A new species of Pinelema Wang & Li, 2012, a relictual telemid spider inhabiting caves in Brazil (Araneae, Telemidae)

Abstract

A new species of the genus Pinelema Wang & Li, 2012, occurring in caves of the state of Bahia in Northeastern Brazil, is described and illustrated. This species has the typical troglobitic characters, such as the absence of eyes, elongation of legs and setae, and pale, almost depigmented, somatic coloration. Data on the natural history of populations of P. elinae sp. nov. from caves in the Serra do Ramalho, State of Bahia, are presented. This work represents the first description of a relictual species of Telemidae spiders in Brazil.