Tuluweckelia cernua Holsinger, 1990

Angyal, Dorottya, Chavez-Solis, Efrain M., Lievano-Beltran, Luis A., Magana, Benjamin, Simoes, Nuno & Mascaro, Maite, 2020, New distribution records of subterranean crustaceans from cenotes in Yucatan (Mexico), ZooKeys 911, pp. 21-49 : 21

Tuluweckelia cernua Holsinger, 1990 Figure 2G

Material examined.

3 individuals; Cenote San Juan, depth 27.0-27.1 m, cave, freshwater, 27 °C, Homun, Yucatan, Mexico; 7 May 2016; colls. D. Angyal & E. Chávez Solís. 2 individuals; Cenote Dzonbakal, depth 29.0 m, cave, freshwater, 27 °C, San Antonio Mulix, Yucatan, Mexico; 22 May 2016; colls. D. Angyal, J. Baduy & B. Magaña. 10 individuals; Cenote Tres Oches, depth 15.8-22.9 m, cave, freshwater, 27 °C, Homun, Yucatan, Mexico; 5 June 2016; colls. D. Angyal & E. Chávez Solís. 3 individuals; Cenote Xaan, depth 22.7-26.6 m, cave, freshwater, 27 °C, Homun, Yucatan, Mexico; 9 June 2016; colls. D. Angyal & E. Chávez Solís. 3 individuals; Cenote Kakuel, depth 32.2-38 m, cave, freshwater, 27 °C, Mucuyche, Yucatan, Mexico; 10 June 2016; colls. D. Angyal & E. Chávez Solís. 3 individuals; Cenote Kankirixche, depth 20.4-49.6 m, cavern and cave, freshwater, 27 °C, Mucuyche, Yucatan, Mexico; 11 June 2016; colls. D. Angyal & E. Chávez Solís. 2 individuals; Cenote Santito, depth 5.3-6.0 m, cavern, freshwater, 27 °C, Kopoma, Yucatan, Mexico; 10 November 2017; colls. D. Angyal, S. Drs & L. Liévano. 1 individual; Cenote X’baba, depth 26.0 m, cavern, freshwater, 27 °C, Chochola, Yucatan, Mexico; 26 November 2017; colls. S. Drs, L. Liévano & E. Sosa. 1 individual; Cenote Sabtun 1, depth 25.0 m, cavern, above the halocline, 25 °C, Chunchumil, Yucatan, Mexico; 10 December 2017; colls. D. Angyal, S. Drs, E. Chávez Solís, Q. Hernández & S. Reyes. 1 individual; Cenote Pixton, depth 7.0 m, cavern, freshwater, 26 °C, Huhi, Yucatan, Mexico; 18 December 2017; colls. D. Angyal & L. Liévano. 3 individuals; Cenote Yax-Kis, depth 23.4-32.0 m, cave, freshwater, 27 °C, Mucuyche, Yucatan, Mexico; 27 January 2018; colls. D. Angyal, S. Drs & L. Liévano.

Previous distribution.

Holsinger 1990; Álvarez and Iliffe 2008; Álvarez et al. 2015; Angyal et al. 2018; Benítez et al. 2019.

Type locality is Cenote Calavera (Temple of Doom) in Quintana Roo. This species was known only from coastal caves of Quintana Roo: Mayan Blue, Actun Ha (Carwash), Mojara, Naharon (Cristal), Na’ach Wennen Ha, Bang, Muknal, Odyssey, and Tabano.

Remarks.

Tuluweckelia cernua was both the most frequent and abundant stygobiotic amphipod in the present study. Additional observations were from cenotes Yaal Utsil, El Virgen, and Dzalbay. In contrast with previous reports (e.g. Holsinger 1990), T. cernua always occurred in freshwater habitats. Individuals were collected between depths of 5-50 m. The species co-occurred with M. troglomorpha in five cenotes. These are the first distributional records of T. cernua for the state of Yucatan. Known localities of this species have almost tripled, increasing its distribution range into the Yucatan inland area.

Figures

Figure 2. A Tulumella unidens (Thermosbaenacea) B Stygiomysis cokei (Stygiomysida) C Stygiomysis cf. holthuisi (Stygiomysida) D Antromysis cenotensis (Mysida) E Mayaweckelia troglomorpha (Amphipoda) F Mayaweckelia cenoticola (Amphipoda) G Tuluweckelia cernua (Amphipoda). Scale bars: 1 mm (A, C, D, F, G); 10 mm (B, E).