A new species of Arrhopalites (Collembola, Symphypleona, Arrhopalitidae) from a cave on the Central East Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

A new species of Collembola, Arrhopalites miravetensis, sp. nov., is described, from a karstic cave in the “Desierto de las Palmas” Nature Park, Castellón, Spain. The new species can be distinguished from all other species in the genus by the combination of the following characters: 2+2 pigmented eyes, rod-like anal appendage with two, relatively long, basal projections, small teeth present in both mucro edges and visible only from posterior view, winged circumanal setae, and no spines on the head. The new species belongs to the A. pygmaeus-group s. str. This species could be a troglophile species as the most of Arrhopalites, although there are too troglobite species.