Eight New Species of Charinus Simon, 1892 (Arachnida: Amblypygi: Charinidae) Endemic for the Brazilian Amazon, with Notes on Their Conservational Status

Eight new species of Charinus Simon, 1892 are described for the Brazilian Amazon, from the states of Pará (C. bichuetteae sp. n., C. bonaldoi sp. n., C. carajas sp. n., C. ferreus sp. n., C. guto sp. n. and C. orientalis sp. n.) and Amazonas (Charinus brescoviti sp. n. and C. ricardoi sp. n.). All new species can be differentiated from the other species of the genus by the number of pseudo-articles in basitibia IV, the presence/absence of median eyes, and the shape of the female gonopod. Brazil now becomes the country with the largest diversity of Amblypygi in the world, with 25 known species. Half of the new species described here have a high degree of endangerment: C. bichuetteae sp. n. is threatened by the flood caused by the hydroelectric dam of Belo Monte, and C. carajas sp. n., C. ferreus sp. n. and C. orientalis sp. n. are endangered by the iron mining in Carajás municipality and surroundings. The Charinus species here described are endemic to the Amazon Region, so in order to assure their preservation, it is strongly recommended a special care with their habitats (type localities) which are facing increasing rates of destruction and deforestation.


Introduction
Amblypygi is a small arachnid order with a worldwide distribution and the largest number of described species in the Neotropics [1,2]. Currently, circa of 170 species are known and several new ones have been described in the last few years from all over the world [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Despite this increase in knowledge of whip spider diversity, some countries with recognized enormous diversity of fauna still have few known Amblypygi species described. With a 8,514,877 km² territory size [17] and six biomes (Amazon Forest (humid broad leaf forest), Caatinga (small woody and herbaceous deciduous, caducifolious, spiny species [18]), Cerrado (open tree and shrub woodland [19]), Atlantic Forest (costal forest), Pantanal (tropical swampland) and Pampa (grasslands)) Brazil has records of just 17 species of these arachnids in all biomes, except (number indicated as "n =") and the median value is given followed by the range in parentheses. The measurement accuracy is indicated in the legend of each figure. The maps were created using ArcMap 10.2 [42], with vector layers for countries and states/provinces and ancillary data including water body data [43].
The following abbreviations are used:

Nomenclatural acts
The electronic edition of this article conforms to the requirements from the amended International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, and hence the new names contained here are available under that Code from the electronic edition of this article. This published work and the nomenclatural acts it contains have been registered in ZooBank, the online registration system for the ICZN. The ZooBank LSIDs (Life Science Identifiers) can be resolved and the associated information viewed through any standard web browser by appending the LSID to the prefix "http://zoobank.org/". The LSID for this publication is: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:876ED555-65EC-467D-9B1A-666E01AC5F3B. The electronic edition of this work was published in a journal with an ISSN, and has been archived and is available from the following digital repositories: PubMed Central, LOCKSS.  Diagnosis. Well-developed median and lateral eyes; small and rounded meta and mesosternum; large basal spine pedipalp distitarsus (2/3 the distal length); basitibia of leg IV divided in two pseudo articles; trichobothria of basitibia IV (bt) on the proximal third of the article; distitibia IV with 16 trichobothriae, equidistant basal trichobothria (bf, bc and sbf); brownish-yellow body color; cushion-like gonopods with small lateral projections directed backwards and internal seminal receptacles.

Taxonomic treatment
Description. Carapace (Fig 1A): flattened, wider than longer (ratio approximately 4/5). Prominent lateral and median eyes; from the median eyes starts a thin median furrow that reaches around the median area of the lateral hump pair, behind the lateral eye spots. Anterior margin with 6 small setae. Corners of anterior margin extending downwards in a wide, roundish boss. Many tiny punctuations, more abundant in the frontal area. Three pairs of deep furrows and a deep, oval fovea. First pair of furrows placed just behind the lateral boss and not reaching the middle line. Lateral eyes without cornea and clearly defined lens (only a small roundish knob). Frontal process well developed, much longer than wider, with blunt, reborded apex.
Sternum (Fig 1B). Tri-segmented, all pieces weakly sclerotized. Tritosternum with a round basis and projected anteriorly in a small blunt tubercle, which reaches the base of the chelicerae, with 2 apical, 2 median and 2 basal setae. Middle piece rounded, convex, with 2 setae. Third piece rounded and convex, subequal to the middle piece, with two setae. Sternites separated from each other by the diameter of the middle piece.
Abdomen ( Fig 1A). Oblong, with almost indistinguishable punctuations, finer than that on the carapace. Chelicera (Fig 2A). Cheliceral furrow with 4 internal teeth; first tooth bifid, Ia slightly bigger than Ib. Second and third teeth subequal. Fourth tooth twice as long as the others and stouter. Teeth length: IV>Ia>Ib = II>III. Claw with 6 denticles, the basal larger.
Pedipalp. Trochanter (Fig 1D and 1E): large ventral apophysis on the posterior border of the article, spiniform, bearing seven large setae, and with a blunt tip pointed forwards; two subequal spines, one at the median third and the other at the distal tip of the prolateral face. Femur (Fig 1D and 1E): 3-4 dorsal spines (I>II>III>IV) with two prominent setiferous tubercle before the first spine; 4 ventral spines (main series) with one small accessory spine before the first, this the same size of spine IV (I>II>III>IV). Tibia (Fig 1D and 1E): dorsal main series with three spines (I>II>III); small accessory spine before the first spine; spine II two thirds spine I and spine III one third the size spine I. Spine I with a setiferous tubercle on its first third. 2 ventral spines, the proximal two thirds the distal. Basitarsus (Fig 1C, 1D and 1E): 2 dorsal spines, the basal 2/3 the distal. 1 ventral spine at the distal half, subequal to the dorsal basal spine. Distitarsus ( Fig 1C): with 2 large curved spines, the distal half the size of the article, and the basal half distal spine. Cleaning organ about ½ the article length. Claw (Fig 1C): long, with an acute, curved tip.
Legs. All setose. Ventral corner of the prolateral face of femora II-IV projecting in a distinct spiniform process. Femur length I>III>IV>II. Tibia I with 23 articles. Tarsus (basitar-sus+distitarsus) I with 37-39 articles. Leg IV: Basitibia: divided into 2 pseudo-articles, with one trichobothrium on both pseudo-segments; the trichobothrium of the proximal pseudoarticle is between the median and the distal third; the trichobothrium of the distal pseudo- Color pattern (in alcohol). Chelicerae, pedipalps and carapace yellowish-brown. Legs light yellowish-brown. Abdomen pale yellow. Color of live animals unknown.
Genitalia. Female gonopod (Fig 4A) cushion-like, with small lateral thin projections pointing backwards, resembling claws; projections not sclerotized; atrium not covered by the lateral projections, and with several glandular openings.
Charinus Diagnosis. Absent median eyes and tubercle; weakly developed and pale lateral eyes; small and rounded meta and mesosternum; small basal spine of pedipalp distitarsus, ¼ the distal spine length; pedipalp almost perpendicular to the body, similar to that of Paracharon caecus Hansen, 1921; basitibia of leg IV divided in two pseudo articles; trichobothria of basitibia IV (bt) on the proximal third of the article; distitibia IV with 16 trichobothria; equidistant basal trichobothriae of distitibia IV (bf, bc and sbf); yellowish-brown body color; cushion-like gonopods without projections and with internal seminal receptacles; gonopods very similar to that of Charinus bonaldoi sp. n. (described below), but the pedipalp proportions and the size of the pedipalp articles are larger in C. ricardoi sp. n.  Description. Carapace (Fig 5A): flattened, wider than long, with an anterior depression in place of the absent median eye tubercle; from this depression starts a thin median furrow that reaches around the posterior area of the pair of lateral hump situated behind the lateral eye spots. Anterior margin with 5 to 7 small setae. Lateral eyes reduced to a small, whitish spot. Frontal process well developed, much longer than larger, with blunt, reborded apex. Sternum (Fig 5B). Same as C. brescoviti sp. n. Abdomen (Fig 5A). Same as C. brescoviti sp. n.. Chelicera. Cheliceral furrow (Fig 2B) with 4 internal teeth, the distal one short (almost the size of the second and third teeth) and bifid; the first cusp (1a) bigger than the second (1b). Fourth twice as long as the others and stouter. Teeth length: IV>Ia>Ib = II>III. Claw with 5 denticles, decreasing in size from the basal to the distal region.
Pedipalp. Trochanter (Fig 5D and 5E): large ventral apophysis, in the posterior border of the article, spiniform, bearing many strong setae, and with a blunt tip pointed forwards; 2 subequal spines, one on the medial third and the other on the distal tip of the prolateral face. Femur (Fig 5D and 5E): 3 dorsal spines decreasing in size from basal to distal; some specimens have a small fourth spine; each spine is 1/3 the size of the following (I>II>III); two prominent setiferous tubercle before the first spine; 4 ventral spines (I>II>III>IV) with similar sizes of the dorsal ones. Tibia (Fig 5D and 5E): dorsal main series with 3 spines (I>II>III); third is half the size of the second, and second is 2/3 the first; one accessory spine before the first, and no accessory spine after the third one, where is placed a small setiferous tubercle; 2 ventral spines, being the proximal half the distal. Basitarsus Legs. Same as C. brescoviti sp. n.. Femur length I>III>IV>II. Tibia I with 21 articles (one specimen with 23). Tarsus (basitarsus+distitarsus) I with 37 articles. Leg IV: Basitibia: divided into 2 pseudo-articles, with one trichobothrium in the middle of the proximal pseudo-article, and one trichobothrium in the base of the last pseudo-article. Distitibia (Fig 3B) Color pattern (in alcohol). Chelicerae, pedipalps and carapace yellowish. Legs lighter colored. Abdomen pale yellow. Live animals have similar color to the preserved ones.
Genitalia. Female gonopods (Fig 4B) cushion-like without lateral projections, and without sclerotized parts; atrium opened, with internal seminal receptacles, and several glandular openings; wall of the gonopods with an inflated aspect.  Diagnosis. Absent median eyes and tubercle; weakly developed and pale lateral eyes; small and rounded meta and mesosternum; small basal spine of pedipalp distitarsus, ¼ the length of the distal; pedipalp almost perpendicular to body, similar to that of C. ricardoi sp. n. and Paracharon caecus; basitibia of leg IV divided in two pseudo articles; trichobothria of basitibia IV (bt) at the proximal third of the article; distitibia IV with 16 trichobothria; trichobothriae bc and sbf closer to each other than to bf; light brown body color; cushion-like gonopods without projections and with internal seminal receptacles.
Description. Carapace ( Fig 6A): flattened, wider than long (ratio a little over 4/5), with a depression with two small setae in place of the absent median eye tubercle; from this depression starts a thin median furrow that reaches around the posterior area of the pair of lateral hump situated behind the lateral eye spots. Anterior margin with 5-7 small setae. Lateral eyes slightly reduced to a small, whitish spot. Frontal process well developed, much longer than larger, with blunt, reborded apex.
Sternum (Fig 6B and 6C). Tri-segmented. Tritosternum with a round basis and projected anteriorly in a small blunt tubercle, with 2 apical, 2 median and 2 basal setae. Middle piece rounded, convex, with 2 setae and a few setulae; the setiferous tubercles are high, which gives an "M" shape to the middle piece. Third piece also rounded and convex, subequal to the middle piece and with two setae. Sternites separated from each other by the diameter of the middle piece.
Abdomen (Fig 6A and 6B). Oblong, with almost indistinguishable punctuations, finer than in the carapace. Abdomen concave due to the presence of egg sac present.
Chelicera. Cheliceral furrow ( Fig 2C) with 4 internal teeth, the distal bifid, the first cusp bigger than the second. Fourth twice as long the others and much stouter. Teeth length (from tip to basis) IV>Ia>Ib = II>III. Claw with 4 denticles, decreasing from the base to the distal part.
Pedipalp. Trochanter (Fig 6E and 6F): large ventral apophysis, at the posterior border of the article, spiniform, bearing strong setae and with a blunt tip pointed forwards, and 2 subequal spines, one at the median third and the other at the distal tip of the prolateral face. Femur (Fig 6E and 6F): 3 dorsal spines decreasing in size from basal to distal; the third spine half the second and three times smaller than last (I>II>III); two prominent setiferous tubercle before the first spine; 3 ventral spines (I>II>III) with similar sizes to the dorsal. Tibia (Fig 6E and  6F): main series with three spines (I>II>III); third half the size of the second, and second 2/3 the first; small accessory spine before the first spine and no small accessory spine after the third, instead a small setiferous tubercle is present; 2 ventral spines, the proximal half the size of the distal. Basitarsus (Fig 6D, 6E and 6F): 2 dorsal spines, the basal half the size of the distal. 1 ventral spine at the distal half, 2/3 the size of the distal dorsal spine. Distitarsus ( Fig 6D): with 2 well developed curved spines, the distal half the size of the article, and the basal 1/3 the size of the distal. Cleaning organ about ½ the article length. Claw ( Fig 6D): long, with an acute, curved tip.
Measurements. Females Color Pattern (in alcohol). Chelicerae, pedipalps and carapace yellowish. Legs lighter colored. Abdomen pale yellow. Live animals have color unknown.
Genitalia. Female gonopods (Fig 4C) cushion-like, without lateral projections, and without sclerotized parts; atrium opened, with internal seminal receptacles, and several glandular openings; wall of the gonopods with an inflated aspect; similar to the gonopod of C. ricardoi sp. n.. Diagnosis. Absent median eyes and tubercle; well-developed lateral eyes, but pale; small and rounded meta and mesosternum; small basal spine of the distitarsus of the pedipalp, ¼ the length of the distal; tibia I with 21 articles in the and tarsus with 37; basitibia of leg IV divided in three pseudo articles; trichobothria of the basitibia IV (bt) at the proximal third of the article; distitibia IV with 14 trichobothria; equidistant basal trichobothriae of distitibia IV (bf, bc and sbf); light brown body color; cushion-like gonopods with lateral projections directed backwards covering the aperture of the internal seminal receptacles.
Description. Carapace ( Fig 7A): flattened, wider than long, with an anterior depression in place of the absent median eye tubercle, from which starts a thin median furrow that reaches around the posterior area of the pair of lateral hump, situated behind the lateral eye spots. Anterior margin with 6 small setae. Many tiny punctuations, more abundant in the frontal area. Punctuations arranged in lines and spots, irradiating from the fovea and interspersed with glabrous areas. Three pairs of deep furrows, and a very rectangular deep fovea. First pair of furrows just behind the lateral boss not reaching the middle line. 4 lateral pairs of depressions (first one placed over the 1 st pair of furrows). Lateral eyes well developed. Frontal process well developed, much longer than larger, with blunt, reborded apex. Sternum (Fig 7B). Same as C. brescoviti sp. n. Abdomen (Fig 7A): same as C. brescoviti sp. n. Chelicera (Fig 2D). Cheliceral furrow with 4 internal teeth, the distal one bifid, the first cusp bigger than the second one. Fourth twice as long as the others and much stouter. Teeth length: IV>Ia>Ib = II>III. Claw with 5 denticles, decreasing in size.
Pedipalp. Trochanter (Fig 7D and 7E): ventral apophysis large, at the posterior border of the article, spiniform, bearing many strong setae, with a blunt tip pointed forwards, and 2 subequal spines, one at the median third and the other at the distal tip of the prolateral face. Femur (Fig 7D and 7E): 3 dorsal spines decreasing in size from proximal to distal; two small setiferous tubercle before spine I; 3 ventral spines (some specimens with 4), same relation of size as the dorsal, slightly larger than the dorsal. Tibia (Fig 7D and 7E): 3 dorsal spines (III>II>I). Spine II 1/3 spine I; spine III 2/3 II. 1 small setiferous tubercle closes to spine I, and one after spine III. 2 ventral spines, basal 1/3 the distal. Basitarsus (Fig 7C, 7D and 7E): 2 dorsal spines, basal ½ the distal. 1 ventral spine at the distal half, slightly bigger than the basal dorsal. Distitarsus (Fig 7C): long, with 2 curved spines, basal ½ distal. Cleaning organ about ½ the article length. Claw (Fig 7C): long, with an acute, curved tip.
Measurements. Females Color Pattern (in alcohol). Chelicerae, pedipalps and carapace yellowish. Legs lighter colored. Abdomen pale yellow. Live animals with color pattern similar to the preserved specimens.
Natural history. Collected in the leaf litter.  Diagnosis. Median and lateral eyes present, but median tubercle and lateral eyes strongly reduced; small and rounded meta and mesosternum; reduced tritosternun, slightly surpassing the base of the pedipalp coxae; dorsal femur with four spines; small basal spine of pedipalp distitarsus, ¼ the length of the distal; tibia I with 23 articles and tarsus with 42; basitibia of leg IV divided in three pseudo articles; trichobothria of basitibia IV (bt) at the proximal third of the article; distitibia IV with 16 trichobothria; equidistant basal trichobothriae of distitibia IV (bf, bc and sbf); pale yellow body color; cushion-like female gonopod with lateral projections directed backwards covering all the opening of the internal seminal receptacles (atrium); male gonopods with long, curved and wrinkled medial lobes; lateral lobes fimbriated; dorsal lobe surpassing the length of all other lobes and with elevated scales; secondary sexual dimorphism present, males with larger pedipalps, circa of two times the size of the female.
Description. Carapace (Fig 8A and 8B): flattened, wider than long; lateral and median eyes are reduced; median eye tubercle inside a trapezoid depression; individuals preserved in alcohol with a black spot under the median eyes tubercle. From the depression of the median eyes starts a thin median furrow that reaches around the posterior area of the pair of lateral hump situated behind the lateral eye spots. Anterior margin with 5 to 7 small setae. Frontal process well developed, much longer than larger, with blunt, rounded apex. Sternum (Fig 8C). Tri-segmented. Tritosternum with a round basis and projected anteriorly in a small blunt tubercle that reach the basis of the pedipalp coxa, with 2 apical, 2 median and 2 basal setae. Middle piece rounded, convex, with 2 setae and a few setulae. Third piece also rounded and convex, subequal to the middle piece, and with two setae. Sternites separated from each other by the diameter of the middle piece.
Abdomen (Fig 8A and 8B). Same as C. brescoviti sp. n.. Chelicera (Fig 2E). Cheliceral furrow with 4 internal teeth, the distal one bifid, the first cusp bigger than the second one. Fourth twice as long than the others and much stouter. Teeth length (from tip to basis) IV>Ia>Ib>III>II. Claw with 6 denticles, decreasing from the base to the distal part.
Pedipalp. Trochanter (Fig 8E and 8F): large distal, spiniform, ventral apophysis, bearing many strong setae and with a blunt tip pointed forwards, and 2 subequal spines, one at the median third and the other at the distal tip of the prolateral face. Femur (Fig 8E and 8F): 4 dorsal spines decreasing in size from basal to distal; first and second spines are subequal and the third is 2/3 the first (I>II>III); before the first spine, two prominent setiferous tubercle; 3 ventral spines (I>II>III) decreasing in size from proximal to distal; a fourth distal smaller spine is and a basal accessory spine before the first (slightly smaller than third) is present in some specimens. Tibia (Fig 8E and 8F): main series with 3 spines (I>II>III); in some specimens a small accessory spine after the third can be counted; third spine is 2/3 the second and the second is slightly smaller than the first; small accessory spine before the first spine; 3 ventral spines decreasing in size, the second and third 2/3 smaller than the following. Basitarsus (Fig 8D, 8E and 8F): 2 dorsal spines, the basal 2/3 the distal. 1 apical ventral spine, slightly smaller than the basal dorsal spine. Distitarsus (Fig 8D): with 2 well developed curved spines, the basal 1/3 the distal. Cleaning organ about ½ the article length. Claw (Fig 8D): long, with an acute, curved tip.
Measurements. Males Color Pattern (in alcohol). Chelicerae, pedipalps and carapace yellowish. Legs lighter colored. Abdomen pale yellow. Color of live animals have are unknown.
Genitalia. Female gonopods (Fig 4E) cushion-like, with lateral projections directed backwards, covering completely the atrium opening; projections (claws) not sclerotized, wide, and with a rhombus apex, as in C. guto sp. n. and C. vulgaris (see Miranda & Giupponi, 2011). Male gonopods (Fig 4G) fistula with smooth tegument; medial lobes long, curved and wrinkled; median lamella integument wrinkled; dorsal lobe with erected projections, some acute and others straight (like a row of shark teeth); LoL2 fimbriated; LoL 1 covered with microvili; PI with large longitudinal folds.
Natural history. Inside cave, in a region called canga that contains iron ore. Charinus orientalis new species. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9D4081AF-A043-4046-B206-801CE8010DB2 (Figs 9A-9E, 2F, 3F and 4F) Etymology. The species name derives from the Latin orientem, which means east, referring to the name of the mountain range where the cave this species inhabits is located ("Serra Leste", east mountains).  Diagnosis. Median and lateral eyes present, but strongly reduced median tubercle and lateral eyes (as in C. carajas sp. n.); median tubercle inside a depression; small and rounded meta and mesosternum; weakly sclerotized border of the sternum; pedipalp dorsal femur with three spines; basal spine of pedipalp distitarsus circa of ¼ the length of the distal; tibia I with 21 articles and tarsus I with 37; basitibia IV divided in three pseudo articles; trichobothria of basitibia IV (bt) at the proximal third of the article; distitibia IV with 16 trichobothria; equidistant basal trichobothriae of distitibia IV (bf, bc and sbf); pale yellow body color; cushion-like female gonopod with lateral projections directed backwards covering all the opening of the internal seminal receptacles (atrium).
Description. Carapace (Fig 9A): flattened, wider than long (ratio a little over 4/5) with an anterior depression with a slight elevation in its interior with two small setae (in place of the absent median eye tubercle). From this depression starts a thin median furrow that reaches around the posterior area of the pair of lateral hump situated behind the lateral eye spots. Anterior margin with 5 to 7 small setae. Median eyes absent. Lateral eyes slightly reduced to a small, whitish spot. Frontal process well developed, much longer than larger, with blunt, reborded apex.
Sternum (Fig 9B). Tri-segmented. Tritosternum with a round basis and projected anteriorly in a small blunt tubercle, with 2 apical, 2 median and 2 basal setae. Middle piece rounded, convex, with 2 setae and a few setulae; the setiferous tubercles are elevated giving an "M" shape to the piece. Third piece also rounded and convex, subequal to the middle piece and with two setae. Sternites separated from each other by the diameter of the middle piece.
Abdomen (Fig 9A). As in C. brescoviti sp. n. Chelicera (Fig 2F). Cheliceral furrow with 4 internal teeth, the distal one bifid, the first cusp bigger than the second. Fourth tooth twice as long as the others and much stouter. Teeth length (from tip to basis) IV>Ia>Ib = II>III. Claw with 4 denticles, decreasing from the base to the distal part.
Pedipalp. Trochanter (Fig 9D and 9E): large distal, spiniform, ventral apophysis, bearing many strong setae and with a blunt tip pointed forwards;2 subequal spines, one at the median third and the other at the distal tip of the prolateral face. Femur (Fig 9D and 9E): 3 dorsal spines decreasing in size from basal to distal; the third spine is half the second and three times smaller the first (I>II>III); before the first spine two prominent setiferous tubercle are present; 3 ventral spines (I>II>III) of similar sizes to the dorsal. Tibia (Fig 9D and 9E): main series with three spines (I>II>III); third half the size of the second and second 2/3 the first; small accessory spine before the first spine and no small accessory spine after the third spine, just of small setiferous tubercle is present; 2 ventral spines, the proximal half the distal. Basitarsus (Fig 9C): 2 dorsal spines, the basal half the size of the distal. 1 ventral spine at the distal half, 2/ 3 to the distal dorsal spine. Distitarsus (Fig 9C): with 2 curved well developed spines, the distal half the size of the article and the basal 1/3 the size of the distal. Cleaning organ about ½ the article length. Claw (Fig 9C): long, with an acute, curved tip.
Genitalia. Female gonopods (Fig 4F) cushion-like, atrium opening covered by the projections; projections (claws) not sclerotized, wide, and with a rhombus apex, as in C. carajas sp. n.. Diagnosis. Absent median eyes and tubercle; weakly developed and pale lateral eyes; small and rounded meta and mesosternum; reduced tritosternun, slightly surpassing the base of the pedipalp coxa; dorsal femur with three spines; subequal spines of pedipalp basitarsus; basal spine of pedipalp distitarsus large, circa of 2/3 the length of the distal; leg tibia I with 21 articles and tarsus I with 37; basitibia IV divided in three pseudo articles; trichobothria of the basitibia IV (bt) at the proximal third of the article; distitibia IV with 16 trichobothria; basal trichobothriae of distitibia IV bc and sbf closer to each other than to bf; pale yellow body color; male gonopod with long, curved and wrinkled medial lobes; lateral lobe fimbriated; median lobe surpassing the lateral and dorsal lobes.
Description. Carapace (Fig 10A): flattened, wider than long with an anterior depression in place of the absent median eye tubercle. From this depression starts a thin median furrow that reaches around the posterior area of the pair of lateral hump situated behind the lateral eye spots. Anterior margin with 6 small setae. Lateral eyes reduced to small rounded spots. Frontal process well developed, much longer than larger, with a rhombus apex. Sternum (Fig 10C). Tri-segmented. Tritosternum with a round basis and projected anteriorly in a small blunt tubercle, with 2 apical, 2 median and 2 basal setae. Midian and basal piece are reduced. Sternites separated from each other by the diameter of the middle piece.
Abdomen (Fig 10A). Same as C. brescoviti sp. n. Chelicera (Fig 2G). Cheliceral furrow with 4 internal teeth, the distal bifid, the first cusp bigger than the second. Fourth tooth twice as long as the others and much stouter. Teeth length (from tip to basis) IV>Ia>Ib = II>III. Claw with 7 subequal rhombus denticles.
Pedipalp. Trochanter (Fig 10E and 10F): large distal, spiniform, ventral apophysis bearing many strong setae and with a blunt tip pointed forwards, and 2 subequal spines, one at the median third and the other at the distal tip of the prolateral face. Femur (Fig 10E and 10F): 3 dorsal spines decreasing in size from basal to distal (I>II>III); each 2/3 the size of the following; before the first spine two prominent setiferous tubercle, distant from each other, and at the same line of the main series of spines; 3 ventral spines (I>II>III) bigger than dorsal. Tibia ( Fig  Fig 10.  10E and 10F): main series with 3 spines (I>II>III); third 2/3 the second, which is 2/3 the first; small accessory spine before the first spine and one accessory spine after the third spine; 2 ventral spines, the proximal 2/3 the distal. Basitarsus (Fig 10D): 2 dorsal well developed spines, the distal the size of the article and the basal slightly smaller the distal. One ventral spine, at the distal half, 1/2 the basal dorsal spine. Distitarsus (Fig 10D): with 2 well developed curved spines, the distal bent; the basal 2/3 the distal. Cleaning organ about ½ the article length. Claw (Fig 10D): long, with an acute, curved tip.
Measurements Color Pattern (in alcohol). Chelicerae, pedipalps and carapace pale yellow. Legs same as body. Abdomen pale yellow. Unknown color of live animals.
Genitalia. Male gonopods (Fig 4H):distal border of fistula smooth; integument of median lamella wrinkled; dorsal lobe with erected projections, with the acute or straight apex (resembling shark teeth); LoL2 fimbriated; LoL 1 covered with microvilli. PI surface with large longitudinal folds.
Natural History. Inside iron caves, in a region of Amazonia called "canga".
Remarks. This species have troglomorphic characters, such as the almost complete absence of eyes. Diagnosis. Absent median eyes and tubercle; well-developed lateral eyes; small and rounded meta and mesosternum, strongly sclerotized; dorsal pedipalp femur with two spines; basal pedipalp distitarsus spine small, ¼ the length of the distal; Leg tibia I with 21 articles and tarsus with 37; basitibia IV divided in two pseudo articles; trichobothria of basitibia IV (bt) at the proximal third of the article; distitibia IV with 16 trichobothria; basal trichobothriae of distitibia IV bc and sbf closer to each other than to bf; pale yellow body color; cushion-like female Description. Carapace (Fig 11A): flattened, wider than long (ratio a little over 4/5) with an anterior smooth depression in place of the absent median eye tubercle. From this depression starts a thin median furrow that reaches around the posterior area of the pair of lateral hump, behind the lateral eye spots. Anterior margin with 6 small setae. Median eyes absent. Lateral eyes well developed. Frontal process projected downwards between the chelicerae with an blunt apex.
Sternum (Fig 11C). Tri-segmented. Tritosternum with a round basis and projected anteriorly in a small blunt tubercle, with 2 apical, 2 median and 2 basal setae. Middle piece rounded, convex, with 2 setae and a few setulae; the setiferous tubercles are elevated giving an "M" shape to the piece. Third piece also rounded and convex, subequal to the middle piece and with two setae. Sternites separated from each other by the diameter of the middle piece.
Abdomen (Fig 11A). Same as C. brescoviti sp. nov. Chelicera (Fig 2H). Cheliceral furrow with 4 internal teeth, the distal one bifid, the first cusp bigger than the second, and the distal slightly larger than half of the first. Teeth length (from tip to basis) I>II = III = IVa<IVb. Claw with 6 denticles, the two first are larger and the rest is subequal.
Pedipalp. Trochanter (Fig 11E and 11F): large distal, spiniform, ventral apophysis, bearing many strong setae and with a blunt tip pointed forwards with a slight curve, and 2 subequal ventral spines, one at the median third and the other at the distal tip; dorsally with one large setiferous tubercle. Femur (Fig 11E and 11F): 2 dorsal spines at the middle of the pedipalp, the basal larger than distal (I>II); before the first spine, two prominent setiferous tubercle; 3 ventral spines (I>II>III). Tibia (Fig 11E and 11F): main series with three spines (I>II>III); the second one third the first and the third two thirds the first; small accessory spine before the first spine and distally a small setiferous tubercle; 2 ventral spines, the basal one third of the first. Basitarsus ( Fig  11D): 2 dorsal spines, the basal half the size of the distal. 1 ventral spine at the distal half, half the size of the dorsal. Distitarsus (Fig 11D): with 2 well developed curved spines, the basal one third the distal; distal spine of distitarsus slightly smaller than the distal spine of the basitarsus. Cleaning organ about ½ the article length. Claw (Fig 11D): long, with an acute, curved tip.
Measurements Color Pattern (in alcohol). Chelicerae, pedipalps and carapace yellowish. Legs lighter colored. Abdomen pale yellow. Color of live have unknown.
Genitalia. Male gonopods: the male is a juvenile with the gonopods not well developed, so it is not described here as it can lead to misinterpretations. Female gonopod: cushion-like, without lateral projections, and with sclerotized parts (border of the atrium); the sclerotized region has small denticles; atrium open, with internal seminal receptacles; wall of the gonopods with an inflated aspect.
Natural history. The specimens collected were on the wall of the caves (Gruta do China, Gruta do Sismógrafo, Caverna Sugiro-Roncador, Caverna Pedra da Cachoeira).
Identification key for the Charinus species from the Brazilian Amazonia (Fig 12) Discussion
All species here described also have a rounded cushion-like gonopod (Fig 4A-4H). Similarly to the only other Amazonian species of Charinus (C. vulgaris), none of the newly described species have basitibia IV divided in four articles. C. brescoviti sp. n., C. ricardoi sp. n., C. bonaldoi sp. n. and C. bichuetteae sp. n. have basitibia divided in two articles, and C. guto sp. n., C. orientalis sp. n. and C. ferreus sp. n. have basitibia IV divided in three articles ( Fig 3D).
All Caribbean and one of the north South American Charinus species with described gonopod also have rounded cushion-like gonopods, and should be included in the C. australianus species group; they are C. cubensis , C. perezassoi Armas, 2010, C. platnicki (Quintero, 1986), and C. victori Armas, 2010 [3,53]. This way, the number of species in the australianus species group increases to 22, and this number can get higher once more gonopods of the known and new species are described.
Another feature of the Amazonian species of Charinus is the small size of their structures and appendages. All species known so far from Amazonia are smaller than those of the western part of South America (C. brasilianus, C. montanus, C. asturius, C. acaraje, C. mysticus, C. troglobius, C. eleonore, C. potiguar and C. jiboassu). Besides that, the Amazonian species have lower number of teeth on the chelicerae claw (Charinus potiguar, C. eleonorae and C. troglobius, for example, have 11, 10 and 9 teeth, respectively; on the other hand Charinus ferreus has 7; C. brescoviti, C. carajas and C. bichuetteae, 6; C. ricardoi and C. guto, 5; and C. bonaldoi, C. orientalis and C. vulgaris, 4).

Conservational status of Charinus in Brazil
Threats and protection. The Brazilian species of Charinus are considered endemic as the majority of them are only known from their type locality, even after investigation in nearby areas or in places with similar conditions of the type locality [14,41,[54][55][56][57]. C. mysticus and C. eleonorae, for example, are recorded only from one cave or group of caves. Due to the endemicity of Charinus species, environmental disturbances have a direct effect on the species survivor. The first troglobious Charinus described in Brazil (Charinus troglobious) is threatened by the destruction or alteration of the physic conditions of the caves they inhabit; this species is already in the red list of the Brazilian Environmental Ministry (Ministério do Meio Ambiente, MMA) considered as endangered [58].
In recent meetings between researchers and Brazilian environmental Federal agencies, a document was formalized and will be used as basis to the new official Environmental Ministry list of threatened species. This new list will changes the status of C. troglobius from threatened to critically threatened, and will add C. acaraje and C. mysticus as species with deficient data, C. potiguar as vulnerable, C. asturius as endangered, and C. eleonorae as critically endangered.
Likewise, of the eight species here described, four are in regions of intense human exploitation or environmental modification; moreover, they are not known from other areas besides of the type locality and have small population size; for these reasons, these species should be considered to be included in the list of threatened species; they are: C. bichuetteae sp. n., C. carajas sp. n., C. ferreus sp. n., and C. orientalis sp. n.. Charinus bichuetteae sp. n. is only found in caves that will be influenced by the lake of the hydroelectric dam Belo Monte, Pará. Studies showed that the higher level of the water will have negative influences (biologically [37,59] and socially [60,61]) in the region, but these effects were not taken into account by the governmental agencies and the building of the reservoir was authorized. This way, caves such as Kararaô, China, Paratizão, Sismógrafo and others will be affected [62]. Also, specific studies to understand the impact of the environmental alterations on the species populations that inhabit the caves were not made. With the flooding, some caves will be completely submerged (such as Assurini shelter, Abutre shelter and Gravura shelter), and others will have its dynamic altered (such as China cave, Kararaô cave, Kararaô Shelter, Paratizão shelter and Sismógrafo/Tatu shelter) [62]. The habitat viability in sustaining these species will be severely compromised.
The effects of constructing dams in Amazonia go beyond threatens to invertebrate or cave animals. Since the Brazilian government Program for the Acceleration of Growth started in 2007, a series of environmental unsustainable infrastructure projects were and are being built in Amazonia. Some of these counted with non-specialist researchers studying the fauna and flora surveyed to write reports on environmental impacts, generating large criticism on the criteria adopted by the government to evaluate the impact of the projects [34,63]. For that reason, consequences such as long-term extinction induction [64] and block of fish migration [65] by hydroelectric dams are unavoidable problems of powerplants built in the lowlands of Amazonia [34,64,65].
The same can be said for the mining exploitation in the country, where the laws are being relaxed and soon companies will be allowed to extract ore from inside of preserved areas [39]. This kind of practice directly affects the new species here described Charinus carajas sp. n., C. ferreus sp. n. and C. orientalis sp. n.. The region where these species inhabits is a hematite mining area and all three were collected inside iron caves in an area called Canga (Brazilian name to isolated inselbergs on tops of mountains in the states of Minas Gerais and Pará, associated with superficial iron crust, characterized by the presence of iron stone and ferricrete soils, similar to the banded iron formations (BIFs) in South-Western Australia; it is also characterized by high local and regional diversity [66,67]), and lots of those caves are being destroyed by one of the largest mining companies of the planet. Therewith, the environment is suffering large alterations [68]. It is not known whether these species inhabits also outside the caves or in other caves, so the destruction of the Canga presets a real threaten to these species. Besides Charinus, there are two endemic microwhip scorpion (Palpigradi) species known from the region (Leptokoenenia thalassophobica Souza & Ferreira, 2013 and Leptokoenenia pelada Souza & Ferreira, 2013). They occur in the same cave system as C. carajas sp. n. and C. orientalis sp. n. (Serra Norte and Serra Leste), highlighting the importance of the preservation of those endemic-species host caves.
According to the Brazilian laws (law decree number 6640), caves that are type locality are considered as highly relevant to protect. This way, it is suggested that, within the legal parameters used by the Brazilian Environmental Ministry (MMA and ICMBio), four of the new species (C. carajas sp. n., C. orientalis sp. n., C. bichuetteae sp. n. and C. ferreus sp. n.) be elected and included as critically endangered in the list of species in extinction risk, and their habitats be protected.
Outside Para State, in the rest of the Amazon Forest (where the other species of Amazonian Charinus occur), the conservation of the Forest is also debatable. In the last two years (2013)(2014)(2015) there was an increase of more than 90% of the deforestment in the region and comparing January of 2014 and 2015, a decrease of 70% in the forest cover was detected [69]. The deforestation affects not only life in Amazonia, but influence the whole continent, changing the climate of South America [70]. These data, thus, show an urgent need for an active protection measure of the Amazonian forest and its biodiversity, and the most logic way is to start with the type localities of (mainly the) endemic species.
Potential distribution of Charinus. Vasconcelos, Giupponi and Ferreira [14] performed an analysis of potential distribution of Charinus and argued that "Charinus has most of its species represented on islands such as the Antilles, Solomon Islands in the Southwest Pacific, Ilha Bela in Brazil, Saint Thomas and Prince and Seychelles in Africa, or in portions near the continental coastlines, as in Venezuela, Peru, Panama, on the eastern borders of the Mediterranean, and India". They also add that "this predisposition to occupy coastline portions and islands is also revealed in the Charinus potential distribution". However, a careful analysis of the localities where Charinus species occur shows that its distribution are almost always areas of easy access, such as highways, waterways, and populated and touristic places. This means that the current distribution of Charinus is biased by the collecting effort. Generally, specimens of this genus are casually found, being this probably the main reason why Charinus is not well represented in non-touristic places, such as central areas of Brazil and many other countries (with exception of Cuba) and continents (such as Africa). To efficiently collect specimens of Charinus it is needed a direct expedition or lucky. This way, the potential distribution found by Vasconcelos, Giupponi and Ferreira [14] may pass a biased impression of high diversity in some areas (such as the Southeast region of Brazil) and low diversity in others (e.g. Amazonia). The analysis shows, for example, that the probability of presence of Charinus in the Amazonian plain is as small as places where Charinus (or even Amblypygi) do not exist, such as south South America (Chile, Argentina and Uruguay). But, actually, the diversity of Charinus species in Amazonia is highest than thought and predicted, and now eight new species are known from that region.
The map presented by Vasconcelos, Giupponi and Ferreira [14] also shows the occurrence of Charinus in the coastal area of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul states (southern Brazil), a place with conditions not similar to any other place where Charinus occur, and without a real register of the genus (this is a well collected region). This spot in the map is present due to a misunderstanding generated by the homonymy and posterior change of name of two cities. Mello-Leitão [71] described C. schirchii from a city called "Therezopolis", which at that time named two cities in different states, Santa Catarina and Rio de Janeiro, but Mello-Leitão [71] did not mention from which state the specimens came from. Afterwards, Harvey [1] catalogued C. schirchii from "Theresópolis (now Queçaba), Santa Catarina", and Vasconcelos, Giupponi and Ferreira [14] followed this, generating the occurrence spot in the southern region of Brazil. But, it is possible to assure that the "Therezopolis" referred to by Mello-Leitão [71] was from the state of Rio de Janeiro, once the collector of the specimens, Dr. Paul F. Schirch, gathered considerable zoological material from Serra dos Órgãos, mainly in the municipality of Teresópolis (currently spelled differently from the time of Mello-Leitão [71]). The collection of Dr. Paul F. Schirch was bought by the National Museum (Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, [72]) and was incorporated to the scientific collection afterwards [73].
Therefore, we conclude that potential distributional maps should be carefully created (with critical analysis of the records inserted) and carefully analyzed after published. With the speed of publication of new species, the addition of species from completely different regions or from different environments turns this kind of study rapidly outdated.