First report of cave-adapted mite harvesters (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi) from Aotearoa New Zealand

Mite harvesters (Arachnida: Opiliones: Cyphophthalmi) are tiny arachnids known to inhabit leaf litter on forest floors throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Recently, Cyphophthalmi in the genus <i>Aoraki</i> were discovered in caves in the northern South Island, representing the first records of cave-dwelling mite harvesters from New Zealand. A comparison of anatomical ratios taken from body and appendage measurements of the cave animals and epigean <i>Aoraki</i> species demonstrate that the cave animals display trends characteristic of troglobitic arthropods, suggesting adaptation to cavernicolous environments. We sequenced the mitochondrial loci COI and 16S rRNA from one of the cave specimens in order to better define the animal's phylogenetic position and to assess the possibility that it represents a new species. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, results suggest the animals are cave-adapted populations of <i>Aoraki westlandica</i>.

螨类收获蛛（蛛形纲：盲蛛目：弱盲蛛亚目（Cyphophthalmi））是一类小型蛛形动物，已知栖息于全球生物多样性热点地区之一的新西兰（毛利语名Aotearoa New Zealand）的森林地表落叶层中。近期，研究人员在南岛北部的洞穴中发现了隶属于奥拉基盲蛛属（Aoraki）的弱盲蛛亚目物种，这是新西兰境内首次记录到穴居螨类收获蛛。通过对洞穴标本与地表生奥拉基盲蛛物种的躯体及附肢测量数据开展解剖比例对比，结果显示洞穴标本呈现出洞栖节肢动物的典型特征，暗示其已适应洞穴生境。为明确该类群的系统发育位置，并评估其是否为新物种的可能性，研究人员对一份洞穴标本的线粒体基因座COI（细胞色素C氧化酶亚基I）和16S rRNA（16S核糖体RNA）进行了测序。通过整合分类学研究方法，结果表明这些洞穴标本是已适应洞穴生境的韦斯特兰奥拉基盲蛛（Aoraki westlandica）种群。