Peixes and Gruna da Água Clara), and non-troglomorphic Hoplias cf. malabaricus, probably a troglophile (able to form populations both in epigean and subterranean habitats) in the Gruna do Enfurnado, and Pimelodella sp., a species with a sink population in the Lapa dos Peixes.

Surface and subterranean ichthyofauna in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, northeastern Brazil, with updated lists of Brazilian troglobitic and troglophilic fishes

After an ichthyofaunistic survey in several epigean (surface) water bodies of the Serra do Ramalho, southern Bahia, conducted in May 2007, 44 species were recorded; in addition, three non-troglomorphic (normally eyed and pigmented) and two troglomorphic species were recorded only in caves, totaling 49 species of fishes for the area, which represents a little more than one fourth of the total registered in the literature for the entire Rio São Francisco basin. In these caves, which have been studied since 2005, eight non-troglomorphic species were sampled and their presence in both epigean and subterranean habitats, associated to the lack of morphological differences, indicate that they may be either troglophiles (species encompassing individuals able to live and complete their life cycle either in the surface or in the subterranean environment), trogloxenes (individuals regularly found in subterranean habitats, but which must return periodically to the surface in order to complete their life cycle) or even accidental in caves. In addition, two troglomorphic species (with reduced eyes and melanic pigmentation when compared to close epigean relatives), belonging respectively to the genera Rhamdia and Trichomycterus, were recorded exclusively in caves, thus classified as troglobites. Interestingly, no epigean representative of the genus Trichomycterus was collected. The new data are integrated into updated lists of Brazilian troglobitic and troglophilic fishes, based on published data and new records recently confirmed.

A new species of Glaphyropoma: the first subterranean copionodontine catfish and the first occurrence of opercular odontodes in the subfamily (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)

A new species of the rare copionodontine genus Glaphyropoma is described from subterranean waters in the Diamantina Plateau, Bahia State, central northeastern Brazil. This is the first troglomorphic species in the subfamily Copionodontinae. It is distinguished from all other copionodontines by the presence of opercular odontodes, and further distinguished from its only congener, G. rodriguesi, by the reduction of dark integumentary pigmentation. The new species shares the single synapomorphy previously proposed for Glaphyropoma, the marked narrowing of the first hypobranchial and indirect character evidence also supports its inclusion in the genus. The presence of opercular odontodes in the new species, in combination with a reviewed hypothesis of sister group relationship between Copionodontinae and Trichogeninae, indicate that the absence of opercular odontodes in previously-known copionodontines is secondary, rather than primitive.

Trichomycterus santanderensis: A new species of troglomorphic catfish (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae) from Colombia

Trichomycterus santanderensis, described as a new species of troglomorphic catfish, was collected from the cave “El Puente” located in the upper Lebrija River basin of the Santander Department of northeast Colombia. The new species has light-red pigmentation, a first pectoral ray as long as the pectoral fin, and variable reduction in eye size. A comparative analysis with other troglomorphic species from South America and epigean species from northern Colombia is presented.

THREE NEW SPECIES OF PHOLCUS (ARANEAE, PHOLCIDAE) FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS WITH NOTES ON THE GENUS PHOLCUS IN THE ARCHIPELAGO

Abstract Over the last decade, numerous papers focusing on the fauna of the Canary Islands have reported that many spectacular species radiations have taken place, leading to a very high level of endemicity in this archipelago. The species of the genus Pholcus are a very good example of such a fascinating process. The Canary Islands harbor the highest number of endemic species of this genus. Therefore, in order to obtain a detailed picture of the diversity and the phylogeny of the Canarian Pholcus, a complete taxonomic revision is required. The present work is the second contribution to achieve this goal. Three new species of Pholcus are described: Pholcus bimbache, P. anachoreta and P. corniger. The first endemic species of Pholcus from El Hierro (P. bimbache) is reported; P. anachoreta is the only Pholcus species found on the Montana Clara Islet; and P. corniger is the second and most troglomorphic species known from Tenerife.

A troglomorphic species of the centipede Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) from Western Australia

– Among the 152 named species of the cosmopolitan centipede genus Cryptops Leach, 1815, a few troglomorphic species have been described from caves in Europe, the Canary Islands, and Cuba. Caves in the Roe Plains in the Nullarbor Region of Western Australia have yielded a new troglomorphic species, C. (Trigonocryptops) roeplainsensis sp.

The first troglomorphic species of the millipede genus Paracortina Wang & Zhang, 1993 from south Yunnan, China (Diplopoda: Callipodida: Paracortinidae)

Paracortina wangi sp. n. (Callipodida: Paracortinidae) is described from two caves in the karst plateau of Mengzi, Yunnan Province, China. It is the first troglomorphic species described in the family, the congeners being known exclusively from epigean habitats. The status of the family is briefly discussed in the light of the new finding. Though originally assigned to Schizopetalidae, Scotopetalum warreni Shear, 2000, a paracortinid-like millipede from caves in Vietnam, might also prove to belong to the Paracortinidae. Some aspects of the phylogenetic analysis of Wang (1996) are criticised.

AN UNUSUAL NEW SPECIES OF MUNDOCHTHONIUS FROM A CAVE IN COLORADO, WITH COMMENTS ON MUNDOCHTHONIUS MONTANUS (PSEUDOSCORPIONES, CHTHONIIDAE)

Abstract Mundochthonius singularis, a troglomorphic species from Fly Cave in Fremont County, Colorado, is described. This is the first cavernicolous pseudoscorpion to be reported from the state. It is compared with M. montanus, the local epigean species, for which an emended description is given.

A simple scenario for stygobitization in Stenobermuda Schultz, 1978 (Isopoda Asellota Stenetriidae), with description of a new species from Andros Island, Bahamas

Description of a new stygobitic and troglomorphic species of Stenobermuda from a Blue Hole in the Bahamas, is an opportunity for speculation about hypogean colonization by this and by another cave-dwelling species from Bermuda, starting from populations of a widely distributed Western Atlantic shallow water marine species.

Collemboles cavernicoles VIII. Contribution à l'étude des Oncopoduridae

Three species-groups are recognized in the genus Oncopodura. Two of them are present in Europe, with several cave-restricted species. Some new or badly-known morphological characters are discussed. Troglomorphic forms of the crassicornis-group are regular inhabitants of French caves, but they have been completely overlooked by biospeleologists because of their minute size and relative scarcity. O. pelissiei n. sp. from Quercy caves is described. The larger tricuspidata-group species were known in France by O. tricuspidata and O. occidentalis from Pyrénées. Two new highly troglomorphic species of this group are described from Pyrenean caves : O. jauzioni n. sp. and O. lebretoni n. sp.