Eupolybothrus cavernicolus Komerički & Stoev, 2013
- Dataset
- Eupolybothrus cavernicolus Komerički & Stoev sp. n. (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha: Lithobiidae): the first eukaryotic species description combining transcriptomic, DNA barcoding and micro-CT imaging data
- Rank
- SPECIES
- Published in
- Stoev P, Komerički A, Akkari N, Liu S, Zhou X, Weigand A, Hostens J, Hunter C, Edmunds S, Porco D, Zapparoli M, Georgiev T, Mietchen D, Roberts D, Faulwetter S, Smith V, Penev L (2013) Eupolybothrus cavernicolus Komerički & Stoev sp. n. (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha: Lithobiidae): the first eukaryotic species description combining transcriptomic, DNA barcoding and micro-CT imaging data. Biodiversity Data Journal 1: e1013. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.1.e1013
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Arthropoda
- class
- Chilopoda
- order
- Lithobiomorpha
- family
- Lithobiidae
- genus
- Eupolybothrus
- species
- Eupolybothrus cavernicolus
Diagnosis
The species can be readily distinguished from all other congeners by the following set of molecular and morphological characters: interspecific genetic distance in COI from the closest neighbour, E. leostygis: 14.5-15.4%; antennae moderately long (approx. 70% body length), comprised of 67-71 articles; 11-15 ocelli; 6+6-8+8 coxosternal teeth; tergites 9, 11, 13 with posterior triangular projections; intermediate tergite subpentagonal, posterior margin deeply emarginated, middle part of posterior third of tergite densely covered with setae; laterally, on both sides of the central setose area, there are two specific seta-free regions; pretarsus 15 without accessory spines; leg 15 long (approx. 70-75% body length), prefemur of male leg 15 with a large, apically rounded proximal knob protruding mediad, latter slightly bent dorsad and bearing a cluster of long setae on tip; distal part of prefemur with a well-defined circular protuberance covered with setae; posterior margin of male first genital sternite deeply emarginated, nearly as deep as half of the sternite’s length.
Etimology
Cavernicolus means “living in caves or caverns”, to emphasise that the species inhabits caves.
Description of the type locality
Description of the type locality
Eupolybothrus cavernicolus Komerički & Stoev sp. n. is so far known only from the caves Miljacka II and Miljacka IV (= Špilja kod mlina na Miljacki), situated near the village of Kistanje, Krka National Park, Knin District, Croatia (Fig. 12). The two caves are situated close to each other and are formed in Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene conglomerate and marbly limestone. Miljacka II is the longest cave in the Krka National Park, with a large, spacious entrance and a total length of over 2800 m (Fig. 13). Most of the cave passages are under water except for approx. 300 m of main passage. From a hydrogeological point of view, cave Miljacka II contains a periodical spring, while cave Miljacka IV has a permanent water flow. The cave Miljacka IV has two entrances, one dry and one underwater, and a length of approximately 43 m. The land entrance is walled in and with a small door while inside the cave there is a thick drywall separating it in two parts. The climatic conditions in Miljacka II as measured on 4th May 2010 and 8th October 2010 are as follows: Tair = 12.5-13.7°C (Kestrel); RH = 100%; Tsediment = 12.5-13.2°C; Twater = 12.6-13.2°C; in Miljacka IV (measured on 4 May 2010): Tair = 13.1-13.6°C (Kestrel); RH = 100%; Tsediment = 12.5°C; Twater = 12.5°C. In Miljacka II, the specimens were collected in the aphotic zone, approx. 50 m from the cave entrance, in a passage where water never occurs in a periodic flow. In Miljacka IV, they were found closer to the entrance, under stones.
Associated fauna: Gastropoda: Oxychilus cellarius (O.F. Müller, 1774), Hauffenia jadertina Kuščer, 1933, Hadziella sketi Bole, 1961; Araneae: Episinus cavernicola (Kulczynski, 1897), Nesticus eremita Simon, 1879, Tegenaria domestica (Clerck, 1757), Metellina merianae (Scopoli, 1763), Histopona sp.; Pseudoscorpiones: Chthonius tetrachelatus (Preyssler, 1790), Chthonius litoralis Hadži, 1933, Neobisium carsicum Hadži, 1933, Pselaphochernes litoralis Beier, 1956; Opiliones: Nelima troglodytes Roewer, 1910; Acari: Parasitus sp.; Isopoda: Monolistra pretneri Sket, 1964, Sphaeromides virei mediodalmatina Sket, 1964, Alpioniscus balthasari (Frankenberger, 1937), Cyphopleon kratochvili (Frankenberger, 1939); Amphipoda: Niphargus sp.; Decapoda: Troglocaris sp.; Chilopoda: Eupolybothrus tridentinus, Harpolithobius sp., Lithobius sp., Cryptops sp.; Diplopoda: Brachydesmus subterraneus Heller, 1858; Collembola: Troglopedetes pallidus Absolon, 1907, Heteromurus nitidus (Templeton, 1835), Pseudosinella heteromurina (Stach, 1929), Lepidocyrtus sp.; Diplura: Plusiocampa (Stygiocampa) dalmatica Conde, 1959, Japygidae gen. spp.; Coleoptera: Laemostenus cavicola mülleri (Schaum, 1860), Atheta spelaea (Erichson, 1839); Orthoptera: Dolichopoda araneiformis (Burmeister, 1838), Troglophilus ovuliformis Karny, 1907, Gryllomorpha dalmatina Ocskay, 1832; Psocoptera: Psyllipsocus sp.; Lepidoptera: Apopestes spectrum (Esper, 1787); Amphibia: Proteus anguinus Laurenti, 1768; Chiroptera: a colony of bats, Myotis capaccinii (Bonaparte, 1837) (Marguš et al. 2012).