Xangoniscus aganju Campos-Filho, Araujo & Taiti, 2014

Campos-Filho, Ivanklin Soares, Fernandes, Camile Sorbo, Cardoso, Giovanna Monticelli, Bichuette, Maria Elina, Aguiar, José Otávio & Taiti, Stefano, 2019, Two new species and new records of terrestrial isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Brazilian caves, Zootaxa 4564 (2), pp. 422-448 : 429-430

Xangoniscus aganju Campos-Filho, Araujo & Taiti, 2014

Figs 7 , 17b , 18 A–C

Styloniscidae indet. 3 Gallão & Bichuette, 2018: 12, table 2.

Styloniscidae indet. 4 Gallão & Bichuette, 2018: 12, table 2.

Material examined. Bahia: 1 male, 5 females ( LES 6437 ), Carinhanha, Serra do Ramalho karst area, Caverna Domingão , 13°44’41”S, 43°50’00”W, 27 July 2012, leg. M.E. Bichuette, J. E. Gallão and P. P. Rizzato ; 4 males (LES 14351), 1 female ( LES 6435 ), Coribe, Serra do Ramalho karst area, Caverna Chico Pernambuco, 13°49’10”S, 44°04’15”W, 28 July 2012, leg. M.E. Bichuette, J. E. Gallão, L. Senna-Horta and P.P. Rizzato.

Remarks. To date, the genus Xangoniscus comprises three troglobiotic species with amphibious life-style, all endemic to Brazilian caves: Xangoniscus aganju , X. odara , and X. itacarambiensis . The genus is mainly defined by the complex wrench-like distal portion of the male pleopod 2 endopod, unique among the Styloniscidae (see Campos-Filho et al. 2014, 2016; Bastos-Pereira et al. 2017).

The specimens from the two caves in the Bahia state here examined are tentatively identified as X. aganju since they show the same morphological characters. Only small differences are present in the apical lobes of the male pleopod 2 endopod (compare fig. 13C in Campos-Filho et al. (2014) with Fig. 7A, B , specimens from Caverna Chico Pernambuco, and Fig. 7C , specimens from Caverna Domingão). A molecular analysis of all the populations of X. aganju may clarify if these small differences indicate distinct taxa.

The Chico Pernambuco and the Caverna Domingão caves are located in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. The caves are not legally protected and their surroundings are used for agriculture, pasture and projects for mining activities ( Fig. 2A, B ). The population of X. aganju from Chico Pernambuco is abundant in part of the drainage (level base stream) of the cave, reaching 8–10 inds/m 2 and showing gregarious habitus ( Fig. 18B ). The population from Caverna Domingão occurs in a phreatic habitat, a relatively large pool in the distal part of the cave with a high abundance, reaching 20 inds/m 2, preferring submersed organic matter (mainly trunks) and showing gregarious habits ( Fig. 18C ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. A, area surrounding Chico Pernambuco cave indicating disturbance activities, artisanal charcoal production (photo: M.E. Bichuette); B, area surrounding Domingão cave with Caatinga vegetation and pasture activity (photo: M.E. Bichuette); C, Campos rupestres vegetation near sandstone caves in Povoado de Igatu (photo: M.E. Bichuette); D, gallery of Gruna Lava Pé cave (Igatu) with a small stream where Benthana xiquinhoi Campos-Filho, Bichuette & Taiti sp. n. occurs (photo: J.E. Gallão).

FIGURE 7. Xangoniscus aganju Campos-Filho, Araujo & Taiti, 2014. A, male pleopod 1; B, male plepod 2 (Caverna Chico Pernambuco); C, male pleopod 2 (Caverna Domingão).

FIGURE 17. A, Iuiuniscus iuiuensis Souza, Ferreira & Senna, 2015; B, Xangoniscus aganju Campos-Filho, Araujo & Taiti, 2014 (Caverna Chico Pernambuco); C, Pectenoniscus liliae Campos-Filho, Bichuette & Taiti sp. n.; D, Venezillo congener (Budde-Lund, 1904).

FIGURE 18. A–C, Xangoniscus aganju Campos-Filho, Araujo & Taiti, 2014 (photos: P.P. Rizzato and M.E. Bichuette); D, Benthana xiquinhoi Campos-Filho, Bichuette & Taiti sp. n. (photo: J.E. Gallão).