New troglobitic species of Benthana Budde-Lund, 1908 and Benthanoides Lemos de Castro, 1958 from iron-ore caves and their important record in the Amazon biome (Crustacea: Isopoda: Philosciidae).

A new cave-restricted species of Benthana and two cave-restricted species of Benthanoides are described from iron-ore caves located in the Serra dos Carajás complex, Pará state, in the Amazon biome. Benthana alba n. sp. occurs only in one cave in the south of Serra Norte, in the plateau N5 (cave N5SM2_0077); Benthanoides amazonicus n. sp. occurs in several caves in the north of Serra Norte, in the plateau N1; and Benthanoides tarzan n. sp. occurs in several caves in the Serra do Tarzan. This record represents an important distribution data for Benthana that typically occurs in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, indicating that such species may represent a relict lineage of this genus. Additionally, efforts must be directed towards the conservation of these species, all of which are associated with caves occurring in areas of intense mining activity.

New troglobitic species of Xangoniscus (Isopoda: Styloniscidae) from Brazil, with notes on their habitats and threats.

In the present work, five new species of Xangoniscus are described, increasing to eight the number of the known troglobitic species for the genus. Xangoniscus species can be distinguished from each other by the shape of pleonites epimera, the number and size of aesthetascs in the distal article of antennula, the modifications on pereopods, the shape of male pleopods and the proportion between uropod rami. Species from this genus are known for the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia with Xangoniscus aganju representing the northernmost occurrence, and X. lundi n. sp. and X. dagua n. sp. the southernmost occurrences. Of the six caves where specimens were collected, four are not registered in the national speleological database, what points to all the potential to yet be discovered regarding number of cavities and the associated biodiversity in Brazil. Some of the here mentioned type localities are not located inside protected areas, therefore exposing the species to risks related to the adjacent land use and consequent influence on water table level and input of food resources. The contribution of this work with descriptions of new troglobitic species provides support to consider them as plausible candidates to be assessed in the next list of threatened species as well as to elaborate conservation actions for the species, the caves where they inhabit and the surrounding landscape.

Two new species and new records of terrestrial isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Brazilian caves.

To date, approximately 190 species of terrestrial isopods are known from Brazil and only 14 are considered troglobiotic. After the examination of a large collection from caves in Bambuí and Una geomorphological areas, along the states of Bahia, Minas Gerais and Goiás, two new troglobiotic species were recognized. Pectenoniscus liliae Campos-Filho, Bichuette Taiti sp. n. (Styloniscidae) is described from Serra do Ramalho karst area, and Benthana xiquinhoi Campos-Filho, Bichuette Taiti sp. n. (Philosciidae) from sandstone caves of Chapada Diamantina region. The latter constitutes the second troglomorphic species of the genus. Xangoniscus aganju (Styloniscidae) is also recorded from two caves in the Serra do Ramalho karst area. The systematic position of Iuiuniscus iuiuensis is briefly discussed and Venezillo congener (Armadillidae) is redescribed from São Domingos karst area.

Two new species of Atlantoscia Ferrara Taiti, 1981 (Isopoda: Oniscidea: Philosciidae) from southern Brazil described in the light of integrative taxonomy.

The use of molecular data in association with classical taxonomy has helped to alleviate the taxonomic impediment through the discovery, delimitation and description of new species. Terrestrial isopods are the largest suborder of Isopoda; however, there are very few active taxonomists in this group and a representative part of the terrestrial isopods world diversity remains unexplored. The genus Atlantoscia comprises five species in which diagnostic characters are few and show subtle differences among the species. The objective of this study was to delimit and describe two new species of the genus Atlantoscia from southern Brazil by using traditional taxonomy coupled with genetic information. Specimens were analyzed morphologically and by the aid of two molecular markers, mitochondrial COI and nuclear 18S rRNA. The validity of the new species Atlantoscia antennamaculata sp. nov. and Atlantoscia australis sp. nov. was corroborated, unambiguously, by morphological approach, phylogenetic analysis and species delimitation methods. Our study reinforces the fact that, despite the undeniable importance of comparative morphology in species discovery, new methods and data, particularly molecular ones, are becoming prominent and an integrative part of the taxonomy practice.

Two new species of Hyalella (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Hyalellidae) from state of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil.

There are 68 known species of Hyalella worldwide, with 23 occurring in Brazil. The state of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil, has the largest diversity of the genus in the country, with nine species recorded. The current study aimed to describe two new species of Hyalella from state of Rio Grande do Sul, both of them in the Northwest region of the state, one found in a small spring and another in an artificial pond. Hyalella georginae n. sp. presents several clusters of simple setae on antenna 2, maxilliped very slender, gnathopod 2 dactylus not reaching the lobe of propodus, pleopods rami with short plumose setae and a peculiar pattern of setae on uropods and telson. Hyalella gauchensis n. sp. presents antenna 2 with few setae, maxilliped very slender, gnathopod 2 dactylus reaching the lobe of propodus and pleopods rami with long plumose setae. From this work, the number of Hyalella species found in Brazil increases to 25 and 70 for the genus.

A new genus of Trachelipodidae Strouhal, 1953 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) from the eastern Mediterranean.

Levantoniscus n. gen. is erected for two new species from Cyprus: Levantoniscus bicostulatus n. sp. and Levantoniscus makrisi n. sp. Levantoniscus wahrmani (Strouhal, 1968) n. comb. from Israel and southern Turkey is transferred from the genus Bathytropa Budde-Lund, 1885 and family Bathytropidae. The new genus is included in the family Trachelipodidae and is characterized by distinct dorsal ornamentation, interlocking pleopods and uncovered pleopodal lungs which are located in invaginations on pleopod 3-5 exopodites.

Two new subterranean species of Hyalella Smith, 1874 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyalellidae) from Brazil.

Two new species of Hyalella from Brazil are described. Hyalella veredae sp. n. shows the following characters: eyes reduced or absent in some specimens; antenna 1 and antenna 2 of similar size, and a curved seta on the inner ramus of male uropod 1. Hyalella formosa sp. n. is characterized by the absence of eyes, antenna 1 longer than antenna 2 and a curved seta on the inner ramus of male uropod 1. The species were found on caves located in two private properties, both under the impact of agricultural activities, which demonstrates a potential threat to these subterranean environments.