Aegla bambui sp. nov. (Decapoda: Anomura: Aeglidae), a new obligate cave-dwelling species from southeastern Brazil

Zootaxa 2026 Open access

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Authors: Jéssica Colavite, Marcos Tavares, AMANDA KERSNOVSKY, Alexandre Camargo, Fernando Luís Medina Mantelatto, Sérgio L. S. Bueno
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5849.2.2
Cited by: 1

Abstract

A new species of stygobitic Aegla is described and illustrated from the Alto Ribeira karst region in southeastern Brazil. It shows distinct troglomorphic traits, notably reduced corneal pigmentation, and is compared with the seven other stygobitic species of Aegla known to date. Phylogenetic analyses of three mitochondrial markers (COI, COII, and 16S) place Aegla bambui sp. nov. in the most recently diverged clade, sister to Aegla lachesis Bueno & Tavares, 2024 from the Ribeira de Iguape Basin. Owing to its restricted range and specialized habitat, Aegla bambui sp. nov. qualifies as Critically Endangered under IUCN criteria, in line with other stygobitic aeglids.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy Crustacean biology and ecology Marine Biology and Ecology Research

Publication details

Journal / source
Zootaxa
Publisher
Magnolia Press
Volume
5849
Issue
2
Pages
169–185
Publication date
13 July 2026