Troglobitic
Guides
Anillinus docwatsoni
A small ground beetle in the tribe Bembidiini, described from the United States in 2004. Members of the genus Anillinus are minute, eyeless or nearly eyeless beetles adapted to subterranean or deep soil habitats. The specific epithet honors the bluegrass musician Doc Watson.
Archoleptoneta
Archoleptoneta is a genus of small spiders in the family Archoleptonetidae, containing only two known species restricted to the United States. The genus was established by Gertsch in 1974 and is characterized by reduced eyes and troglobitic adaptations. These spiders are among the least studied North American arachnids, with very few observations recorded.
Causeyella
Causeyella is a genus of troglobitic (cave-dwelling) millipedes in the family Trichopetalidae, order Chordeumatida. The genus was established by Shear in 2003 and comprises three species: C. causeyae, C. dendropus, and C. youngsteadtorum. These millipedes are restricted to cave habitats in the southern Ozarks region of the United States.
Ceuthophilinae
cave crickets, camel crickets, spider crickets
Ceuthophilinae is a subfamily of Rhaphidophoridae comprising North American cave crickets. Members exhibit morphological adaptations to subterranean life including reduced eyes and depigmentation. They serve as hosts for parasitic larval mites in the group Parasitengona. The subfamily includes genera such as Ceuthophilus and Hadenoecus.
Cholevinae
small carrion beetles, round fungus beetles
Cholevinae is a subfamily of small carrion beetles within the family Leiodidae (Coleoptera), containing more than 260 genera and over 1,100 described species. The subfamily includes diverse ecological groups: necrophagous species that feed on carrion and dung, mycophagous species associated with fungi, and numerous troglobitic and troglophilic lineages adapted to subterranean habitats. The tribe Leptodirini within Cholevinae represents one of the most diverse radiations of subterranean animals globally, with approximately 1,340 species and subspecies distributed from the Iberian Peninsula to Iran.
Clivinini
Clivinini is a tribe of ground beetles (Carabidae: Scaritinae) containing over 70 genera and more than 1,200 described species. Members are predominantly soil-dwelling or subterranean, with many species adapted to endogean (buried soil) or troglobitic (cave) habitats. The tribe includes several subtribes, most notably Ardistomina (containing Aspidoglossa, Semiardistomis, and Ardistomis) and Reicheiina. Species occur across all major biogeographic regions, with significant radiations in tropical and subtropical karst systems.
Coecobrya
Coecobrya is a genus of springtails (Collembola: Entomobryidae) characterized by pronounced troglomorphic adaptations in cave-dwelling species. The genus includes both surface and subterranean species, with Thai cave species exhibiting the most extreme troglomorphy known for Collembola in Southeast Asia. Many species display elongated antennae, legs and furca, reduced pigmentation, and eye loss. The genus has been recorded from caves in Thailand, South Africa, and other regions, with molecular studies supporting species discrimination using COI, 16S rDNA and 28S rDNA markers.
Derolathrus
Jacobson's beetles
Derolathrus is a genus of minute beetles in the family Jacobsoniidae, containing 12 described species. The genus includes both extant and extinct species, with fossil records from Cretaceous amber deposits in Myanmar and France. Several species exhibit troglomorphic adaptations, including reduced or absent eyes. The genus has a disjunct global distribution spanning tropical and subtropical regions.
Dorypteryx
cave barklice
Dorypteryx is a small genus of cave barklice in the family Psyllipsocidae, containing at least four described species. The genus has a notably wide geographic distribution spanning five biogeographic realms: West Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Australian, Nearctic, and Neotropical, with a 2009 discovery extending its range to China and the Oriental realm for the first time. Species occupy cave and domestic habitats. The genus was taxonomically revised by Lienhard in 1977, who synonymized the monotypic genus Dolopteryx with Dorypteryx.
Liocranidae
sac spiders
Liocranidae is a family of araneomorph spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1897. They are commonly referred to as 'sac spiders' due to their habit of constructing silk retreats. The family contains 35 genera and approximately 357 species as of January 2026. The holarctic genus Agroeca is the best-known member, while many other genera remain poorly studied and lack formal diagnoses. Recent taxonomic work has significantly expanded the family, including the description of numerous new species from China, Vietnam, and other regions.
Megacina
Megacina is a genus of armoured harvestmen in the family Phalangodidae, established by Ubick & Briggs in 2008. The genus contains at least four described species, all found in western North America. These species are characterized by heavily sclerotized body armor typical of the family. The genus was erected based on morphological distinctions from related phalangodid genera.
Neaphaenops tellkampfi tellkampfi
Neaphaenops tellkampfi tellkampfi is a troglobitic ground beetle that inhabits deep sandy cave environments. This subspecies reaches high population densities where cricket eggs represent the sole viable prey resource. Laboratory studies demonstrate specialized foraging behavior involving excavation of substrate to locate buried eggs, with greater foraging efficiency than the related subspecies N. t. meridionalis.
Parobisium
Parobisium is a genus of poorly dispersing pseudoscorpions in the family Neobisiidae. The genus exhibits a disjunct distribution pattern occurring in western North America and eastern Asia (East Asia), but is absent from Europe and central Asia. Phylogenetic evidence indicates ancient vicariance between East Asian and North American lineages rather than recent dispersal events. Many species are troglomorphic and restricted to karst cave systems.
Paronellidae
Paronellidae is a family of elongate-bodied springtails (Collembola) in the order Entomobryomorpha. The family contains approximately 18 genera and at least 90 described species. Members of this family are primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, with many species adapted to subterranean habitats including caves. The family includes notable troglobitic genera such as Troglobius and Troglopedetes.
Phalangodidae
Phalangodid Harvestmen
Phalangodidae is a family of small harvestmen in the suborder Laniatores, containing approximately 30 genera and more than 100 described species. Members are characterized by pedipalps armed with prominent spines and body lengths generally under 3 mm. The family is primarily distributed in the Holarctic region, with exceptional diversity in the western Nearctic, particularly California. Several species, especially in the genus Texella, are obligate cave-dwellers exhibiting troglomorphic traits such as depigmentation and reduced eyes.
Procambarus
crayfish, crawfish, crawdad
Procambarus is a genus of freshwater crayfish in the family Cambaridae, native to North and Central America. The genus contains approximately 160 species in 16 subgenera, making it one of the most species-rich crayfish genera. It includes both widespread surface-dwelling species and numerous troglobitic (cave-dwelling) species. The marbled crayfish (marmorkrebs), a parthenogenetic form, is also classified within this genus. Several species, particularly P. clarkii (red swamp crayfish), have been introduced globally and are recognized as invasive species with significant ecological and economic impacts.
Pseudanophthalmus cerberus cerberus
Pseudanophthalmus cerberus cerberus is a subspecies of troglobitic ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to a genus of small, eyeless beetles adapted to life in caves. The subspecies was described by Barr in 1985 and is currently accepted as valid. Like other members of Pseudanophthalmus, it is likely restricted to subterranean habitats in the eastern United States.
Pseudanophthalmus hoffmani
Hoffman's Cave Beetle
Pseudanophthalmus hoffmani, known as Hoffman's cave beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is endemic to Virginia, United States. The species belongs to a genus of troglobitic beetles specialized for subterranean environments.
Pseudanophthalmus holsingeri
Holsinger's Cave Beetle
Pseudanophthalmus holsingeri, known as Holsinger's Cave Beetle, is a troglobitic ground beetle endemic to Virginia, United States. The species was described by Thomas C. Barr in 1965. As a member of the genus Pseudanophthalmus, it is adapted to subterranean cave environments.
Pseudanophthalmus robustus
Pseudanophthalmus robustus is a species of small carabid beetle in the tribe Trechini, first described by Valentine in 1931. The genus Pseudanophthalmus comprises eyeless or nearly eyeless ground beetles, many of which are troglobitic (cave-dwelling) species. This species is endemic to the United States, with distribution records limited to North America. Like other members of its genus, it likely inhabits subterranean environments including caves and deep soil habitats.
Pseudorypteryx
Pseudorypteryx is a monotypic genus of cave-dwelling barklice in the family Psyllipsocidae, erected by García-Aldrete in 1984. The genus contains a single described species, Pseudorypteryx mexicana. Members of this genus are troglobitic, meaning they are specialized for life in cave environments.
Psocathropos
Psocathropos is a genus of small, wingless psocids (booklice) in the family Psyllipsocidae. Members of this genus are troglophilic or troglobitic, often found in caves and other subterranean habitats. The genus was established by Ribaga in 1899 and contains species distributed across multiple continents including North America, the Caribbean, and South Asia.
Psyllipsocus
Psyllipsocus is a genus of cave-dwelling barklice comprising more than 50 described species. Members of this genus inhabit dark, humid microhabitats including caves, rock crevices, and similar subterranean environments. The genus was established by Selys-Longchamps in 1872 and represents one of the most species-rich genera within the family Psyllipsocidae.
Ptomaphagus
Ptomaphagus is a genus of small carrion beetles in the family Leiodidae, containing at least 50 described species. Many species are obligately cavernicolous (troglobitic), restricted to cave systems in North America and Eurasia. The genus has been extensively studied as a model system for understanding cave adaptation, speciation, and evolutionary biology. Some species show advanced reproductive isolation, with hybridization experiments demonstrating reduced fecundity and viability between distinct populations.
Rhagidiidae
Rhagidiidae is a family of soft-bodied, predaceous soil mites in the order Trombidiformes. The family comprises approximately 28 genera and 150 species of whitish mites that inhabit soil environments, with many species showing adaptations to subterranean life. Established by Oudemans in 1922, the family received its modern systematic foundation through Zacharda's 1980 world revision. Many species exhibit troglomorphic traits including reduced eyes, elongated appendages, and depigmentation.
Scaritinae
Pedunculate Ground Beetles
Scaritinae is a large, cosmopolitan subfamily of ground beetles (Carabidae) containing over 2,400 species in more than 140 genera. Members exhibit considerable ecological diversity, with many species adapted to specialized habitats including caves, riverbanks, and deep soil layers. The subfamily includes tribes such as Scaritini, Clivinini, and Salcediini. Several genera show disjunct distributions that have contributed to biogeographic understanding of continental drift and faunal exchange.
Speleobama
Speleobama is a genus of rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. It was described by Orlando Park in 1951 and is the type genus of the tribe Speleobamini. Members of this genus are associated with cave habitats, as indicated by the genus name derived from 'speleo-' (cave) and 'bama' (a suffix used in related genera). The genus contains multiple described species found in North America.
Stygoparnus comalensis
Comal Springs dryopid beetle
Stygoparnus comalensis is a federally endangered, subterranean-obligate dryopid beetle endemic to three spring systems in the Edwards Aquifer region of central Texas. Adults are approximately 2 mm long with vestigial eyes and undeveloped wings, reflecting their troglobitic ancestry. The species exhibits extreme population genetic structure with no gene flow among localities, indicating evolutionary isolation. Captive studies reveal strong habitat preferences for wood substrates and specific phototactic responses to light wavelength. The beetle serves as a surrogate species for monitoring aquifer health and faces threats from groundwater extraction, pollution, and drought-induced springflow reduction.
Styloniscidae
Styloniscidae is a family of terrestrial isopods (woodlice) within the suborder Oniscidea. The family comprises at least twelve genera distributed across tropical and subtropical regions, with exceptional diversity documented in Brazilian karst systems. Multiple genera contain troglobitic (exclusively cave-dwelling) species, including Xangoniscus, Cylindroniscus, Pectenoniscus, and Chaimowiczia. These cave-dwelling representatives exhibit classic troglomorphic traits: anophthalmy (eye loss), depigmentation, and elongated appendages.
Trichopetalidae
Trichopetalidae is a family of small millipedes in the order Chordeumatida. Adults possess 28 or 30 body segments, counting the collum as the first and the telson as the last. The family comprises seven genera and approximately 43 species, with members exhibiting diverse ecological strategies ranging from surface-dwelling to obligate cave-dwelling (troglobitic) lifestyles.
Troglopina
Troglopina is a subtribe of soft-bodied plant beetles within the family Melyridae. Members of this group are characterized by adaptations associated with subterranean or cave-dwelling lifestyles, as reflected in their name derived from 'troglodyte.' The subtribe includes genera such as Troglops, which exhibit morphological modifications for life in dark, humid environments. These beetles represent a specialized lineage within the diverse Melyridae family.
Tularina
Tularina is a genus of harvestmen (Opiliones: Laniatores) in the family Phalangodidae, described by Ubick & Briggs in 2008. As a member of the infraorder Grassatores, it belongs to a diverse group of long-legged arachnids commonly known as daddy longlegs. The genus was established based on morphological characteristics distinguishing it from related phalangodid genera. Information regarding species diversity, distribution, and biology remains limited in published literature.
Zuphiini
Zuphiini is a tribe of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, established by Bonelli in 1810. The tribe contains at least 23 genera and more than 120 described species with a worldwide distribution. Members of the genus Coarazuphium within this tribe include obligate cave-dwelling (troglobitic) species found in iron ore caves in Brazil's Carajás region, which harbors the highest diversity of obligatory cave-dwelling beetles in the country.