A new stygobitic crayfish from Mexico, Procambarus cavernicola (Decapoda: Cambaridae), with a review of cave-dwelling crayfishes in Mexico

Abstract

Procambarus (Austrocambarus) cavernicola, a new species of stygobitic crayfish known only from Gabriel Cave, Oaxaca, Mexico, is described. The new species is characterised by a body that lacks pigmentation, except for small purple spots on the eyes; with small setae on the tip of the eye; elongated chelipeds, with the surface of chela covered with small tufts of short setae; first pleopod of form 1 male with mesial process elongated and conical, triangular central projection, reduced cephalic process and cephalic shoulder forming convex border; annulus ventralis with preannular plate covered with short setae, postannuluar plate oval-shaped, with blunt tubercles. The new species is morphologically similar to other stygobite members of the subgenus Austrocambarus from the Oaxaca-Veracruz area, whose relationships are discussed. The distributions and levels of adaptation to the subterranean environment of 16 cave-inhabiting taxa of Procambarus in Mexico are reviewed.