Two new species of the genus Nemaspela Šilhavý from caves in Georgia (Opiliones: Nemastomatidae)

Abstract

Two highly specialized endemic troglobiotic harvestman species of the genus Nemaspela Šilhavý, 1966 are described. N. melouri sp. nov. from Melouri Cave and N. prometheus sp. nov. from Prometheus Cave (Sataplia-Tskaltubo karst massif, Imereti region, western Georgia), respectively. Despite the fact that the entrances of the caves are positioned only 2.5 km apart, the new taxa differ from each other distinctly by presence vs. absence of male cheliceral apophysis, which is lacking in the second species. A key to the Caucasian species of the genus is provided. Relationships of Nemaspela species within the genus and with hypothetical epigean ancestors are discussed.

Two new species of the genus Deuteraphorura Absolon, 1901 (Hexapoda, Collembola, Onychiuridae) from Georgian caves with remarks on the subterranean biodiversity of the Caucasus Mountains

“…The fauna of the Western Caucasian caves importantly contributes to global subterranean diversity, as was documented across multiple arthropod taxa (e.g., Antić & Makarov 2016;Barjadze et al 2019;Antić & Reip 2020;Martens et al 2021;Zaragoza et al 2021). The Caucasus as a significant hotspot of subterranean biodiversity is well documented in Diplopoda, with a high level of endemism and a high proportion of troglobiotic species, especially in the orders Julida and Chordeumatida (Antić & Makarov 2016;Antić & Reip 2020).…”

“…In the last decade, new species of Collembola have been described in the genera Deuteraphorura Absolon, 1901(Jordana et al 2012, Arrhopalites Börner, 1906and Pygmarrhopalites Vargovitsh, 2009(Vargovitsh 2012, 2013, 2017, 2022), and Plutomurus Yosii, 1956(Barjadze et al 2022 and the new genus Troglaphorura, with highly troglomorphic species (Vargovitsh 2019). Unexpected diversity was documented in Diplopoda (Antić & Makarov 2016;Antić & Reip 2020), and new troglomorphic taxa were described in Isopoda (Gongalski & Taiti 2014) and Opilionida, with the highly specialised species in the genus Nemaspela (Martens et al 2021) and Pseudoscorpionida of the genus Globochtonius (Zaragoza et al 2021) .…”

A new Diplura species from Georgia caves, Plusiocampa (Plusiocampa) imereti (Diplura, Campodeidae), with morphological and molecular data

“…and Pseudosinella sp., and the Insecta (Carabidae Coleoptera) Troglocimmerites sp. 2 (Barjadze et al 2019;Maghradze et al 2019;Antić & Reip 2020;Martens et al 2021;. Maghradze & Barjadze, unpublished data).The notal macrosetae pattern of Plusiocampa (Plusiocampa) imereti Sendra & Barjadze sp.…”