A new highly troglomorphic species of Eukoenenia (Palpigradi: Eukoeneniidae) from tropical Brazil

Abstract

A third troglobitic species of Brazil is described from three specimens collected within Gruta da Morena, located in the municipal district of Cordisburgo, Minas Gerais. Eukoenenia sagarana new species (Palpigradi: Eukoeneniidae) is highly adapted to subterranean environments, corresponding to the most troglomorphic Palpigradi species described to date. This new species is very close to E. maquinensis Souza & Ferreira 2010, a troglobitic species recently described from Gruta de Maquiné, located in the same municipal district. The differences and similarities between these two species and between E. sagarana and other species of Eukoenenia are presented.