The southernmost record for a symphylan: Hanseniella guerreroi sp. nov. (Myriapoda, Scutigerellidae), an inhabitant of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago

Abstract

A new species of Symphyla, Hanseniella guerreroi sp. nov., is described from specimens collected during expeditions to the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, including Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego and Isla de los Estados in Argentina, as well as Isla Navarino in Chile. To the best of our knowledge, this new species represents the southernmost record for a myriapod of the class Symphyla. The morphological affinities of this species with other Hanseniella species from Gondwanan landmasses are discussed, highlighting its potential for studying the impact of the last Quaternary glaciation on soil arthropods in the far south of the continent. This discovery provides important insights into the biogeographic and evolutionary history of soil arthropods in these remote and climatically challenging regions. H. guerreroi sp. nov. is an exemplary species adapted to the harsh environmental conditions of subantarctic ecosystems and contributes significantly to our understanding of biodiversity and ecological dynamics in such challenging habitats.