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searchable PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

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Order SaltatoriaThe cricket fauna of Mexico and Central Americais poorly known, and the 41 species identified to daterepresent only a small percentage of the actual numberof species which inhabit caves in this region (seeTable 23). Extensive collections await study.Family AcrididaeA single species of the family Acrididae, Necaxacrissp. d. micans (Hebard), has been collected inSotano del Profesor, Veracruz. It is certainly an accidental.Family GryUidaeThe family Gryllidae is well represented in thecaves of Mexico and Central America. The most commonlycollected genera are Paracophus and Amphiacusta.Paracophus includes three troglobitic and fivedescribed troglophilic species in northeastern Mexico(Hubbell, 1972). Additional collections include undescribedspecies of troglophile. Paracophus apterusChopard is known from many caves in San Luis Potosiand Tamaulipas; P. placonotus Hubbell is abundantin the caves of the Xilitla region in San LuisPotosi and Queretaro; P. reddelli Hubbell is knownfrom two caves at low elevations in the Sierra deGuatemala, Tamaulipas; P. sanctorum Hubbell isknown only from Cueva de la Virgen, Tamaulipas;and P. subapterus Chopard occurs in caves in NuevoLeon and Coahuila. The crickets of the genus Paracophusare usually found in darkness under rocksand on silt banks. Troglobitic species are more frequentlyseen on the walls and on speleothems.Paracophus apterus and P. placonotus are the onlyspecies which have been collected from epigean<strong>for</strong>est habitats. The only other troglobitic gryllidin Mexico is Tohila atelomma from Yucatan. SeeFigs. 69-70 <strong>for</strong> localities of Paracophus and Tohilain Mexico.The genus Amphiacusta ranges from Belize andGuatemala north into southern Tamaulipas, Mexico.It is frequently found near cave entrances where itmay be heard stridulating. Four species have beenidentified from caves in Mexico; many other speciesfrom Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico remain to bedescribed. Chopard (1947) reported A. azteca Saussurefrom a cave at Tepoztlan, Morelos; A. bolivariChopard from Grutas de Atoyac, Veracruz; and A.maya Hubbell from Cueva de Berriozabal, Chiapas.Hubbell (1938) described A. yucatana from numerouscaves in Yucatan; it is also now known fromcaves in Campeche. Amphiacusta bolivari has beenreported by Hubbell (1972) from several additionalcaves near Orizaba and Cordoba, Veracruz. Saussure(1897) described Arachnomimu8 cavicola fromGrutas de Lanquin, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Thecorrect generic assignment of this species is still indoubt. See Fig. 71 <strong>for</strong> the localities of Amphiacustaand Arachnomimus in the caves of Mexico and Guatemala.Undetermined species of Cycloptilum,Gryllus, Miogryllus, and Nemobius have been collectedfrom various caves in Mexico; all are probablyaccidentals.Paracophus caecus HubbellParacophus undescribed species: Reddell, 1966a:14.Paracophus sp.: Reddell, 1971b:55 (Harrison Sinkhole,Sotano de la Joya de Salas, Sotano del Molino,Cueva del Nacimiento del Rio Frio, andSotano de las Piftas (=Pinos) records only]; Reddelland Mitchell, 1971b:191, fig. 16.Paracophus sp. A: Reddell, 1967c:55.Paracophus sp. B: Reddell, 1967c:55.Paracophus caecus Hubbell, 1972:51,52,57,58,67,70, 76, 77, 80-84, 86, 87, fig. 1(4), 2(17), 3(28),5(37); Mitchell and Kawakatsu, 1973a:671; Mitchelland Reddell, 1973b:frontispiece; Reddell,1973a:35, 40; Reddell and Elliott, 1973b:182,186; Vomero, 1974:341,350.Paracophus, troglobio: Fernandez Ruiz, 1976:717.Type-Iocality.-Sotano de la Joya de Salas, Tamaulipas,Mexico.Distribution.-Known from caves in the Sierra deGuatemala, Tamaulipas. See Fig. 69.Records.-Tamaulipas: <strong>Cave</strong> at Rancho del Cielo,Bee <strong>Cave</strong>, Cueva de la Capilla, Crystal <strong>Cave</strong>, Sotanode Gomez Farias, Harrison Sinkhole, Cueva del Infiernillo,Sotano de la Joya de Salas, Cueva de laMina, Sotano del Molino, Cueva del Nacimiento delRio Frio, Sotano de los Pinos, Cueva del Ojo de Aguade Manantiales, Cueva de los Vampiros, and Wet<strong>Cave</strong>.Discussion.-This is the only eyeless gryllid in theNew World. It is also wingless and very pale withelongate appendages. The genus Paracophus is mostclosely related to the Yucatan cave genus Tohila. Allof the troglobitic species apparently evolved in thehigher mountains and, with the exception of sixpopulations of P. caecus, are known only from highelevations. It is interesting that some of the lowlandpopulations of P. caecus are also somewhat less paleand delicate, indicating that they have maintainedcontact with the parent species longer. Paracophuscaecus has been taken in association with P. apterusin Sotano de Gomez Farias, Cueva del Nacimiento delRio Frio, Cueva del Ojo de Agua de Manantiales, andCueva de los Vampiros; and with P. reddelli in Bee207

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