Corresponding author: Pietro Paolo Fanciulli (
Academic editor: W.M. Weiner
A new cave-dwelling species,
Fanciulli PP, Fabbri R, Carapelli A (2018) A new cave-dwelling species of
Several species of
Specimens of
Holotype female, Italy, Ravenna Province, near the locality Brisighella, Rontana Mount, 426 m asl, “Abisso Luigi
Paratypes: Abisso Luigi
Holotype and five paratypes (all females) are deposited in the collembolan collection of the Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena.
Mean body length 2.7 mm. Pso formula dorsally: 32/033/33353; ventrally: 3/011/3212. Subcoxae I-III with 2
Average length 2.7 mm (2.4–3.1mm), body shape cylindrical with fine and uniform cuticle granulation. Colour in alcohol white. Length of Ants I, II, III and IV 65 μm, 120 μm, 130 μm and 170 μm, respectively. Antennae shorter than head (
row | |
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d | m0, m1, m2, m3, m4 |
sd | m1, m2, m3, m3’, m4, M5 |
sd’ | m1, M2, m3, m4 |
v | m1, m2, m3, M4 |
ca | M5 |
cm | m3, m4 |
cb | m1, m2, m5, m6 |
cp | m1, m4, m6 |
p | m1, m2, m3, m4, m5 |
g | approx. 10 chaetae. |
row | Thorax I | Thorax II | Thorax III |
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a | m2, m4, m6 | m2, m4, m5, m6, M7 | m2, m3, m4, m5, m6, M7 |
m | m1, m2, m3*, m4 (m4’), M6⚫, M7 | m1, m2, m3, m4, M6⚫, M7⚫ | |
ca | m5, m6, M7 | m5, M7 | |
cp | m1, m2, m4, m6, M7 | m1, m2, m4, m5, M7 | |
p | M1, m2, m3, m4, M5, m6, M7 | m1, m2, M3, m4, M5, m6, m7 | m1, m2, M3, m4, M5, m6 (m6’), M7 |
row | Abdomen I | Abdomen II | Abdomen III |
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a | m1, m2, m5, m6, m7 | m1, m2, m4, m5*, m6, m7 | m3, m5, m7 |
m | m1, m2, m3, M7 | m1, m2*, m4, M7 | m1, m2, m4, m5, M7, M8 |
ca | m4, m5, M7 | m5, M7 | m1, m4, M7, m8 |
p | m1, m2, m3, M4, m5, m6, M7 | m1, m2, m3, M4, m5, M6, M7 | m1, m2, m3, M4, m4’, m5, m6, M7, m8 |
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a | m1, m3, m4, m5, m6, m7, M8 | ||
m | m1, M2, m3, m4, m5, m6, M7, m8 | m2, m3, m5, m6, M7 | |
ca | m1, m2, m3, m4, m5, m6, m7 | m2, m3, m4, m5 | |
p | m0, m1, m3, M5, m6, m7, M8 | m1, m2, m3s, M5, m6, M7 | M0, m1, M2, m3, m4 |
The species name is derived from Piero Lucci, former President of the Speleological Federation of Emilia-Romagna Region and current President of Speleo GAM Mezzano Caving Club. He was the coordinator of the speleological research project framework in which the new species was found.
The new species does not show particular morphological adaptations to the cave life; the claws, as well as the legs, the antennae and their sensillae are of normal shape, not elongated as is usually observed in the troglobitic species. However, to define whether or not a species is a true troglobitic species many other aspects of their biology and ecophysiology should be considered (
The new species belongs to the group of
Diagnostic characters between
Species | Body lenght | Setae tibiotarsi I-III | Postlabial setae ventral groove | Coxae | Ventral tube | ||
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1.6 mm | 16–17 | 17,18,18 | 4+4 | 10–12 | 6–7 | p3, p6 absent |
2,7 mm | 21–22 | 18,18,17 | 6+6 | 14–15 | 8–9 | p3, p6 present | |
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m3 absent | m3 absent | m3 absent | a4 absent | m5, ca1 absent | a4, ca1, ca2 absent. |
m3, ca2, ca3 absent |
m3 sometimes absent | m3 present | m3 present | a4 present | m5, ca1 present | a4, ca1, ca2 present. |
m3, ca2, ca3 present |
1 |
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2 | Hind margin of the head with 3+3 |
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– | Hind margin of the head with 2+2 |
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3 |
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4 |
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– |
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5 |
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– |
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6 |
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– |
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7 |
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– |
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8 | Head ventrally with 2+2 |
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– | Head ventrally with 3+3 |
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9 |
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– |
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10 |
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– |
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11 | Head ventrally with 2+2 |
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– | Head ventrally with 3+3 |
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12 |
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– |
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13 | Head ventrally with 2+2 |
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– | Head ventrally with 3+3 |
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14 | Pso ventrally as 2/000/2212, |
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– | Pso ventrally as 2/011/1212, |
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15 | Pso ventrally as 3/011/2212 |
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– | Pso ventrally as 3/011/3212 |
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16 | Posterior part of |
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– | Posterior part of |
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We are grateful to Prof. Rafael Jordana and Prof. Andrea Parimuchová for their constructive and helpful comments and suggestions that improved the manuscript.