Lucifuga dentata Poey, 1858

Hernandez, Damir, Moller, Peter Rask, Casane, Didier & Garcia-Machado, Erik, 2020, A new species of the cave-fish genus Lucifuga (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae), from eastern Cuba, ZooKeys 946, pp. 17-35 : 17

Lucifuga dentata Poey, 1858

Material examined.

(126 specimens: 63 females, 63 males).

Syntypes and/or Poey specimens.

MCZ 12415, 32329, 85-90 mm SL, females, Cave of Cajio, Cuba.

Additional specimens.

MFP 18.000312, 93.6 mm SL, female, El Judio cave, Guanahacabibes peninsula, Sandino municipality, collected by José Luis Ponce de León, October 2006; MFP 18.000048, 97.35 mm SL, female, El Judio cave, Guanahacabibes peninsula, Sandino municipality, collected by José Luis Ponce de León, October 2006; MFP 18.000195, 107.1 mm SL, male, El Judio cave, Guanahacabibes peninsula, Sandino municipality, collected by Niurka Hernández, 11 September 2006; MFP 18.000313 100.1 mm SL, female, El Judio cave, Guanahacabibes peninsula, Sandino municipality, collected by José Ponce de León, April 2007; MFP 18.000314 95.1 mm SL, female, El Judio cave, Guanahacabibes peninsula, Sandino municipality, collected by José Ponce de León, April 2007; MFP 18.000315 78.5 mm SL, female, El Judio cave, Guanahacabibes peninsula, Sandino municipality, collected by José Ponce de León, April 2007; MFP 18.000316, 79.95 mm SL, female, El Grillo cave, El Valle locality, Sandino municipality, collected by Yosvani Medina and Damir Hernández, 7 May 2003; MFP 18.000317 (2 specimens), 75.95-100.9 mm SL, La Raja cave, La Jarreta locality, Sandino municipality, collected by Yosvani Medina and Damir Hernández, 6 May 2003; MFP 18.000318 (3 specimens), 93.0-93.5 mm SL, El Jagüey cave, Majin locality, Sandino municipality, collected by Yosvani Medina and Damir Hernández, 30 April 2003; MFP 18.000319 (3 specimens), 75.6-104.3 mm SL, El Patrón cave, Majin locality, Sandino municipality, collected by Yosvani Medina and Damir Hernández, 30 April 2003; MFP 18.000320 (4 specimens), 77.25-97.25 mm SL, Felipe cave, Cayuco locality, Sandino municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado and Pedro Chevalier, 1 March 2001; MFP 18.000321, 81.05 mm SL, female, Pozo Azul sinkhole, Cayuco locality, Sandino municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 18 September 2007; MFP 18.000322, 92.5 mm SL, female, Pozo Azul sinkhole, Cayuco locality, Sandino municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 18 September 2007; MFP 18.000323, 90.15 mm SL, male, Pozo Azul sinkhole, Cayuco locality, Sandino municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 18 September 2007; MFP 18.000324, 82.9 mm SL, female, Pozo Azul sinkhole, Cayuco locality, Sandino municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 18 September 2007. South of Havana Province: MFP 18.000325 (2 specimens), 100.0-103.4 mm SL, Paredones cave, La Salud locality, Caimito municipality, collected by Antonio Nuñez Jimenez, date unknown; MFP 18.000326, 105.0 mm SL, female, Paredones cave, La Salud locality, Caimito municipality, collected by José Álvarez Lemus, date unknown; MFP 18.000327, 52.5 mm SL, female, Paredones cave, La Salud locality, Caimito municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 18 March 2004; MFP 18.000328, 82.55 mm SL, female, Paredones cave, La Salud locality, Caimito municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 18 March 2004; MFP 18.000329, 86.61 mm SL, female, Paredones cave, La Salud locality, Caimito municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 18 March 2004; MFP 18.000330, 104.0 mm SL, male, Paredones cave, La Salud locality, Caimito municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 18 March 2004; MFP 18.000331, 103.5 mm SL, male, Juanelo Piedra cave, Quibicán municipality, collected by José R. Martínez and Gonzalo Abio, date unknown; MFP 18.000332, 120.0 mm SL, male, Juanelo Piedra cave, Quibicán municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 1 July 2005; MFP 18.000333, 102.15 mm SL, male, Juanelo Piedra cave, Quibicán municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 1 July 2005; MFP 18.000334, 97.4 mm SL, male, Juanelo Piedra cave, Quibicán municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 1 July 2005; MFP 18.000335, 92.5 mm SL, male, Juanelo Piedra cave, Quibicán municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 1 July 2005; MFP 18.000336, 90.9 mm SL, female, Juanelo Piedra cave, Quibicán municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 1 July 2005; MFP 18.000368 (20 specimens), 75.9-121.2 mm SL, Luis Piedra cave, Quibicán municipality, collected by Alfredo Garcia-Debrás and Abel Ramirez, July 1993; MFP 18.000337 119.0 mm SL, male, Emilio cave, Ashton formation, Las Cañas locality, Artemisa municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, 20 October 1984; MFP 18.000338, 115.0 mm SL, male, Emilio cave, Ashton formation, Las Cañas locality, Artemisa municipality, collected by Armando Montoto, Javier Vazquez, Erik García-Machado and Pedro A. Díaz, 26 January 1985; MFP 18.000339 (2 specimens), 96.0-99.1 mm SL, Emilio cave, Ashton formation, Las Cañas locality, Artemisa municipality, collected by Armando Montoto and Gonzalo Abio, 5 May 1984; MFP 18.000340 (4 specimens), 84.5-101.9 mm SL, Emilio cave, Ashton formation, Las Cañas locality, Artemisa municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier, Armando Montoto and Lisset Gómez, 25 October 2000; MFP 18.000342, 86.1 mm SL, male, Baño II cave, Ashton formation, Las Cañas locality, Artemisa municipality, collected by Gonzalo Abio, 20 October 1984; MFP 18.000343 (4 specimens), 67.15-90.25 mm SL, Baño II cave, Ashton formation, Las Cañas locality, Artemisa municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier, Armando Montoto and Lisset Gómez, 25 October 2000; MFP 18.000196, 82.15 mm SL, female, Baño II cave, Ashton formation, Las Cañas locality, Artemisa municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 11 July 2002; MFP 18.000341 (2 specimens), 67.15-90.25 mm SL, Baño II cave, Ashton formation, Las Cañas locality, Artemisa municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 11 July 2002; MFP 18.000345 (5 specimens), 74.3-95.25 mm SL, Lechuza cave, Ashton formation, Las Cañas locality, Artemisa municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier, Armando Montoto and Lisset Gómez, 25 October 2000; MFP 18.000344, 81.0 mm SL, female, El Sitio cave, Ashton formation, Las Cañas locality, Artemisa municipality, collected by José R. Martínez and Gonzalo Abio, 20 October 1984; MFP 18.000346, 85.0 mm SL, male, El Sitio cave, Ashton formation, Las Cañas locality, Artemisa municipality (collection data unknown). South of Matanzas Province: MFP 18.000347, 81.5 mm SL, male, Chicharrones cave, Bolondrón municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 28 April 2005; MFP 18.000348, 78.35 mm SL, male, Chicharrones cave, Bolondrón municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 28 April 2005; MFP 18.000349, 73.1 mm SL, female, Chicharrones cave, Bolondrón municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 28 April 2005; MFP 18.000350, 74.1 mm SL, female, Chicharrones cave, Bolondrón municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 28 April 2005; MFP 18.000351, 79.9 mm SL, female, Chicharrones cave, Bolondrón municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 28 April 2005; MFP 18.000352, 77.15 mm SL, male, Chicharrones cave, Bolondrón municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, September 2008; MFP 18.000369 (11 specimens), 69.0-114.15 mm SL, Chicharrones cave, Bolondrón municipality, collected by Alfredo Garcia-Debrás, October 1996; MFP 18.000370 (3 specimens), 74.0-104.0 mm SL, Los Chivos cave, Bolondrón municipality, collected by Alfredo Garcia-Debrás, October 1996; MFP 18.000367 (12 specimens), 65.25-120.1 mm SL, Los Chivos cave, Bolondrón municipality, collected by Alfredo Garcia-Debrás, October 1996; MFP 18.000197, 78.95 mm SL, male, Perico Sánchez cave, Jagüey Grande municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 27 April 2005; MFP 18.000353, 69.05 mm SL, female, Perico Sánchez cave, Jagüey Grande municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 27 April 2005; MFP 18.000354, 67.45 mm SL, male, Perico Sánchez cave, Jagüey Grande municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 27 April 2005; MFP 18.000355, 71.55 mm SL, female, Perico Sánchez cave, Jagüey Grande municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 27 April 2005; MFP 18.000356, 72.9 mm SL, female, El Pozo cave, Agramonte municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 27 April 2005; MFP 18.000357, 72.95 mm SL, female, El Pozo cave, Agramonte municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 27 April 2005; MFP 18.000358, 79.5 mm SL, female, El Pozo cave, Agramonte municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 27 April 2005; MFP 18.000359, 66.95 mm SL, female, El Pozo cave, Agramonte municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 27 April 2005; MFP 18.000360, 87.05 mm SL, male, El Pozo cave, Agramonte municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 27 April 2005; MFP 18.000361, 82.6 mm SL, female, El Pozo cave, Agramonte municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier and Damir Hernández, 27 April 2005; MFP 18.000362, 114.15 mm SL, male, La Carreta cave, Agramonte municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier, Didier Casane and Damir Hernández, 26 July 2005; MFP 18.000363, 91.6 mm SL, male, La Carreta cave, Agramonte municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier, Didier Casane and Damir Hernández, 26 July 2005; MFP 18.000364, 106.9 mm SL, male, La Ratonera cave, Agramonte municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier, Didier Casane and Damir Hernández, 26 July 2005; MFP 18.000365, 105.2 mm SL, male, La Ratonera cave, Agramonte municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier, Didier Casane and Damir Hernández, 26 July 2005; MFP 18.000366, 99.2 mm SL, male, La Ratonera cave, Agramonte municipality, collected by Erik García-Machado, Pedro Chevalier, Didier Casane and Damir Hernández, 26 July 2005.

Remarks.

Lucifuga dentata has been described as having the caudal fin free from dorsal and anal fins and the occiput naked (Poey, 1858; Cohen and Robins, 1970; Vergara, 1980; Nalbant, 1981; Nielsen et al., 1999; Møller et al. 2006). However, we have found that in 60% of the specimens the caudal fin is partially joined to the dorsal and anal fins by tiny basal membranes. Additionally, two individuals, from Luis Piedra caves, have the caudal fin broadly joined to the anal fin. These two conditions were previously assigned as diagnostic for L. simile ( Díaz et al. 1987a; Díaz 1988). We also found that around 14% of the specimens have the occiput with different degrees of squamation as described for L. spelaeotes .

As mention previously for L. subterranea , the sampling at localities near to those mentioned in Poey’s original description of the species, applied exactly for L. dentata . We also use several exemplars from Juanelo Piedra and Luis Piedra caves which are near to El Cajio cave (ca. 2 km) the type-locality referred by Poey (1858). Lucifuga dentata is the most abundant and widely distributed Lucifuga species in Cuba. It is found in caves from median-southern karts from central (Matanzas province) to the western part of the island (Guanahacabibes Peninsula). Its distribution is not continuous, with the most important gap between western Havana and Guanahacabibes, Pinar del Río ( Hernández et al. 2016).