Eupera troglobia sp. nov.: the first troglobitic bivalve from the Americas (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Sphaeriidae)

By

Simone, Luiz Ricardo Lopes de.
Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022-04-13

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

42

Pages

165--184

Subjects

Anatomy , cavernicolous life , Conservation , Mollusca , new species , systematics

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.42.78074

 

Abstract

Eupera troglobiasp. nov. is the first fully described troglobitic bivalve discovered in the Americas, and possibly the second in the world. The troglobitic designation is based on the lack of pigmentation, reduction in size and shell thickness, and large and few offspring. Unlike its relatives that live in the roots of the water hyacinth, this new species is attached to the walls of the caves with a byssus. The anatomical study shows some peculiarities in comparison with the congeners, especially the simplicity of the foot, the siphons and the gut. This discovery is a new contribution to the efforts for the conservation of subterranean habitats in Brazil.