Discovery of the genus Eukoenenia (Palpigradi: Eukoeneniidae) from China and description of a new species

Bu, Yun; Souza, Maysa Fernanda Villela Rezende; Mayoral, Jaime G.

doi:10.1636/joa-s-20-058

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…The representatives of Prokoeneniidae Condé, 1996 andEukoeneniidae Petrunkevitch, 1955 can be distinguished by the presence, in the formers, of ventral sacs on the opisthosomal sternites IV-VI (Harvey 2003). The Eukoenenian lineage is represented by four genera, including Eukoenenia Börner, 1901, which is the most diverse genus of palpigrades, with 93 named species (Harvey 2003;Bu et al 2021). At the same time, it also comprises the monotypic genus Allokoenenia Silvestri, 1913, which is considered one of the most understudied taxa within Palpigradi because it is represented only by the three type specimens (two adult females and one immature) of Allokoenenia afra Silvetri, 1913 from Guinea, West Africa (Condé 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two extraordinary troglobitic species of Allokoenenia (Eukoeneniidae: Palpigradi) from Brazil: first records of this initially monotypic genus more than a century after its description

Souza

Ferreira

2022

EJT

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The diversity of Palpigradi is not evenly distributed among its different branches. The widespread genus Eukoenenia includes 80% of the species, while the other genera are poorly known. Allokoenenia certainly is the most understudied genus because it is represented only by the African species Allokoenenia afra Silvestri, 1913. Its description is short and does not include many features depicted in modern taxonomy of Palpigradi. In this paper, we describe two troglobitic species of Allokoenenia, report the occurrence of a third species represented by an immature specimen from Brazilian caves, and provide brief notes on the morphology of A. afra. Allokoenenia canhembora sp. nov., A. stygia sp. nov., and Allokoenenia sp. differ from A. afra by several morphological features, including more elongated appendages and a greater number of blades on lateral organs. Thus, they are considered troglomorphic. These new species are vulnerable to extinction because they are endemic to a single or few caves directly impacted by mining activities and groundwater exploitation. This study represents the first step for the conservation of these species and their habitats, since Brazilian caves with rare troglobites cannot be irreversibly impacted. Also, it brings important contributions on the distribution and morphology of this enigmatic genus.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%