Rodrigo Ferreira

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Verified

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• PhD, MSc
• Professor (Full) at Federal University of Lavras

Two new subterranean species of the genus Spelaeogammarus da Silva Brum, 1975 in Serra do Ramalho municipality, Bahia state, and Montes Claros municipality, Minas Gerais state, both in Brazil, are described herein. With these additions, the genus now comprises ten known species. This study includes a comparative table detailing the diagnostic chara...

A new stygobitic calabozoid species, Brasileirinho sergipanus sp. nov., is described. This species is exclusively found in the Toca da Fumaça cave, located within the limestones of the Canudos Geological Formation in Sergipe state, northeastern Brazil. The new species is characterized by several distinctive traits, notably the reduced and simple sh...

The connectivity between epigean and cave habitats is crucial for maintaining invertebrate communities once it can facilitate faunal movement, organic resource supply, and environmental stability. The study aimed to investigate how some spatial and temporal variations in environmental factors within caves and epigean habitats influence invertebrate...

Scleropactidae are one of the most abundant families of Oniscidea, comprising 28 genera. Within this family, the genus Circoniscus includes 13 species, of which four are troglobitic. We herein describe the fifth troglobitic species of the genus, which represents the first species described from the largest limestone cave of the Brazilian Amazon, Pa...

Two new troglobitic species of pseudoscorpions from the genus Pseudochthonius are described from Minas Gerais, southeast of Brazil. Detailed morphological descriptions, diagnostic characteristics, and illustrations are provided for Pseudochthonius maquinensis sp. nov. and Pseudochthonius urubuquaqua sp. nov. Additionally, we discuss and suggest fut...

The genus Troglorhopalurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is endemic to northeastern Brazil and comprises cave-dwelling species with limited distributions. Based on newly collected specimens, this study provides a description of a new cave-dwelling Troglorhopalurus species and the first detailed description of the male hemispermatophore of the genus. Trogl...

Epigean organisms synchronize their rhythms with light-dark cycles, but hypogean species often lack these rhythms due to stable cave conditions. This study examined circadian rhythms in troglobitic har-vestmen (genus) by analyzing their locomotor activity under constant darkness (DD), constant light (LL), and light-dark (LD 12:12) cycles. Specimens...

Newly discovered cave-restricted species found within the Jandaíra karst formation in Rio Grande do Norte state, northeastern Brazil, have unveiled three new calabozoid species. To accommodate their unique differences based in the shape of the head shield, the pleon morphology, and the pleopods exopod shape, the genera Oiticicarcinia n. gen., Itara...

This research investigates bacterial communities in various cave pool water and substrates from Brazil and Romania for their use as indicators of environmental impacts on groundwater. Regional and seasonal differences were observed even if, at the phylum level, common bacteria for both countries were found. Distinct patterns emerged at the genus le...

Subterranean ecosystems remain among the least explored on the planet, although studies have unveiled their biodiversity and potential for research across various ecological domains. Historically, the European continent pioneered research and knowledge production in this field. However, interest in the topic has been growing on other continents, pa...

The genus Aclodes (orthoptera: grylloidea: Phalangopsidae) currently comprises 36 species. In this study, we describe two new species—Aclodes guane sp. nov. and Aclodes oscari sp. nov.—found in caves in Central-East Andean Colombia, based on distinguished male genitalia characteristics and number of teeth in the stridulatory file of the right tegmi...

Understanding the factors that shape invertebrate communities within caves is crucial globally, yet studies on this topic remain limited. To explore the ecological factors influencing the fauna of Padre Cave, the third-largest cave in Brazil, we analyzed the richness and composition of invertebrate communities and their responses to different cave...

Caves serve as exceptional ecological models for studying the environmental factors that shape biological communities. However, there has been limited exploration into understanding how these environmental factors affect communities’ distribution and responses to habitat traits within the same cave system. To address this gap, we employed standardi...

It has come to our attention that zoological material from the same caves was independently used in two separate studies, both published in 12 December 2024 (Cardoso et al. 2024; López-Orozco et al. 2024), resulting in different names being assigned to the same species.

New collections from caves in Bahia state, northeastern Brazil, have revealed additional occurrences of Xangoniscus species. These findings have led to the identification of previously unknown, taxonomically significant morphological features for the genus, including the presence of a depression on the propodus and an expansion of the carpus in per...

This research investigates bacterial communities in various cave pool water and substrates from Brazil and Romania for their use as indicators of environmental impacts on groundwater. Significant regional and seasonal differences were observed even if, at the phylum level, common bacteria were found in both countries. Distinct patterns emerged at t...

Aziza cave, which is also known as kef Aziza or Tazouguert cave, represents an important and large karstic system that consists of more than 3.5 km of surveyed galleries, standing as the fifth most extensive cave system in Morocco and one of the ten largest in North Africa. This study unveils Aziza cave as an important spot of subterranean diversit...

Caves, once thought to be isolated ecosystems", are now understood to have intricate connections with surface environments, particularly evident at their entrances. These connections can significantly affect the microclimate within caves, leading to varying degrees of environmental stability. Our research explores the impact of microclimate conditi...

The lack of understanding regarding how endogenous and behavioral factors affect the biological rhythms of amblypygid arachnids in cave environments underscores a gap in chronobiologic knowledge for this group. This study investigates the influence of specialization on subterranean habitats and the presence of biological rhythms on the locomotor ac...

Groundwater ecosystems are inhabited by unique assemblages of animals, often with restricted distributions and highly specialized traits. Those assemblages sustain ecosystem functioning and contribute to important ecosystem services. Knowledge of the species occurring in those habitats and the main ecological and historical drivers for their distri...

In cave environments, stable conditions devoid of light-dark cycles and temperature fluctuations sustain circadian clock mechanisms across various species. However, species adapted to these conditions may exhibit disruption of circadian rhythm in locomotor activity. This study examines potential rhythm loss due to convergent evolution in five semi-...

In cave environments, stable conditions devoid of light-dark cycles and temperature fluctuations sustain circadian clock mechanisms across various species. However, species adapted to these conditions may exhibit disruption of circadian rhythm in locomotor activity. This study examines potential rhythm loss due to convergent evolution in five semi-...

The subterranean environments of the Caatinga drylands (Brazilian biome) host a diverse array of aquatic systems and diversity, comprising both lentic and lotic ecosystems. Species diversity in these environmnts has been overlooked and remains poorly understood, especially regarding zooplankton. We studied the species richness and composition of zo...

Two new pseudoscorpion species, Pseudochthonius aware sp. nov. and Pseudochthonius itakuatiara sp. nov., are herein described. These species exhibit distinct characteristics that differentiate them from other congeneric species, including variations in chelal and cheliceral dentition, coxal chaetotaxy, and measurements. In addition to taxonomic det...

Notolathrus sensitivus holds the distinction of being the first cave-restricted planthopper species documented in South America, and currently stands as the sole known troglobitic Fulgoromorpha species in Argentina. This paper presents a comprehensive supplementary description of N. sensitivus, incorporating newly collected male and female specime...

Troglobites are highly adapted species exclusive to subterranean life. Due to the discontinuous characteristic of subterranean habitats, the morphological study of such species with a wide geographic distribution becomes especially important to evaluate phenomena such as intraspecific variations. Charinus troglobius is an example of troglomorphic s...

In caves, the absence of natural light in deeper regions starkly contrasts with the entrance areas, which still exhibit a light gradient extending into the cave interior. This interplay with the structural gradient of the environment potentially exerts distinct influences on invertebrate communities residing in different cave light zones. To invest...

Circadian clocks, internal mechanisms that generate 24-hour rhythms, play a crucial role in coordinating biological events with day-night cycles. In light-deprived environments such as caves, species, particularly isolated obligatory troglobites, may exhibit evolutionary adaptations in biological rhythms due to light exposure. To explore rhythm exp...

Circadian clocks, internal mechanisms that generate 24-hour rhythms, play a crucial role in coordinating biological events with day-night cycles. In light-deprived environments such as caves, species, particularly isolated obligatory troglobites, may exhibit evolutionary adaptations in biological rhythms due to light exposure. To explore rhythm exp...

Caves develop in areas that are frequently used by humans, whether for farming, urbanization or mineral extraction. These activities have an impact on subterranean ecosystems. For this reason, efforts have been made in various regions of the world to preserve the speleological heritage. To this end, identifying priorities for the commitment of effo...

One of the most important steps in identifying priority areas for conservation is the assessment of species richness and their extinction risks. While most species remain undescribed, the identification of cryptic lineages is frequent in phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies. This is particularly common in troglobites, exclusively subterranean o...

The genus Phaeophilacris Walker, 1871 (Grylloidea: Phalangopsidae), endemic to Africa, currently encompasses 80 species grouped into 11 subgenera. Over half of these species inhabit subterranean environments. This study introduces the description of two novel species discovered in two distinct caves in Kenya: P. (Taenacris) kereita n. sp. and P. (T...

A new troglobitic species of Chelodesmidae, Cayenniola albaserrata n. sp., from the Água Clara cave system, Caatinga Domain, Bahia, Brazil is described. The new species is only the sixth known troglobitic chelodesmid, the first troglobitic species in the Priodesmini, and the first member of the tribe recorded from the state of Bahia. Unique among t...

Nine species of Ctenorillo Verhoeff, 1942 are described from Brazil, revealing a great diversity of the genus in South America. Ctenorillo pelado Cardoso & Ferreira, n. sp., and C. araguaia Cardoso & Ferreira, n. sp. are described, and C. ferrarai Campos-Filho, Araujo & Taiti, 2014 has the knowledge of its distribution expanded from the state of Pa...

The Amazon is renowned worldwide for its biological significance, but it also harbors substantial mineral reserves. Among these, the ferruginous geosystems of the region are critical for iron ore extraction, accounting for 10% of Brazil’s export revenue. Additionally, this region holds a significant speleological heritage with more than 1,000 caves...

We present the description and illustration of a new species within the genus Charinus Simon, 1892, discovered in a cave located in the state of Tocantins, situated in the northern region of Brazil. Charinus tocantinensis sp. nov., can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of distinctive characters: pedipalp femur with fo...

A new cave-dwelling species of Ptiloneuropsis from southeastern Brazil, is here described based on both sexes, illustrated and named as: Ptiloneuropsis krenaki sp. nov. This new species differs from Ptiloneuropsis immaculata Roesler, 1940 and Ptiloneuropsis diamantina Silva-Neto, García Aldrete & Rafael, 2018 in details of the hypandrium and phallo...

Groundwater is a vital ecosystem of the global water cycle, hosting unique biodiversity and providing essential services to societies. Despite being the largest unfrozen freshwater resource, in a period of depletion by extraction and pollution, groundwater environments have been repeatedly overlooked in global biodiversity conservation agendas. Dis...

The Água Clara Cave System was previously recognized as a prominent hotspot of subterranean biodiversity in South America, harboring 31 cave-restricted species. However, a recent expedition conducted in September 2023, coinciding with an exceptionally dry period in the region, provided access to previously unexplored areas. Therefore, the objective...

The new species Whiteheadiana thaisae sp. nov., is described and illustrated. This is the first species of the genus known for Toca do Gonçalo cave, located in Campo Formoso municipality, Bahia state, northeastern Brazil. The new species differs from the other species of the genus by presenting frontal lateral projections two times longer than eyes...

Although several biogeographic clippings have already been proposed in the world, only one deals with subterranean ecosystems, being focused on subterranean aquatic habitats in Germany. In this sense, the existence of biogeographic identity in Neotropical subterranean ecosystems is tested here and an attempt is made to understand the factors that d...

Subterranean ants play an important role in the ecology, evolution, and systematics of the Formicidae group. Beyond that, the cryptobiotic environment in which they live exert selective pressure on these organisms at ecological and evolutionary timescales. Hence, the study of subterranean ants is of greatest importance as they are critically releva...

The genus Endecous (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Phalangopsidae) encompasses over 20 species, grouped into four subgenera: E. (Endecous), E. (Pedroecous), E. (Notendecous), and E. (Ramalhoecous). In this study, we present the description of two novel species belonging to the subgenus Endecous (Endecous) Saussure, 1878 (Phalangopsidae) discovered in cave...

Few species of Japygidae (Diplura) have been discovered in cave ecosystems despite their importance as large predators. A small collection of rare specimens of this hexapod group has allowed to explore the taxonomy of japygids from caves in New Zealand, Morocco and South Africa, and to describe one new genus: Imazighenjapyx Sendra & Sánchez-García...

Moonmilk is a cave deposit that was used for medical and cosmetic purposes and has lately raised interest for its antimicrobial potential. We studied five moonmilk samples from four caves with different microclimatic conditions, two temperate in north-western and northern Romania (Ferice, Fața Apei, and Izvorul Tăușoarelor caves) and one tropical i...

Here we describe three cixiid species new to science which we assign to the hitherto monotypic genus Ferricixius Hoch & Ferreira, 2012 from Brazil. Ferricixius michaeli sp. nov. and F. goliathi sp. nov. of the new species are—like the type species Ferricixius davidi Hoch &Ferreira, 2012—obligately cavernicolous and display varying degrees of troglo...

Cave-dwelling species are of special interest in evolutionary biology, because (i) many share particular traits associated with the cave habitat (troglomorphic traits), and (ii) some represent relict lineages that may conserve ancestral traits or possibly transitional traits, which may provide insights into the evolution of other highly derived spe...

RESUMO: A legislação brasileira concernente à determinação de áreas de conservação do patrimônio espeleológico nacional utiliza-se, dentre outras informações, de levantamentos dos parâmetros biológicos encontrados em cavernas, uma vez que estes locais representam acesso direto ao ambiente subterrâneo. Tal prática é recorrente em procedimentos de li...

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...

In this study, we used a multimodal statistical approach to assess the influence of physical, trophic, and shelter components on the spatial and temporal structuring of terrestrial invertebrate communities in limestone caves located in Iuiú and Malhada, southwestern Bahia. Seven caves were sampled during two distinct events, in 2016 and 2021, both...

This study describes a new species of the genus Charinus Simon, 1892, found in a cave in the municipality of Natividade, Tocantins, Brazil. The new species differs from other species of the genus by the number of dorsal and ventral spines on the pedipalp femur, by the presence of well-developed medial eyes, by the ocular tubercle, and the shape of...

The subterranean environment of caves is unique from an ecological perspective. In this environment, a fascinating and adapted flora can occur under subterranean conditions. Therefore, this study investigated how the species Cupania vernalis Cambess. (Sapindaceae), occurring in different environments with distinct characteristics (subterranean to f...

In 2022, Salvador and co-authors published an up-to-date list of gastropod species recorded from Brazilian caves. That list included 18 species (15 land and three freshwater species) that were considered by the authors to be restricted to caves (troglobitic). In this contribution we argue that only six of the species listed by them as truly troglob...

A new species of Neocarus is described from adult female and male specimens collected from an epigean and hypogean ferruginous geosystem located in southeast Brazil. The new species, Neocarus congado sp. nov., is an atypical species with the male expressing dimorphic characters in the chelicera, palp and dorsal shield, through setae with different...

The Água Clara Cave System (ACCS) in Brazil is the richest hotspot of subterranean biodiversity in South America. In this study, we present an updated list of cave-restricted species in the ACCS and compare it with previously published hotspots in Brazil. Our list of cave-obligate fauna comprises 31 species, including 23 troglobionts and 8 stygobio...

Species of the Brazilian cave barklouse genus Neotrogla (Psocodea: “Psocoptera”: Trogiomorpha: Prionoglarididae: Sensitibillini) are known to have a “female penis (gynosome)” that functions as an intromittent organ inserted into the membranous pouches in the simple male genital chamber during copulation to receive semen. However, the functions of o...

The genus Endecous (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Phalangopsidae), commonly found in caves, comprises more than 20 species, grouped into three subgenera: E. (Endecous), E. (Pedroecous) and E. (Notendecous). In this study, from differences observed mainly in the male genitalia, we describe a new subgenus—Endecous (Ramalhoecous) n. sp.—as well as three new...

During the publication of the paper, two figures (plates) were inadvertently omitted and replaced by two other figures that had been mentioned in the text previously. Specifically, the affected figures are Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, and although their legends are correct, the figures themselves are incorrect.

Three new pseudoscorpion species, Pseudochthonius pali sp. nov., Pseudochthonius diamachi sp. nov., and Pseudochthonius koinopoliteia sp. nov., are herein described from caves of Bahia state, Brazil. They can be distinguished from congeners mainly by the absence of eyes or eyespots, chelal and cheliceral dentition, coxal chaetotaxy and body size. S...

Citation: Moutaouakil S, Boulanouar M, Ghamizi M, Lips J, Ferreira RL (2023) Two new sympatric cave species of Castellanethes (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Olibrinidae) from Western High Atlas of Morocco. Subterranean Biology 45: 17-37. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.45.95845 Abstract Two new sympatric isopod species of the genus Castellanethes (Olibrinid...

Two new species of Diploexochus are described. Diploexochus spinatus sp. nov. from Lapa do Honorato cave, located in the municipality of Iuiu, and Diploexochus obscurus sp. nov. from Água Escura I cave, located in the municipality of Carinhanha, both in the southwest of Bahia State, northeastern Brazil. Both species are likely to occur in caves due...

Brazilian sex-role reversed cave insects (genus Neotrogla) have a striking structure called the gynosome (or female penis), which deeply penetrates male vagina-like genitalia during copulation to receive nutritious semen. However, the protruding and retracting mechanisms of the female penis, including their evolutionary origin, are poorly understoo...

Using species distribution modelling (SDMs) techniques, we predicted the biogeographic history of crickets commonly found in Neotropical caves as a way to detect potential long-term environmental refuges in South America. Our models were built based on a thorough investigation of existing database regarding the genus Endecous Saussure, 1878 (Ensife...

Understanding patterns of groundwater biodiversity is a challenging task because of the inherent difficulty in drawing links between environmental factors, eco-evolutionary processes, and patterns. Using studies in Europe, the Americas, and Australia, we focus on patterns that are common enough among taxonomic groups and continents in species richn...

Groundwater is a vital ecosystem of the global water cycle, hosting unique biodiversity and providing essential services to societies. Despite being the largest unfrozen freshwater resource, in a period of depletion by extraction and pollution, groundwater environments have been repeatedly overlooked in global biodiversity conservation agendas. Dis...

The genus Erebonyx was proposed to accommodate a single troglobitic species from northeastern Brazil. A second cricket belonging to this genus is herein described, but although it was also found in caves, it does not bear any troglomorphic traits, suggesting it is a troglophilic species. The new species differs from the other species on the genus i...

Chelodesmidae is one of the most species rich families within the Myriapoda. However, little is known regarding their association with caves. We provide a list of all Chelodesmidae taxa reported from caves, map their worldwide distribution, and discuss the troglomorphic features of the group. A total of 25 species and subspecies from 20 genera and...

A new troglobitic palpigrade from Southeastern Brazil is described based on nine specimens (including males, females and immatures of all stages) collected in an iron ore cave named “Mocororô”. The most peculiar trait of Eukoenenia mocororo sp. nov. that readily distinguishes it from other Eukoenenia species described worldwide is the presence of f...

A VIDA SUBTERRÂNEA NO CARSTE DE PAINS, MINAS GERAIS, BRASIL: BIODIVERSIDADE, AMEAÇAS E CONSERVAÇÃO DE FAUNA EM UMA NOTÁVEL PAISAGEM CÁRSTICA TROPICAL

Ten Opilioacaridae species from the genera Caribeacarus and Neocarus are found in subterranean habitats in Brazil, and several new species are waiting to be described. As part of our studies on cave opilioacarid species, two new species from Peruaçu Caves National Park, Minas Gerais state, are described in the present paper. The two new species pre...

Scarabeoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera) present more than 2000 species recorded from all over Brazil. They have been scarcely recorded from caves, and truly troglobitic species are yet to be found in the country. In this study, we carried out a review of all existing scarab beetles deposited until 2017 in the Coleção de Invertebrados Subterrâneos de Lav...

Subterranean habitats around the world can shelter diversified and threatened faunal communities. However, issues related to alterations in the landscape and structure of subterranean habitats still need to be better understood. Therefore, we used a multi-spatial scale analysis of land cover, land use, and cave habitats to predict the diversity of...

A intenção no presente capítulo é a de discutir questões relacionadas à dinâmica de recursos alimentares em ambientes subterrâneos, com foco principalmente nas cavernas. Estes ecossistemas são consensualmente caracterizados como oligotróficos, pelo fato de apresentarem ausência de produtividade primária fotossintética o que leva à consequente escas...

As cavernas são consideradas “armadilhas” naturais de sedimentos e outros materiais externos que normalmente são transportados e depositados em seu interior, podendo ser acumulados em um ambiente relativamente estável por muitos anos, proporcionando condições adequadas para estudos sedimentológicos e paleoambientais. Estudos sobre a estratigrafia e...

Community stability and carrying capacity are essential core concepts in ecology because they reflect the interactions between organisms and their environment and provide clues to predictability. Since caves are considered stable habitats, we used long-term invertebrate monitoring to understand temporal and spatial carrying capacity in a neotropica...

Simple Summary A new genus and species of cave springtail are herein described. The new species has a remarkable morphology, suggesting it evolved within caves, such as the appendages and chaetae elongation, loss of body pigments, and 5 + 5 eyes reduced in size. The new species may also be occasionally cannibalistic, as one of the analyzed females...

cavernicola sp. nov. is here described and illustrated, based on male and female specimens collected in caves located in an ecotone region between the Brazilian Savannah (Cerrado biome) and the Atlantic Forest, in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. Illustrations are provided of 19 types of variation in the fore and hindwings veins of males an...

The theory of habitat heterogeneity, which treats one of the global drivers of biodiversity, is valid for several taxonomic groups and distinct ecosystems, including subterranean environments. However, knowledge about the factors that influence the structure of subterranean communities remains limited, especially in Neotropical regions. We sought t...