New species of Trogolaphysa Mills, 1938 (Collembola) from a cave complex in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Atlantic forest; Cave fauna; Entomobryoidea; Sete Lagoas Formation; springtails; taxonomy.
Entomobryoidea is the largest superfamily of Collembola and the most representative considering cave taxa. Trogolaphysa Mills, 1935 (Entomobryoidea, Paronellidae) is commonly found in Neotropical caves and there are three cave species registered from southeastern Brazil, of which T. hauseri Yosii, 1988 is considered vulnerable by the Brazilian Red Book of Endangered Fauna. In this sense the identification and description of subterranean fauna is important for conservation of an area since each cave ecosystem has particular features and could hold endemic taxa. This study aims to describe new species of Trogolaphysa from a cave complex, Lagoa Santa Karst, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Specimens were collected from caves in Matozinhos municipality during the dry season (2017) and wet season (2018). The material was mounted on slides, analysed and drew under an optical microscope. Four new species of Trogolaphysa were found and described. Trogolaphysa sp. nov. 1 is diagnosed by 8+8 eyes, head with macrochaetae A0, A3, S5 and Pa5, 21–23 spines on trochanteral organ, unguiculus lanceolate with serrated external edge and 22–24 inner spines on dens; Trogolaphysa sp. nov. 2 present 8 + 8 eyes, head with macrochaetae A0, A2, S3, Pa5 and Pm3, 20 spines on trochanteral organ, unguiculus lanceolate with external serrated edge and 22–33 inner spines on dens; Trogolaphysa sp. nov. 3 is diagnosed by absence of eyes and pigments, head with macrochaetae A0, A2, S3 (S3 as microchaeta in some specimens), Pa5 e Pm3, thorax II with three macrochaetae on p3 complex, 18 spines on trochanteral organ, unguiculus truncate with smooth external edge and 21–23 inner spines on dens; and Trogolaphysa sp. nov. 4 is diagnosed by 8+8 eyes, head with macrochaetae A0, A2, S3, S5, Pa5 e Pm3, thorax II with 4–6 macrochaetae (2–3 macrochaetae on p3 complex), 32 spines on trochanteral organ, unguiculus lanceolate with smooth external edges and 33–36 inner spines on dens. The new records and descriptions of species, especially Trogolaphysa sp. nov. 3 bearing clear troglomorphisms (absence of eyes and body pigment) suggests some sampled caves possibly hold endemic fauna and therefore such areas could be considered priority areas for conservation which should be spared of exploration and other anthropic activities.