New troglomorphic Arrhopalitidae (Collembola: Symphypleona) from the Western Caucasus

Researchers have uncovered two highly troglomorphic species of springtails (Collembola) from the caves of the Western Caucasus: Arrhopalites macronyx and a newly described genus, Troglopalites stygios. These species exhibit extreme adaptations for cave life, including elongated claws, long antennae with segmented annulations, and unique morphological traits such as accreted teeth on posterior lamellae. The study also re-examines the trichobothrial complex chaetotaxy of two related species from Crimean caves, providing deeper insights into their taxonomic characteristics. This discovery contributes to our understanding of subterranean biodiversity in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

VARGOVITSH, R. S. (2012). New troglomorphic Arrhopalitidae (Collembola: Symphypleona) from the Western Caucasus. Zootaxa, 3174(1). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3174.1.1