Two new species of the genus Acherontiella (Collembola, Hypogastruridae) from caves of the Alborz and Kopet Dagh mountains in Iran

By

Mehrafrooz Mayvan, Mahmood
Kováč, Ľubomír

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-10-9

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1255

Pages

1--25

Subjects

Morphology , setal pattern , Southwest Asia , subterranean fauna , Troglobiont

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1255.164170

 

Abstract

Two new subterranean species of the genus Acherontiella Absolon, 1913 from Iran are described, illustrated, and morphologically differentiated from similar species. Acherontiella nezamdoostisp. nov. has larger distribution range covering caves of North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, and Tehran provinces, while A. palaciosisp. nov. is probably restricted to Moghan Cave in Razavi Khorasan province. Both new species are characterized by absence of eyes, PAO, empodium, furca, and retinaculum. Acherontiella nezamdoostisp. nov. is distinguished from other species by having two small anal spines, Th II–III with setae m1, m4, and m5, and four thickened anterior setae on the labrum. Acherontiella palaciosisp. nov. is characterized by bearing two medial setae in the anterior row of the labrum thickened into spines and apically dentate, and by the absence of setae m3 on Th I and p3 on Th II–III. An updated key and a table summarizing diagnostic characters of world species of the genus Acherontiella are provided.