Corresponding author: Heriberto López (
Academic editor: P. Hlavac
The genus
García R, Andújar C, Oromí P, Emerson B, López H (2021) Three new subterranean species of
The volcanic terrains of the Canary Islands harbour a wide variety of subterranean environments (= hypogean
The richest group of Canarian troglobionts is
The genus
Our prospections since 2006 in lava tubes and
Dorsal habitus of
The specimens of these new species were collected using different methods. Specimens of
Soil residues adhering to the individuals were removed with a fine paintbrush and warm water with a little dish-washing liquid. Type specimens of
The material examined is deposited in the following collections:
Spain, Canary Islands, El Hierro, Frontera: Cueva de Longueras (
same locality as the holotype, remains of six individuals, washing samples of soil from inside the cave, 4 February 2020, H. López leg. (
This new species is morphologically close to its allopatric species
Specific name in apposition of Aranfaybo, considered by the Bimbaches (aboriginal people of El Hierro) as a sacred animal that lived in the cave Asteheyta (in the locality of Tacuytunta). This animal, with a pig-like appearance, was invoked as a magical intermediary to attract rains (
This new species lives in Cueva de Longueras, a lava tube discovered in the 1980’s on the northern slope of El Hierro island. It is located in a moderately old lava flow covered by thermo-sclerophyllous vegetation, which is partially degraded by long-abandoned agricultural activity in the locality. Despite its relatively short length (300 m), it offers good conditions for the subterranean fauna due to its high humidity and stable low temperature during the whole year, as well as roots hanging from the ceiling at several cave parts (
Spain, Canary Islands, La Palma, El Paso: Cueva de Las Tijaraferas, also named Cueva de Barros (
This new species is morphologically close to
Specific name in apposition of Madai, a Guanche (Tenerife aboriginal) word meaning “deep” (
Spain, Canary Islands, La Palma, Garafía:
Spain, Canary Islands, La Palma, Garafía, Cueva de La Fajana de Franceses (
Hind leg and pronotum of
This new species is morphologically close to
the known specimens have blunt, thickened and blackened claws as well as uncus. These characteristics are not present in any other
Specific name in apposition of Tizziri, Guanche (Tenerife aboriginal) word meaning “ray of light”, related to the belief in your surroundings making you feel good and sleepy.
The existence of this new species has been known since 2002 from the remains of elytra found in La Fajana de Franceses Cave. During the last 15 years, this and other caves in the same area have been actively studied with pitfall traps and by collecting dead roots, failing to obtain new individuals of this species. However, the two fresh specimens known of
1 | Inner side of metafemora and metatibiae not dilated at middle (Fig. |
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– | Inner side of metafemora and metatibiae dilated at middle (Fig. |
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2 | Pronotum not constricted at apex (Fig. |
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– | Pronotum constricted at apex (Fig. |
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3 | Setae of pronotum with clavate or flaming apex |
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– | Setae of pronotum with acute apex |
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4 | Pronotum transverse (Fig. |
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– | Pronotum elongated (Fig. |
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5 | Pronotum subquadrate, sides converging to the posterior margin (not clearly parallel-sided) (Fig. |
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– | Pronotum subquadrate, straight sides and almost parallel-sided. Metafemora and metatibiae strongly dilated |
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6 | Inner side of metafemora strongly dilated and very suddenly narrowed at apical third (Fig. |
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– | Inner side of metafemora dilated but not suddenly narrowed (Fig. |
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The differences suggested by
We are indebted to Besay Franchy Gil and Javier García Pérez for their help in the fieldwork on La Palma for several years in trying to collect specimens of