Two new troglobitic species of Scleropactidae (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) from Pará, Brazil

Abstract

The South America Scleropactidae includes 53 nominal species distributed in 14 genera. In Brazil, there are 16 species recorded in the north and southeast regions. Here, two new species of Scleropactidae are described based on material collected in caves in the state of Pará, both troglobitic and allocated in the genus Circoniscus. Circoniscus buckupi sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the long second article of antennal flagellum, inner endite of maxillula with a small hook-like spine at the apex, a long dactylar organ with pectinate apex conferring a knife-shaped appearance and the absence of schisma in adults. Circoniscus carajasensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from Circoniscus buckupi sp. nov. by the presence of schisma on pereionite 1 in adults and dactylar organ with a fringe appearance.