A new genus of Neelidae (Collembola) from Mexican caves.
The new genus Spinaethorax, whose proposal is based on specimens of Megalothorax spinotricosus Palacios-Vargas & Sánchez, 1999, is given a new name combination and a redescription. The type species comes from two caves in Campeche State, México. A new combination is also suggested for Megalothorax tonoius Palacios-Vargas & Sánchez, 1999. The new genus is similar to Megalothorax Willem, 1900 and Neelus Folsom, 1896, but it clearly differs from all genera within family Neelidae by a peculiar combination of characters and the presence of some new features, e.g. globular sensillum on Ant. III, sword-like macrosetae on oral fold. A comparative table and an identification key for all Neelidae genera as well as some summary tables of antennae chaetotaxy and legs setation for type species are provided.
State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Slovak Caves Administration, Cave Care Department, Železničná 31, 979 01 Rimavská Sobota, Slovakia.
Vladimír
V
Papáč
Laboratorio de Ecologia y Sistemática de Microartrópodos, Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 045 10 México, D.F.
José G
JG
Palacios-Vargas
Mexico; Neelidae; Taxonomy