Troglobites
Guides
Cryptops
cave centipedes
Cryptops is a genus of centipedes in the family Cryptopidae, commonly referred to as cave centipedes. The genus has a worldwide distribution with numerous species documented across Europe, Asia, and other regions. Some species exhibit troglobitic adaptations, including Cryptops speleorex from Romania's Movile Cave, which has evolved in isolation for millions of years in a chemosynthetic ecosystem. DNA barcoding studies have revealed greater species diversity than previously recognized, with cryptic species and large genetic distances between morphologically similar taxa.
Dyspnoi
Dyspnoan Harvestmen
Dyspnoi is a suborder of harvestmen (Opiliones) comprising approximately 43 extant genera and 356 described species across eight families. The group is organized into three superfamilies: Acropsopilionoidea, Ischyropsalidioidea, and Troguloidea. Dyspnoi represents one of the most biogeographically conserved higher groups of harvestmen, with distribution patterns suggesting relictual status as paleo-European mainland fauna. Members possess distinctive defensive scent glands with complex functional anatomy involving hidden ozopores and specialized secretion discharge mechanisms.
Neobisioidea
Neobisioidea is a superfamily of pseudoscorpions established by Chamberlin in 1930. It contains seven families, including Gymnobisiidae, Hyidae, Neobisiidae, Parahyidae, and Syarinidae. Members of this superfamily exhibit diverse ecological specializations, with some species restricted to moist leaf litter habitats and others adapted to subterranean cave environments. Several families show Gondwanan distribution patterns and high levels of short-range endemism.
Platynini
Platynini is a large tribe of ground beetles (Carabidae) comprising at least 190 genera and approximately 3000 described species. Members occupy diverse habitats including temperate forests, alpine zones, wetlands, and subterranean environments. Several genera contain highly modified cave-adapted (troglobitic) species with reduced eyes and elongated appendages. The tribe has a broad geographic distribution spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Trechinae
Trechinae is a subfamily of ground beetles (Carabidae) containing over 6,700 described species across more than 430 genera and 6 tribes. The group exhibits remarkable diversity in habitat preferences, ranging from surface-dwelling species in alpine páramos and saline coastal environments to highly specialized troglobitic (obligate cave-dwelling) forms with extreme morphological adaptations including eyelessness and depigmentation. Notable tribes include Trechini, which contains the most morphologically modified cave-adapted species, and Pogonini, which are primarily associated with humid and saline environments.
Trechini
Trechini is a large and diverse tribe of small ground beetles in the family Carabidae, comprising over 270 genera and more than 2,400 described species worldwide. Members are typically diminutive, often less than 5 mm in length, with many species measuring 1 mm or less. The tribe exhibits remarkable habitat breadth, occurring in terrestrial, subterranean, and high-altitude mountain environments across all continents except Antarctica, though fossil evidence indicates former presence there. Trechini includes numerous cave-adapted lineages, making it the most diverse and cave-specialized group among Carabidae tribes in subterranean habitats.