A new hypogean Cyathura from New Caledonia (Crustacea, Isopoda, Anthuridea)

Abstract

Cyathuva numeae n.sp. from New Caledonia is the sixth blind species of the genus Cyathura Norman & Stebbing, 1886, found in hypogean habitats. The new species lives in the interstitia of coastal sand or gravel, like C. milloti Chappuis et al., 1956, from Réunion. A close relationship to the other species is not obvious; the specific shape of the appendix masculina can be derived from the carinata-type. In contrast to the slender species, C. curassavica Stork, 1940, and C. specus Bowman, 1965, in the new species the adaptations to hypogean life are limited to the small body size and reduction of the eyes