Latest Articles from Subterranean Biology Latest 5 Articles from Subterranean Biology https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:18:21 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Subterranean Biology https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/ Two new species add to the diversity of Eoniphargus in subterranean waters of Japan, with molecular phylogeny of the family Mesogammaridae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/86914/ Subterranean Biology 44: 21-50

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.44.86914

Authors: Aki Shintani, Chi-Woo Lee, Ko Tomikawa

Abstract: Amphipod crustaceans are a major group of invertebrates that predominantly occur in groundwater ecosystems. Eoniphargus is a mesogammarid genus with only two known species from the groundwater systems of the Japanese archipelago and Korean Peninsula. However, there is a dearth of taxonomic studies on this genus, and the species diversity within Eoniphargus is unclear. Here, we describe two new species, E. iwataorum sp. nov. and E. toriii sp. nov., collected from the interstitial waters in Tochigi and Shizuoka Prefectures in the Japanese archipelago. These two new species are distinguished from their congeners by the following features: head, urosomite 3, first and second antennae, mandibles, and maxilla 1. Eoniphargus kojimai is redescribed here based on material collected near the type locality. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial COI genes revealed that E. kojimai is sister to E. iwataorum sp. nov. In this study, we also briefly discuss the phylogenetic relationships of Mesogammaridae based on the molecular phylogenetic analyses.

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Research Article Mon, 15 Aug 2022 21:31:27 +0300
The identities of two species in the Pterostichus macrogenys species group of subterranean carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) revealed by external morphometric analysis and comparative genital morphology https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/80969/ Subterranean Biology 43: 61-71

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.43.80969

Authors: Kôji Sasakawa, Hirotarô Itô

Abstract: The Pterostichus macrogenys species group is an endemic subterranean Japanese carabid lineage that shows marked regional differentiation, but unresolved taxonomic issues remain, even at the species level. Based on morphological examinations of the genital structures of newly collected specimens and an external morphometric analysis of all the species concerned, P. falcispinus Sasakawa, 2005 syn. nov. is synonymized with P. asahinus Habu & Baba, 1960, and P. awashimaensis sp. nov. is described from Awashima Island, a small island off the coast of Honshu. Based on external morphometrics, P. awashimaensis was determined to be most similar to P. yahikosanus Sasakawa, 2009, but its external and genital features differ distinctly from the latter species and it is thought to be more ancestral.

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Short Communication Tue, 31 May 2022 09:55:31 +0300
A new troglobitic species of Allochthonius (subgenus Urochthonius) (Pseudoscorpiones, Pseudotyrannochthoniidae) from Japan https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/58580/ Subterranean Biology 37: 43-55

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.37.58580

Authors: Ana Clara Moreira Viana, Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira

Abstract: Allochthonius (Urochthonius) yoshizawai sp. nov., found in Hiura-do Cave, a limestone cave located in the municipality of Kumakogen, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, is described. It can be distinguished from the consubgeneric species mainly by the carapacal chaetotaxy (6–2, 18), by the presence of 6 setae on the cheliceral palm, by the rallum with 11 blades, by the presence of 8 clavate coxal blades on coxae I, and by the decreased number and distinct shape of the chelal teeth. A redescription of the subgenus Urochthonius, and keys to the subgenera of Allochthonius and to the species and subspecies of Urochthonius are also provided, as well as some ecological remarks, a brief discussion on troglomorphisms for the subgenus, and potential threats for this species.

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Research Article Wed, 20 Jan 2021 15:48:40 +0200
Nesticus kosodensis Yaginuma, 1972 bona species. Molecular and morphological separation from N. latiscapus Yaginuma, 1972 with notes on cave scaffold-web spiders subspecies in Japan (Araneae, Nesticidae) https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/53933/ Subterranean Biology 35: 79-96

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.35.53933

Authors: Yuya Suzuki, Francesco Ballarin

Abstract: The troglophilic spider subspecies Nesticus latiscapus kosodensis Yaginuma, 1972 is compared with its nominal species N. latiscapus Yaginuma, 1972 using an integrated taxonomic approach. Both morphological and molecular analysis suggest the two taxa are distinct, rejecting the status of subspecies. In the light of these results, N. kosodensis stat. nov. is elevated to species level and both species are redescribed. We expect that future revisions of Japanese Nesticidae will find that many currently designated subspecies are in fact distinct species. Taxonomic revision of long-established and unrevised subspecies may help to improve the conservation efforts aiming to protect the Japanese endemic cave fauna.

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Research Article Wed, 5 Aug 2020 08:20:42 +0300
Two new species of the Pterostichus macrogenys species group (Coleoptera, Carabidae) discovered in shallow subterranean habitats in northern Honshu, Japan https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/11155/ Subterranean Biology 21: 47-56

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.21.11155

Authors: Kôji Sasakawa, Hirotarô Itô

Abstract: Shallow subterranean environments have recently received attention as a habitat for Carabidae beetles, and many new species have been discovered using collection techniques devised for this habitat. We report the discovery of two new species of the macrogenys species group of the Pterostichus subgenus Nialoe Tanaka, 1958, collected by subterranean baited traps in northern Honshu, Japan. Pterostichus shinbodakensis Sasakawa & Itô, sp. n. is described from Mt. Shinbodake, Niigata Prefecture, and P. tateishiyamanus Sasakawa & Itô, sp. n. is described from the southeastern foot of Mt. Tateishiyama, Fukushima Prefecture. Comparative male genital morphology shows that among the known species, the two new species are most closely related to P. falcispinus Sasakawa, 2005 and P. chokaisanus Sasakawa, 2009, respectively. In addition, sympatric occurrence of P. shinbodakensis with a smaller, unidentified species of the species group was also confirmed. The implications of these results for future studies of the macrogenys species group, as well as those of Nialoe, are discussed.

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Research Article Tue, 24 Jan 2017 10:58:35 +0200