Nova espécie de Sminthurides Börner, 1900 (Collembola, Sminthurididae) da Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brasil

Abstract

Springtails are tiny organisms, and can easily go unnoticed despite being abundant in the soil. They hold a large influence on terrestrial ecosystems acting in the decomposition of organic matter, controlling soil microorganisms populations and dispersion, and being important as base of food chains involving small predators. The order Symphypleona Börner (Collembola) currently holds 10 valid families, and one of them, Sminthurididae, is represented by 12 genera distributed all over the globe, being the largest Sphaeridia Linnaniemi, with 69 species and Sminthurides Börner, with 56 species. All other genera hold less them three species each. This study aims to describe and present a taxonomic comparison of a new species of Sminthurides from the Neotropical Region, collected from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. The specimens were collected in Lençóis, Bahia, from leaf and soil samples. Thereafter, the specimens were mounted on glass slides for identification under an optical microscope attached to a drawing tube. The new species presents some unique characters, specially the presence of three cuticular spines on each dens of the furca. No other species of Sminthurides has such structures. It also shows the tibiotarsal organ with 3 projections and 1 guard chaeta, while all other Neotropical species have only 2 projections and 1 guard chaeta, with the exception of S. terrestris. The description of this new species of Sminthurides contributes to the taxonomy and systematics of the Symphypleona, as well as adds data to support future reviews of the group.