Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) iporangensis n. sp., and C. (T.) hephaestus n. sp. are described from SE Brazil. C. (T.) iporangensis n. sp. presents highly troglomorphic characters and is described from a remarkable cave system located in Sao Paulo State, the Areias cave system, from were other 16 troglobitic species are also known. C. (T.) hephaestus n. sp. was described on specimens collected in three caves of the "Quadrilátero Ferrífero" (Iron quadrangle), in Minas Gerais State, but does not presents a clear specialization to subterranean habitat. The new troglobitic species can be separated from other species of Cryptops (T.) from Brazil and all troglobitc species of the genus Cryptops by presenting incomplete paramedian sutures on tergites, antennal article 1 with an inverted Y-shaped suture on its proximal part and distal spinose processes on ultimate leg. C. (T.) hephaestus differs from the other species of Cryptops (Trigonocryptops) from Brazil by presenting anterior oblique sutures on tergites 2-7 and posterior oblique sutures on tergites 1-3. Cryptops (Cryptops) galatheae Meinert, 1886 is moved here to the subgenus Trigonocryptops.
Os opiliões desempenham diferentes serviços ambientais, no entanto há poucas informações quanto a riqueza e distribuição dessas populações em diferentes ecossistemas, mesmo em Unidades de Conservação (UC), como no estado de Minas Gerais, sudeste do Brasil. A partir disso, o objetivo do presente estudo visa analisar a diversidade de opiliofauna de duas Unidades de Conservação inseridas em ecossistemas distintos no estado de Minas Gerais. O Trabalho foi conduzido na Área de Proteção Ambiental do Rio Machado (APA), domínio de Mata Atlântica, e no Parque Nacional das Sempre Vivas (PARNA), área de Cerrado. As coletas foram, realizadas no período de setembro de 2018 a abril de 2019, com esforço amostral de 20 horas para o PARNA e 32 horas para a APA. Foi registrada uma nova espécie de Liogonyleptoides para a Ciência na APA Rio Machado, que possui maior riqueza que o PARNA. Não houve espécies em comum entre as duas áreas estudadas, reflexo de diferentes fatores associados, incluindo alta taxa de endemismo, o que justifica a conservação de ambas as Unidades de Conservação, pois alterações nesses ecossistemas poderiam acarretar a perda de espécies de opiliões para o estado de Minas Gerais.
Mitogoniella mucuri sp. nov. is described for some caves in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This species differs from other Mitogoniella species by large tubercles on the ocularium that have fused bases and free apices (or almost fully fused tubercles with bifurcated apices), and by a large dry-mark between tubercles on the longitudinal groove of area III. Mitogoniella species are hard to recognize: their males lack any armature on leg IV (normally an important diagnostic character among gonyleptid species), and they also present many polymorphisms in coloration (dry-mark), male secondary sex characters, the number of dorsal scutal granules, and the shapes of tubercles on the ocularium. The patterns of these polymorphisms are discussed for the genus and for the family. The present work also presents new occurrences for all the species of the genus, and their biogeography is discussed.
In Brazil, the order Opiliones has been well studied, making this country the leader in research with the group, but few extensive works have been made on the distribution of harvestmen associated with caves. In this context, the present paper aims to list all records of the superfamily Gonyleptoidea associated with Brazilian caves, using records from the literature and unreported data from scientific collections. The compiled checklist contains the largest number of harvestmen species recorded for caves in one country, worldwide. A total of 155 species belonging to 7 families were recorded from 952 caves throughout 152 municipalities and 17 states of Brazil. A considerable number of 46 putative (undescribed) new species were recognized, including 9 troglomorphic species. Additionally, 161 new municipal records where found for 58 known species. The most diverse family was Gonyleptidae (104 spp.), with the subfamilies Pachylinae (55 spp.), followed by Goniosomatinae (18 spp.) and Mitobatinae (16 spp.). The number of described species analysed in the present work represents about 12% of the Brazilian opiliofauna of Gonyleptoidea, with many species widely distributed, being indicative of affinity of the group with the cave environments. Thus, the compilation of distribution data of such species (mainly the troglobitic and troglomorphic) can directly contribute to a higher valuation of their habitats, leading to better preservation policies, as well as being useful for future ecological and biogeographical studies.
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