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Singing in the Namoroka Caves, First Record In Situ for a Cave Dwelling Insect: Typhlobrixia namorokensis (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Cixiidae)

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Abstract

This is the first substrate-borne communication record of the troglobitic planthopper Typhlobrixia namorokensis in the caves of the Ambovonomby network, Namoroka Tsingy, Madagascar. A supplementary morphological description of the male genitalia is provided and, for the first time, female genitalia of T. namorokensis are characterized. Molecular data were obtained for T. namorokensis; molecular analysis also reveals the presence of another (yet unidentified) cavernicolous cixiid in the Antsifotra caves network. The evolutionary origin of T. namorokensis is discussed. Its adaptation to caves and its behaviour allows its identification as a true troglobiont. Its vibrational signal structure is compared to the calls of other cave-dwelling cixiids.

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Acknowledgments

Thank you very much to: Marc Gansuana (Madagascar, EWE earth & wildlife experiences: http://www.ewetour.com) for the logistics and the picture of the karst taken during a reconnaissance flight, Lucile Allorge (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, France) for organising the expedition, Charlotte Razafindrakoto (centre national de recherche appliquée pour le développement rural: FOFIFA, Madagascar) who assisted us in order to get the collecting permits, ANGAP (Association Nationale pour la Gestion des Aires Protégées, Madagascar) for allowing the access to the park and for the field assistance. We would like to thank Jérôme Sueur (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, France) who kindly and patiently introduced us into the intricacies of the seewave software. Financial support for this field expedition to Madagascar was provided for A. Soulier-Perkins by the Labex BCDiv MNHN. And last but not least, we are grateful to the referees who helped us to improve our manuscript with their questions, recommendations and the English clarity of the text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), UMR 7205 MNHN-CNRS-UPMC-EPHE, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, CP 50, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France

    Adeline Soulier-Perkins & Thierry Bourgoin

  2. Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK

    David Ouvrard

  3. Museum für Naturkunde – Leibniz-Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstr. 43, 10115, Berlin, Germany

    Hannelore Hoch

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  1. Adeline Soulier-Perkins
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  4. Thierry Bourgoin
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Correspondence to Adeline Soulier-Perkins.

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Soulier-Perkins, A., Ouvrard, D., Hoch, H. et al. Singing in the Namoroka Caves, First Record In Situ for a Cave Dwelling Insect: Typhlobrixia namorokensis (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Cixiidae). J Insect Behav 28, 704–721 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-015-9531-3

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