The first troglobiotic species of the family Pudeoniscidae (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea), with descriptions of a new genus and two new species

By

Campos-Filho, Ivanklin Soares
Bichuette, Maria Elina.
Montesanto, Giuseppe
Araujo, Paula Beatriz.
Taiti, Stefano

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2017

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

23

Pages

69-84

Subjects

Brazilian atlantic forest , Neotropical , new species , Pudeoniscidae , Terrestrial isopods

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.23.20963

 

Abstract

Approximately 170 species of terrestrial isopods are known from Brazil, but only 12 are considered troglobionts. The family Pudeoniscidae comprises four species in two genera, Brasiloniscus and Pudeoniscus. After the examination of material collected in caves in the state of Bahia, a new genus and two new species have been recognized, Iansaoniscus iraquara gen. et sp. n. from Buraco do Cão cave, Iraquara, and Iansaoniscus georginae gen. et sp. n. from Borboletas cave, Paripiranga. The new genus and new species are placed in Pudeoniscidae on the basis of some morphological characteristics, such as antennal flagellum with second and third articles divided by a slender suture, epimera of pereonite 1 with dorsolateral furrow reduced or absent, and shape of uropods. The Brazilian subterranean environments are now under potential threat because of recent legislation for cave exploitation, and the knowledge of the subterranean biodiversity of the country is thus of primary importance for its effective conservation.