A new species of Spelunconiscus (Isopoda: Oniscidea: Styloniscidae) for Brazilian caves: new record for the type species and an emended diagnosis for the genus

Abstract

Spelunconiscus Campos-Filho, Araujo and Taiti, 2014 is a monotypic genus of the family Styloniscidae represented by a troglobitic species, Spelunconiscus castroi Campos-Filho, Araujo and Taiti, 2014, from the cave MOC-32, in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. New representatives of this family were found in three additional caves, which revealed a new species, Spelunconiscus septemlacuum sp. nov., from Taboa and Tatuzinhos caves and a new occurrence for the type-species in Retiro cave. The original diagnosis of Spelunconiscus is emended due to the discovery of a spur-like structure in the male pereopod VII ischium, as well as some supplementary traits that have not been previously considered. Spelunconiscus septemlacuum sp. nov. differs from S. castroi in the number of articles of the antennal flagellum, in the proportion between this flagellum and 5^th article of peduncle of antenna, in the size of maxilliped endite, in the morphology of male pleopod II and in body size. A discussion is provided for both taxonomic and ecological concerns.

Keywords:
Conservation; Neotropical region; subterranean biodiversity; Synocheta; troglobites