Subterranean Fishes of the World

Country

Distribution

Known only from the "type" locality: The Padre cave is located in the Santana municipality in southwestern Bahia state, and is inserted in the Bambuí Group, the largest carbonate region in Brazil, with 146,378 Km2 of area and approximately 6,300 registered caves. The Santana municipality is placed in a transition zone between the Caatinga and Seasonal Dry Forests and has a high potential for endemic species (Dinerstein et al., 2017). The climate in the area is the Aw (Köppen, 1936), with dry winters and rainy summers. Due to the strong tropical rains that occur in the region during the summer, safe access to the cave is only possible in dry periods (March–October). The Padre Cave comprises the largest portion of the longest
subterranean hydrologic system in the country, formed by a long subterranean stretch of the Santo Antônio River

Biological Notes

Understanding the factors that shape invertebrate communities within caves is crucial globally, yet studies on this topic remain limited. To explore the ecological factors influencing the fauna of Padre Cave, the third-largest cave in Brazil, we analyzed the richness and composition of invertebrate communities and their responses to different cave zones and habitat characteristics. These characteristics include physical, trophic, and climatic variables, diverse substrates, the presence of shelters,
and food availability. Our results indicate that the distance from the nearest entrance and the zonation within the cave are the primary factors determining the distribution of terrestrial invertebrates. Additionally, habitat heterogeneity plays a key
role in shaping faunal richness and composition, with shelter and food availability emerging as crucial elements. This study also uncovered previously unrecorded species, identifying a total of 26 troglobitic species, establishing Padre Cave as a new
hotspot for subterranean biodiversity in South America. Beyond the ecological findings, the data presented here underscore the cave's immense biological importance, particularly given its current lack of formal protection. The results emphasize
the urgent need to safeguard the cave in its entirety, as it is a highly heterogeneous environment with unique habitats that contribute to its remarkable biodiversity