The

cave A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...

s of the Serro da Ramalho

karst Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...

area in the municipality of

Serra do Ramalho The caves of the Serro da Ramalho karst area in the municipality of Serra do Ramalho, a municipality of the same name in southwestern Bahia State, Brazil, have been explored since the early 2000s. The several large cave systems present a great b ...

, a municipality of the same name in southwestern

Bahia State Bahia ( , , ; meaning "bay") is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro) and the 5th-largest b ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

, have been explored since the early 2000s. The several large cave systems present a great biospeleological potential. Newly discovered species include the first

troglobitic A troglobite (or, formally, troglobiont) is an animal species, or population of a species, strictly bound to underground habitats, such as caves. These are separate from species that mainly live in above-ground habitats but are also able to live u ...

Amblypygi Amblypygi is an ancient order of arachnid chelicerate arthropods also known as African cave-dwelling spiders, whip spiders and tailless whip scorpions (not to be confused with whip scorpions or vinegaroons that belong to the related order Thelyph ...

recorded for Brazil, '' Charinus troglobius'' Baptista & Giupponi, 2003, an eyeless

harvestman The Opiliones (formerly Phalangida) are an order of arachnids colloquially known as harvestmen, harvesters, harvest spiders, or daddy longlegs. , over 6,650 species of harvestmen have been discovered worldwide, although the total number of ext ...

(''

Giupponia chagasi ''Giupponia'' is a monotypic genus of the harvestman family Gonyleptidae. The only described species, ''G. chagasi'', was found in two limestone caves in Serra do Ramalho, Bahia State, Brazil. The long-legged species features several adaptatio ...

'' Pérez & Kury, 2002), an as yet undescribed genus of spiders (

Ochyroceratidae Ochyroceratidae is a six-eyed spider family, with 165 described species in ten genera. They are common inhabitants of caves and the tropical forest litter of South Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and South America. Considered an ecological counterpar ...

), and a species of

catfish Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, ...

(''

Rhamdia enfurnada ''Rhamdia'' is a genus of three-barbeled catfishes found in Mexico, Central and South America. These catfishes are nocturnal, opportunistic carnivores, found in a wide range of freshwater habitats. This genus includes a number of troglobitic me ...

'' Bichuette & Trajano, 2005).Bichuette & Trajano 2005: 588

Footnotes

References

* (2005): A new cave species of ''

Rhamdia ''Rhamdia'' is a genus of three-barbeled catfishes found in Mexico, Central and South America. These catfishes are nocturnal, opportunistic carnivores, found in a wide range of freshwater habitats. This genus includes a number of troglobitic me ...

'' (

Siluriformes Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of Actinopterygii, ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbel (anatomy), barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from ...

Heptapteridae The Heptapteridae, or three-barbeled catfishes, are a family of catfish that originate from the Americas. Most species are restricted to South America, but '' Imparfinis lineatus'', '' Nemuroglanis panamensis'' and '' Pimelodella chagresi'' are ...

) from Serra do Ramalho, northeastern Brazil, with notes on ecology and behavior. ''Neotropical Ichthyology'' 3(4): 587–595
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* (2003): A new troglomorphic ''

Charinus ''Charinus'' is a genus of amblypygids of the family Charinidae Charinidae is an arachnid family within the order of tailless whip scorpions.Harvey, M.S. 2003. Order Amblypygi. pp. 59–99 in, Catalogue of the Smaller Arachnid Orders of the Wo ...

'' from Minas Gerais State, Brazil (Arachnida: Amblypygi: Charinidae). '' Revista Ibérica de Aracnología'' 7: 79–84.

Footnotes

References

Further reading