On a collection of stygobitic cirolanids (Isopoda: Cirolanidae) from Northern Mexico, with description of a new species (original) (raw)

From caves and springs in northern Mexico (Tamaulipas and Coahuila), mostly explored by diving, seven species of stygobitic and troglomorphic cirolanids were sampled: four species of Speocirolana BOLIVAR (one of them , interesting in several respects, described as new) , the two known species of Sphaerolana COLE & MI NCKLEY , and Cirolanides texensis BENEDICT. For all six already known species, • the localities are new, and additional information is provided on their morphology, variability, and relationships. With 15 described spec ies, Mexico has a quite remarkable and varied assemblage of subterranean Cirolanidae, pointing to quite diverse marine ancestors.