Troglophile
Guides
Alloblackburneus troglodytes
Little Gopher Tortoise Scarab Beetle
Alloblackburneus troglodytes is a small scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. Commonly known as the Little Gopher Tortoise Scarab Beetle, this species is associated with gopher tortoise burrows in the southeastern United States. The specific epithet "troglodytes" (meaning "cave-dweller") reflects its habit of living in the subterranean burrow systems of its reptilian host.
Calicina mariposa
Calicina mariposa is a species of armoured harvestman in the family Phalangodidae. It was originally described as Sitalcina mariposa by Briggs in 1968 before being transferred to the genus Calicina. The species is known from North America. Very little published information exists regarding its biology or ecology.
Ceuthophilus williamsoni
Ozark cave cricket
Ceuthophilus williamsoni, commonly known as the Ozark cave cricket, is a species of camel cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae. It was described by Hubbell in 1934 and is endemic to the Ozark region of North America. Like other members of its genus, it is adapted to dark, humid cave environments. The species is part of a group of camel crickets that are sometimes mistaken for true grasshoppers due to their similar body plan and jumping ability.
Chordeumatida
Sausage Millipedes, Spinning Millipedes
Chordeumatida is a large order of millipedes containing over 1,100 species, commonly known as sausage millipedes or spinning millipedes. Members of this order are distinguished by their teloanamorphic development—adding segments through molts until reaching a fixed adult number, after which molting ceases. They are notable for possessing spinnerets on their telsons that produce silk used to construct protective chambers for molting and egg-laying. The order exhibits considerable morphological diversity, with species ranging from 3.5 to 42 mm in length and displaying both cylindrical and flat-backed body forms.
Entomobrya zona
Rocky Mountain Springtail
Entomobrya zona, commonly known as the Rocky Mountain springtail, is a small springtail species endemic to the Rocky Mountains and known from three caves in the Grand Canyon. Adults reach approximately 2 mm in length and are characterized by tan coloration with black markings, including a distinctive wide dark band running down the center of the abdomen. The species occurs at elevations from 1,700 to over 3,000 meters in arid environments and coniferous forests. It is frequently found in subterranean habitats, where it is considered a troglophile.
Hadenoecus subterraneus
Mammoth Cave cricket, common cave cricket
Hadenoecus subterraneus is a troglophilic camel cricket species in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to cave systems of North America. It exhibits metabolic and water economy adaptations to subterranean environments, with physiological traits scaled to body size and temperature. The species serves as an important nutrient vector in cave ecosystems through its guano, eggs, and carcasses, which support diverse communities of cave-dwelling organisms. While primarily cavernicolous, it can survive in surface environments.
Hubbardia pentapeltis
short-tailed whipscorpion
Hubbardia pentapeltis is a species of short-tailed whipscorpion in the family Hubbardiidae, first described by Cook in 1899. It belongs to the order Schizomida, a small group of arachnids characterized by their compact bodies and reduced flagellum. The species is known from North America and has been documented in citizen science observations.
Hubbardiidae
hubbardiid shorttailed whipscorpion, hubbardiid short-tailed whipscorpion
Hubbardiidae is the larger of the two extant families in the arachnid order Schizomida, comprising approximately 356 species in 69 genera. Members are superficially spider-like but distinguished by a short, segmented flagellum (tail-like structure) and divided into two subfamilies: Hubbardiinae and Megaschizominae. The family exhibits worldwide distribution with notable diversity in tropical and subtropical regions, including significant cave-adapted and subterranean faunas.
Meta
Cave Orbweavers
Meta is a genus of long-jawed orb-weaver spiders (family Tetragnathidae) distributed worldwide. These spiders are strongly associated with subterranean and dimly lit environments, including caves, abandoned mines, old wells, basements, and densely shaded ravines. Unlike most tetragnathids, Meta species construct vertical orb webs rather than horizontal ones. The genus includes notable species such as Meta ovalis in North America and Meta menardi in Europe and Asia.
Meta ovalis
Cave Orbweaver, Eastern Cave Long-jawed Spider
Meta ovalis is a long-jawed orb weaver spider in the family Tetragnathidae, commonly known as the cave orbweaver. Unlike most other tetragnathids, it lacks the exaggerated jaws, elongated body, and long legs typical of the family, and it spins a vertical orb web rather than the horizontal webs of its relatives. It is a troglophile species found in cave entrances, abandoned mines, old wells, basements, and densely shaded ravines across eastern North America, ranging from southeast Canada to Georgia and west to the Mississippi River.
Microcina
Microcina is a genus of harvestmen (order Opiliones) in the family Phalangodidae, described by Briggs and Ubick in 1989. It belongs to the infraorder Grassatores, a group of Laniatores characterized by relatively long legs and often cryptic habits. Species in this genus are found in western North America, particularly in California. The genus is part of the diverse phalangodid radiation in the region.
Nesticus furtivus
Crystal Caverns Cave Spider
Nesticus furtivus is a small cave-dwelling spider endemic to a single cave system in Tennessee. It belongs to the family Nesticidae, a group commonly known as cave spiders or scaffold web spiders. The species has been documented only from Raccoon Mountain Caverns (formerly Crystal Caverns) near Chattanooga, making it one of the most geographically restricted spider species in North America. Its specific epithet 'furtivus' refers to its secretive, hidden lifestyle in subterranean habitats.
Porrhomma convexum
Porrhomma convexum is a species of sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, characterized by its small size and association with cave and subterranean habitats. The species was described by Westring in 1851 and has a broad Holarctic distribution spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits adaptations to dark environments including reduced pigmentation and eye size. The species constructs sheet webs typical of its family.
Sinella cavernarum
Cavernicolous springtail
Sinella cavernarum is a species of springtail in the family Entomobryidae, first described by Packard in 1888. The species epithet 'cavernarum' (of caves) suggests a troglophilic or troglobitic lifestyle. As an entomobryomorph springtail, it possesses the characteristic elongated body form and well-developed antennae typical of this group. Very few observations of this species exist in public databases.
Taracus
Taracus is a genus of small harvestmen (Opiliones) in the family Taracidae. Most species inhabit limestone and lava caves in western North America, with body lengths ranging from 2.0 to 5.5 mm. The genus contains 14 described species as of 2023, predominantly distributed across the United States with limited representation in Russia.
Tegenaria pagana
Rural Funnel-web Spider, House Funnel-web Spider
Tegenaria pagana is a small funnel-web spider in the family Agelenidae, first described from Greece in 1840. It is a synanthropic species strongly associated with human habitations, earning it the common name 'house funnel-web spider.' The species is native to the Palearctic region from Europe through North Africa to Central Asia, but has been introduced globally and is now established on multiple continents. A 2013 taxonomic revision substantially reduced its synonymy, consolidating several previously recognized species. It has been studied as a comparative model for eye development and troglomorphic evolution in cave-dwelling spiders.
Zygethobius pontis
Zygethobius pontis is a small centipede species in the family Henicopidae, described by Chamberlin in 1911. It belongs to the order Lithobiomorpha, a group commonly known as stone centipedes. The species has been documented in the Appalachian region of the eastern United States, specifically in Tennessee and Virginia. Records for this species are sparse, with limited observational data available.