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

Intra-island patterns of cryptic diversity within an oceanic island: Insights from the differentiation of Schizidium Verhoeff, 1901 (Oniscidea, Armadillidiidae) within Cyprus, with descriptions of two new species

Cyprus is a Mediterranean island of volcanic origin isolated for at least 5.3 Myr from surrounding continental areas. The present study focuses on the diversification of the isopod genus Schizidium within the island, including also specimens from surrounding continental areas. The genus Schizidium sensu lato is probably non monophyletic, comprising 26 species distributed from Greece to Iran. Up to date the only representative of the genus reported from Cyprus was Schizidium fissum. Aiming to investigate the patterns of genetic diversity within the focal island, to evaluate the morphology-based taxonomy of the species in the genus, and at the same time to explore phylogenetic relationships with mainland populations, we applied genome-wide ddRADseq as well as Sanger sequencing targeting three mitochondrial (16S, COI and 12S) and the nuclear NaK loci. Results of phylogenetic analyses support the existence of two distinct epigean Schizidium clades with well-defined geographic boundaries that conform to the known paleogeography of Cyprus, plus one endogean clade with restricted distribution within the island. Genetic data and morphology corroborate the assignment of this latter endogean clade to a new species, Schizidium myrrae n. sp. The two epigean clades are also considered as distinct species, one corresponding to the known S. fissum at the eastern part of the island (Pentadaktylos massif) and the other to the newly described S. christosi n. sp. distributed along the western part of the island (Troodos massif). Even though detailed examination of many specimens could not retrieve any morphological differences among representatives of these two clades, clado-chronological analysis indicates a long isolation between them, estimated at ∼ 9 Mya, as well as the sharing of a common ancestor with S. tiberianum from Israel at ∼ 15 Mya. Hence, we can consider these epigean Schizidium species as one more case of cryptic diversity on Cyprus, exhibiting similar patterns with the recently described case in the genus Armadillo.

Two new troglobitic species of Iansaoniscus from Brazilian caves (Crustacea, Isopoda, Pudeoniscidae)

Iansaoniscus species are troglobitic terrestrial isopods of the Pudeoniscidae family. In this work two new species are described from caves in the Bahia state, northeastern Brazil; I. leilaesp. nov. from Toca do Gonçalo cave, in the municipality of Campo Formoso; and I. paulaesp. nov. from Lapa do Bode cave in the municipality of Itaeté. Additionally, ecological notes and conservation status are provided for both new species.

Expanding the knowledge on the diversity of the cavernicolous Styloniscidae Vandel, 1952 (Oniscidea, Synocheta) from Brazil, with descriptions of two new species from the semiarid karst regions

Two new species of Pectenoniscus from two caves in karst areas of the Brazilian semiarid region are described. Pectenoniscuspankaru Campos-Filho, Torres & Bichuette, sp. nov. from Gruna do Govi cave, Serra do Ramalho karst area, state of Bahia, and Pectenoniscusfervens Campos-Filho, Taiti & Bichuette, sp. nov. from Toca Coroa do Frade cave, Barra Bonita karst area, state of Piauí. In addition, specimens of Cylindroniscusflaviae from Gruta da Tapagem (= Caverna do Diabo), Açungui karst area were also recorded. An updated diagnosis of Pectenoniscus and a distribution map of the species examined herein are given.

Unique and fragile diversity emerges from Brazilian caves – two new amphibious species of Xangoniscus Campos-Filho, Araujo & Taiti, 2014 (Oniscidea, Styloniscidae) from Serra do Ramalho karst area, state of Bahia, Brazil

Two new troglobitic species of Xangoniscus are described from two caves of Serra do Ramalho karst area, Bambuí geomorphological group, state of Bahia. Xangoniscus lapaensissp. nov. is described from Gruna Boca da Lapa cave, and X. loboisp. nov. from Gruna da Pingueira II cave. Both species are blind and depigmented and show amphibious habits, as observed for all species of Xangoniscus described until now. Xangoniscus lapaensissp. nov. occurs in travertine pools fed by water of the upper aquifer, and X. loboisp. nov. occurs in a small stream, an upper vadose tributary. Both species occur in fragile microhabitats. Ecological and behavioral data, conservation remarks, and IUCN conservation assessments are included to provide background data for conservation efforts in this unique karst area.

Molecular and taxonomic analyses in troglobiotic Alpioniscus (Illyrionethes) species from the Dinaric Karst (Isopoda: Trichoniscidae)

Species richness of terrestrial isopods is high in caves of the Dinaric Karst, which hosts ~10% of the world’s nominal oniscidean troglobionts. The most widespread taxon is the southern European genus Alpioniscus, which consists of two subgenera: Alpioniscus s.s. and Illyrionethes. Before this study, 14 nominal troglobiotic Illyrionethes taxa were recorded from the Dinaric Karst. Our molecular analyses using two mitochnodrial DNA (16S rRNA and COI) fragments and a nuclear gene (H3) fragment on all known Dinaric taxa identified three distinct lineages: strasseri-, heroldi- and magnus-lineage. Our results confirmed the validity of most nominal species. The exceptions are Alpioniscus balthasari, which consists of two different species including Alpioniscus iapodicus, and Alpioniscus heroldi, which is paraphyletic with respect to Alpioniscus bosniensis. The strasseri-lineage was highly supported by all phylogenetic methods used; therefore, we performed a detailed morphological analysis to distinguish and characterize the species of this group. New morphological characters, such as body part ratios, are proposed for future species identification. In addition, we redescribe three known species (Alpioniscus strasseri, Alpioniscus christiani and Alpioniscus balthasari) and describe two new ones (Alpioniscus hirci sp. nov. and Alpioniscus velebiticus sp. nov.). As a result, 15 nominal species of Illyrionethes are currently known from the Dinaric Karst.

Are laboratory studies on behavior of troglobitic species always trustful? A case study with an isopod from Brazil

There is a huge lack of information regarding the natural history of subterranean species, particularly focusing on aspects of the behavioral ecology of Brazilian cave fauna. In the present work, we aimed to describe and evaluate the behavioral repertoire of Xangoniscus itacarambiensis (Isopoda, Styloniscidae) through observations in the field and laboratory and also by means of complementary experiments. Overall, we recorded 25 spontaneous behaviors. Besides describing the physical habitat, we recorded some intraspecific interactions, agonistic and territorial behaviors, as well as the amphibian habit. There was a direct relationship between the size of travertine dams where they live (measurements of length and width) and the mean number of individuals, although there was no significant correlation with the pool depth. Behaviors observed in the laboratory differed qualitatively and quantitatively from those observed in the field, with individuals more active in the latter. This scenario alerts about the significant behavioral alteration of such isopods when removed from their natural habitat, what must be considered in future behavioral studies including troglobites given their natural sensitivity to environmental changes.