The first cave-dwelling Spinopilar Mello-Leitão 1940 (Opiliones Gonyleptidae Tricommatinae), described from a Brazilian cave
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Abstract
The fifth species of the genus Spinopilar Mello-Leitão 1940 is described. This is the second cavernicolous species of the subfamily, the other being Pararezendesius luridus H. Soares 1972 from caves in São Paulo State, Brazil. Spinopilar moria, new species, shows elongate appendages, significantly longer than the epigean species of Spinopi-lar, higher tarsal counts and lighter coloration, which may be regarded as troglomorphisms. The type locality — Caverna Morena, Cordisburgo, Minas Gerais, Brazil — is currently threatened because of the increas-ing visitation (tourism and local visitors). The presence of this new and fragile troglobite arachnid is an indication of the biospeleological rich-ness of the region. It needs to be taken into account in order to produce adequate management policy to protect this karstic area.
