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searchable PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

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the similarities between the distribution of thisgroup and that of the others.Suborder MicrocerberideaFamily MicrocerberidaeThe family Microcerberidae in North America isrepresented only by marine interstitial <strong>for</strong>ms of thegenera Microcerberus and Yvesia and by the troglobitediscussed below. Although some species ofMicrocerberus have been collected from caves in Europe,the species discussed below was the first caverecord <strong>for</strong> the suborder in the New Worid. An undescribedspecies of Microcerberus is known fromCueva Pinta, San Luis Potosi.Mexicerberus troglodytes SchultzMexicerberus troglodytes Schultz, 1974:309, 311,fig. 1-7.Type-Iocality.-Cueva de la Mina, 7 km northwestof Gomez Farias, Municipio de Gomez Farias,Tamaulipas, Mexico.Distribution.-Known only from the type-locality.See Fig. 8.Discussion.-This species was collected in a smallshallow drip pool near the end of Cueva de la Mina.That it is a true cave <strong>for</strong>m and not merely an interstitialspecies is indicated by its appearance in a caveat high altitude in association with other undisputedtroglobites and by its great size (2.5 mm as opposedto 1.6 mm in previously known species).Suborder OniscoideaThe largest group of isopods inhabiting caves inMexico is the primarily terrestrial Oniscoidea. Ofseven families represented in <strong>Mexican</strong> caves four containtroglobites. The terrestrial isopods of Mexico,Guatemala, and Belize are now under study by Dr.George A. Schultz, so that any list of species must beconsidered premature. At the present time 15 speciesof oniscoid isopod are known to be troglobites,whereas 15 are considered to be troglophiles. Some ofthe troglobites listed below may prove to be identicalwith <strong>for</strong>ms inhabiting the endogean zone.Family ArrnadillidaeThe family Armadillidae is the principal contributorto the troglophile fauna of <strong>Mexican</strong> caves. Eightspecies of the genus Venezillo and one species ofCubaris have been identified from caves in Mexico(Mulaik, 1960). The following species are consideredto be troglophiles: Cubaris mirandai Rioja fromCueva del Ojo de Agua Grande, Veracruz (Rioja,1954); Venezillo nrticulatus (Mulaik) and V. boneti(Mulaik) from Grutas de Juxtlahuaca, Guerrero(Mulaik, 1960); V. cacahuamilpensis (Bilimek) fromcaves in Guerrero and Mexico (Bilimek, 1867; Mulaik,1960; Rioja, 1954); V. chiapensis Rioja from Grutasde Zapaluta, Chiapas (Rioja, 1955a); V. llamasi Riojafrom Cueva de Patla, Puebla (Rioja, 1954); V. osorioi(Mulaik) from caves in Guerrero and Nuevo Leon(Mulaik, 1960); V. pleogoniophorus (Rioja) fromCueva de Los Sabinos, San Luis Potosi (Rioja, 1952);and V. tanneri (Mulaik and Mulaik) from Grutas delPalmito, Nuevo Leon (Schultz, 1965). These isopodsare usually found on bat guano or organic debris,and none show any adaptations <strong>for</strong> a cave existence.Family OniscidaeOne species of the family Oniseidae has been reportedfrom <strong>Mexican</strong> caves. Hoctunus vespertilio lVlulaikwas described from Cenote de Hoctun, Yucatan(Mulaik, 1960). This species was listed by Nicholas(1962) as a troglobite, but it should be considered atroglophile. It was found on bat guano.Family PhilosciidaeColombophiloscia cavernicola \" allddColombophiloscia cavernicola Valid,·!. I ')()Bh:lJ8,102-104,156,162, fig. 30-:J2:Schullz. llJ77:12,13, fig. 19-24.Type-Iocality.-Cueva de Quijano, a Caripe, di~tritoMonaguas, dans la region Jlord-orientalt- duVenezuela; or Cueva del Guacharo, pres de Caripe,distrito Monaguas.Distribution.-Known from two caves in DistritoMonaguas, Venezuela, and one cave in Huchuetenango,Guatemala. See Fig. 9.Guatemala record.-Huehuetenango: Cueva de losResadores.Discussion.-Vandel (1968b) does not indicatewhich of the two Venezuelan caves is the typelocality.The distribution of this blind species defiesexplanation. Although Schultz (1977) found no differencesbetween Vandel's description of the speciesand the specimen from Cueva de los Resadores, it isconceivable that study of the type series might revealspecific differences. Two other species of thegenus Colombophiloscia are known. C. alticola Vandelwas described from humus in a cave at Banos,Ecuador, but it has normal eyes. C. naevigesta Vandelwas described from a deep crevasse on Isla SantaCruz in the Galapagos Islands and is eyelpss (Vandel,1968b).92

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