Two New Cave Pseudochthonius and Vulnerability of Endemic Fauna
This study describes two new cave-dwelling species of Pseudochthonius from Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil, expanding the known diversity of the genus and providing new insights into the country’s subterranean fauna. One of the species is represented by a single specimen collected in one of the few recognized subterranean biodiversity hotspots in South America, highlighting the rarity and ecological vulnerability of these specialized organisms. The findings emphasize the biological importance of caves as unique habitats that harbor highly adapted and often endemic species. Moreover, these descriptions contribute directly to conservation efforts, since the presence of rare or restricted taxa is one of the main criteria for legal cave protection in Brazil. At a time when national cave protection laws are being weakened, documenting and describing such species is essential to safeguard Brazil’s subterranean biodiversity.
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