Ceuthophilus chiricahuae

Hubbell, 1936

Chiricahua cave cricket

Ceuthophilus chiricahuae is a of camel cricket ( Rhaphidophoridae) to North America. The species was described by Hubbell in 1936 and is named for the Chiricahua Mountains region. Like other members of the Ceuthophilus, it is wingless and adapted to cool, dark, moist . Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with only six documented occurrences in biodiversity databases.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ceuthophilus chiricahuae: //kjuːˈθɒfɪləs tʃɪrɪˈkɑːweɪ//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Habitat

Based on -level characteristics, members of Ceuthophilus typically inhabit cool, damp, dark environments including caves, old wells, cellars, mine shafts, and rodent burrows. The epithet "chiricahuae" suggests association with the Chiricahua Mountains, a sky island range in southeastern Arizona known for extensive cave systems and rocky outcrops.

Distribution

Documented from Arizona, specifically the Chiricahua Mountains region. GBIF records indicate presence in North America with distribution centered in this southwestern US locality. The appears to have a restricted range compared to more widespread Ceuthophilus species.

More Details

Taxonomic note

Ceuthophilus chiricahuae was described by Thomas H. Hubbell in 1936. Hubbell was a leading authority on cave crickets and described numerous Ceuthophilus from cave systems across North America. The specific epithet refers to the Chiricahua Mountains, a well-known center of for cave-dwelling arthropods.

Data scarcity

This is poorly represented in biodiversity databases, with only six iNaturalist observations and limited GBIF records. This rarity in data may reflect genuine rarity, restricted specificity, or under-sampling of cave habitats. Many Ceuthophilus species are known from single cave systems or isolated mountain ranges.