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searchable PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

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including the <strong>Mexican</strong> freetail bat Tadarida brasiliensismexicana (Saussure) (Reddell, 1977a). Of the 11species known from the cave, the most interesting isthe ricinuleid Cryptocellus mitchelli Gertsch. As inthe case of C. reddelli Gertsch in Cueva de los Riscosnear Mapimi, this is an obvious relict now isolated inCueva del Guano by the surrounding desert; it doesnot show troglobitic adaptations, however. Much ofthe fauna is typical of that of <strong>Mexican</strong> freetail batcaves. Troglophiles include spiders of the pholcidgenus Physocyclus and the scytodid genus Loxosceles,the collembolan Pseudosinella violenta (Folsom), thepsocid Psyllipsocus ramburii Selys-Longchamps, andthe spider beetle Niptus abstrusus Spilman. With theexception of the ricinuleid, the fauna is typical ofthat of western Texas and the arid regions of northernMexico.Sierra de la India, Durango.-Sierra de la India islocated to the south of Mapimi and is <strong>for</strong>med ofCretaceous limestone of the Aurora Formation(Clemons and McLeroy, 1966). One of the two cavesinvestigated in this region, Cueva de la Cucaracha, issmall and of no biological interest. The other, Cuevade los Riscos, is a large horizontal cave still not fullyexplored (Reddell, 1977a). The fauna of this cave isvery interesting in that it contains four troglobitesand 10 other identified species. Of particular interestis the presence in the cave of the highly cave-adaptedricinuleid Cryptocellus reddelli Gertsch. Other speciesof troglobite include the leptonetid spider Leptonetalimpida Gertsch and the pholcid spiders Pholcophoraexigua Gertsch and Psilochorus delicatus Gertsch.With the exception of L. limpida these troglobites aretypical elements of the cavernicole fauna of the SierraMadre Oriental to the east and southeast. Leptonetalimpida, however, has its closest affinities with speciesof the same genus in Central Texas. The troglophilefauna includes pholcid spiders of the genera Modisimusand Physocyclus and the psocid Psyllipsocusramburii Selys-Longchamps. The troglobite fauna presumablyrepresents relict species now restricted to thecavemicole habitat by the surrounding desert.jacala, Hidalgo.-This region extends from theRio Moctezuma in the north to near Zimapan on thesouth. It is bounded on the west by the Rio Moctezumaand on the east by the Rio Amajaque. Thegeology of this region has been discussed by Bodenlos(1956). The principal limestone unit in the area is themassive El Abra (=EI Doctor) Formation. Karstdevelopment is extensive in some areas, but the regionremains virtually unknown speleologically. Tencaves have been biologically investigated but onlyfive have been studied with respect to their invertebratefauna. The largest cave in the region is Cueva deEl Tenango, a small resurgence cave about 300 meterslong. The only other cave of consequence studied isSotano del Hondo de Pinalito, a vertical cave thatdescends in several drops to a depth of 175 meters.Three of the 39 species reported from the caves ofthis region are troglobites. The schizomid Agastoschizomusn. sp. is known from two caves; it isclosely related to A. huitzmolotitlensis Rowland fromthe Xilitla region. The remaining two troglobites arean undescribed species of nicoletiid thysanuran andthe gryllid cricket Paracophus cladonotus Hubbell.The latter species is also known from the Xilitla region.The troglophile fauna contains species generallyknown from the XiIitla and Aquismi)n regions. Speciesof interest include the crayfish Procambarus (Ortmannicus)toltecae Hobbs, the agelenid spider Tegenariarothi Gertsch, the nesticid spiders Gaucelmuscalidus Gertsch and Nesticus hoffmanni Gertsch, thepholcid spiders Coryssocnemis iviei Gertsch and C.simoni O. P.-Cambridge, the scytodid spider Loxoscelestenango Gertsch, the gryllid cricket Paracophusplaconotus Hubbell, and the carabid beetle Platynus(Mexisphodrus) gertschi (Hendrichs and Bolivar).Lagunilla. Hidalgo.-The only cave which has beeninvestigated in the Lagunilla region is the famedGrutas de Xoxafi. This cave is fomled in an isolatedoutcrop of EI Abra (=EI Doctor) Limestone (Segerstrom,1962). The cave has been only partially exploredbut is known to be extensive. The 15 speciesreported from it doubtless represent a slIlall percentageof the fauna. The only troglobite is the ptinidbeetle Niptus absconditus Spilman. The troglophilefauna includes two endemic spiders, Physocyclusreddelli Gertsch and Psilochorus fishi Gertsch, bothof which are closely related to species known fromother parts of the Sierra \Iadre Oriental.Tonoltongo. Hidalgo.-The Tonoltongo regionconsists of an isolated deposit, known as the TonoltongoBank, of EI Abra (= EI Doctor) Limestone(Segerstrom, 1962). The only cave known from theregion is the Grutas de Tonoltongo, from whichemerge the waters of the Rio Tonoltongo. Thewater flowing from the cave is highly mineralizedand quite warm. Only three species have been identifiedfrom the cave: these include two possible trog­10phiIic carabid beetles of the genus Schizogenius.Canon Huasteco. Nuevo Leon.-Caiion I1uastecois a spectacular canyon bordered <strong>for</strong> much of itslength by high, vertical cliffs. The geology of theregion is discussed in Maldonado-Koerdell (1956).The principal limestone units are the Cupido, Cuestadel Cura, and Aurora Formations. Two of the caves(known collectively as Grutas de San Bartolo) arehorizontal passages located at the base of a diff at26

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