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Issue: Vol. 5711 No. 4: 21 Oct. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-10-21
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5711.4.5
Page range: 545-562
Abstract views: 47
PDF downloaded: 1

Conservation, systematics and ultrastructure of the poorly known amblypygid species Charinus santanensis (Charontidae, Amblypygi) from Caatinga caves in Brazil

Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida; Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia; Laboratório de Aracnologia; Porto Alegre; Brazil; Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Laboratorio de Entomología; Av. Arenales 1256; Lima 14; Peru
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida; Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia; Laboratório de Aracnologia; Porto Alegre; Brazil
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida; Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia; Laboratório de Aracnologia; Porto Alegre; Brazil
Universidade Federal de Lavras; Departamento de Ecologia e Conservação; Lavras; Brazil
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History; School of Biological Sciences; University of Oklahoma; Norman; OK 73072; United States
Amblypygi karst water-repellent diversity arachnid Neotropical

Abstract

Charinus is the most speciose genus of the Charontidae, with the highest number of species in Brazil (43 spp). Almost half of these species are known to inhabit caves, a fragile ecosystem that is little known and is highly threatened by human activities. Eleven of the Brazilian species of Charinus occur only inside caves (troglobionts) being, therefore, an important component of cave ecosystems acting as one of the major cave predators. Here, we discuss conservation priorities and concerns for caves in northeastern Brazil, describe for the first time the female of Charinus santanensis and characterize the species hydrophobic coating and its crystals, a likely important protection for hot and humid environments, presenting comparison with its congeners.

 

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How to Cite

Munguia, W.P., Teixeira, R.A., Costa, R.S., Ferreira, R.L. & Miranda, G.S.D. (2025) Conservation, systematics and ultrastructure of the poorly known amblypygid species Charinus santanensis (Charontidae, Amblypygi) from Caatinga caves in Brazil. Zootaxa, 5711 (4), 545–562. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5711.4.5