List of troglobites

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A troglobite (or, formally, troglobiont) is an animal species, or population of a species, strictly bound to underground habitats, such as caves. These are separate from species that mainly live in above-ground habitats but are also able to live underground (eutroglophiles), and species that are only cave visitors (subtroglophiles and trogloxenes). [1] Land-dwelling troglobites may be referred to as troglofauna, while aquatic species may be called stygofauna, although for these animals the term stygobite is preferable.

Contents

Troglobites typically have evolutionary adaptations to cave life. Examples of such adaptations include slow metabolism, reduced energy consumption, better food usage efficiency, decrease or loss of eyesight (anophthalmia), and depigmentation (absence of pigment in the integument). Conversely, as opposed to lost or reduced functions, many species have evolved elongated antenna and locomotory appendages, in order to better move around and respond to environmental stimuli. These structures are also full of chemical, tactile and humidity receptors. Troglobites commonly do not survive well outside caves and therefore cannot travel between separate cave systems. As a result, many troglobiotic species are endemic to a single cave or system of caves. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Not all cave dwelling species are considered to be troglobites. An animal found in an underground environment may be a troglophile (a species living both in subterranean and in epigean habitats, e.g. bats and cave swallows) or a trogloxene (a species only occurring sporadically in a hypogean habitat and unable to establish a subterranean population). [1]

Flatworms

Mollusca

Bivalvia

Gastropoda

Velvet worms

Arthropoda

Arachnida

Myriapoda

Millipedes
Sinocallipus deharvengi Sinocallipus deharvengi head.jpg
Sinocallipus deharvengi
Centipedes

Crustacea

Crayfish
Others

Insecta

See Cave insects

Fish

Amphibians

Mammals

There are no known mammals that live exclusively in caves. Most bats sleep in caves during the day and hunt at night, but they are considered troglophiles or trogloxenes. However some fossorials which spend their whole lives underground might be considered subterranean fauna, although they are not true troglofauna as they do not live in caves.

Echinodermata

Porifera

Annelida

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stygofauna</span> Animals living in subterranean waters

Stygofauna are any fauna that live in groundwater systems or aquifers, such as caves, fissures and vugs. Stygofauna and troglofauna are the two types of subterranean fauna. Both are associated with subterranean environments – stygofauna are associated with water, and troglofauna with caves and spaces above the water table. Stygofauna can live within freshwater aquifers and within the pore spaces of limestone, calcrete or laterite, whilst larger animals can be found in cave waters and wells. Stygofaunal animals, like troglofauna, are divided into three groups based on their life history - stygophiles, stygoxenes, and stygobites.

  1. Stygophiles inhabit both surface and subterranean aquatic environments, but are not necessarily restricted to either.
  2. Stygoxenes are like stygophiles, except they are defined as accidental or occasional presence in subterranean waters. Stygophiles and stygoxenes may live for part of their lives in caves, but don't complete their life cycle in them.
  3. Stygobites are obligate, or strictly subterranean, aquatic animals and complete their entire life in this environment.
<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troglofauna</span> Species that lives in caves and similar subterranean environments

Troglofauna are small cave-dwelling animals that have adapted to their dark surroundings. Troglofauna and stygofauna are the two types of subterranean fauna. Both are associated with subterranean environments – troglofauna are associated with caves and spaces above the water table and stygofauna with water. Troglofaunal species include spiders, insects, myriapods and others. Some troglofauna live permanently underground and cannot survive outside the cave environment. Troglofauna adaptations and characteristics include a heightened sense of hearing, touch and smell. Loss of under-used senses is apparent in the lack of pigmentation as well as eyesight in most troglofauna. Troglofauna insects may exhibit a lack of wings and longer appendages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rusty crayfish</span> Large species of freshwater crayfish which is native to the United States

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<i>Orconectes</i> Genus of crayfish

Orconectes is a genus of cave dwelling freshwater crayfish, endemic to suitable habitats in the eastern United States. Surface dwelling species, formerly categorised here, were moved to Faxonius in 2017.

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<i>Procambarus</i> Genus of crayfishes

Procambarus is a genus of crayfish in the family Cambaridae, all native to North and Central America. It includes a number of troglobitic species, and the marbled crayfish (marmorkrebs), which is parthenogenetic. Originally described as a subgenus for four species, it now contains around 161 species.

Procambarus leitheuseri, sometimes called the Coastal Lowland cave crayfish, is a species of troglobite crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is endemic to Hernando and Pasco counties, Florida and is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List.

Cambarus pecki, sometimes called the phantom cave crayfish, is a species of crayfish in the family Cambaridae. It is endemic to Alabama where it is found in three unconnected caves in the Tennessee River drainage in Colbert County, Lauderdale County, and Morgan County.

<i>Stygobromus pecki</i> Species of crustacean

Stygobromus pecki, the Peck's cave amphipod, is a rare species of crustacean found in four cavern areas of southwestern Texas in the United States. It is a federally listed endangered species in the United States and is also listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Because of the species' limited geographical distribution, not much information on S. pecki is known. As of April 2022, there is no available 5-year review, Species Status Assessment, or recovery plan for the species. However, the Edwards' Aquifer Habitat Conservation Program (EAHCP), with the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (UFWS), has been attempting to further study and promote conservation of S. pecki.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subterranean fauna</span>

Subterranean fauna refers to animal species that are adapted to live in an underground environment. Troglofauna and stygofauna are the two types of subterranean fauna. Both are associated with hypogeal habitats – troglofauna is associated with terrestrial subterranean environment, and stygofauna with all kind of subterranean waters.

Procambarus lucifugus, the Florida cave crayfish, vampire crayfish, or light-fleeing cave crayfish, is a troglomorphic freshwater crayfish endemic to 20–25 occurrences in an arc of caves 80 km long in 6 Florida counties.

Procambarus lucifugus alachua, known as the Alachua light-fleeing cave crayfish, is one of two subspecies of the vampire crayfish, along with Procambarus lucifugus lucifugus. It is distinct from P. l. lucifugus due its eyespots.

References

  1. 1 2 Sket, Boris (2008-06-01). "Can we agree on an ecological classification of subterranean animals?". Journal of Natural History. 42 (21–22): 1549–1563. doi:10.1080/00222930801995762. ISSN   0022-2933. S2CID   84499383.
  2. ↑ Vandel, Albert (1965). Biospeleology: the biology of cavernicolous animals . Oxford: Pergamon Press. ISBN   9781483185132. OCLC   893738507.
  3. ↑ Stoch, Fabio (2001). Caves and karstic phenomena. Life in subterranean world (PDF). Italian Habitats. Udine, Italy: Italian Ministry of the Environment and Territory Protection and Friuli Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-04. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
  4. ↑ Culver, D.C.; Pipan, Tanja (2009). The biology of caves and other subterranean habitats. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN   9780199219933. OCLC   248538645.
  5. ↑ Culver, D.C.; White, W.B. (2012). Encyclopedia of caves (2nd ed.). Waltham, MA: Elsevier/Academic Press. ISBN   9780123838322. OCLC   776633368.
  6. ↑ Subterranean Fauna of the Lukina Jama–Trojama Cave System in Croatia: The Deepest Cave in the Dinaric Karst
  7. 1 2 United States Fish and Wildlife Service (April 9, 2003). "50 CFR Part 17. RIN 1018–AH01. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Kauai Cave Wolf Spider and Kauai Cave Amphipod" (PDF). Federal Register . 68 (68): 17430–17470.
  8. ↑ "Summary for Porrhomma rosenhaueri (Araneae)".
  9. 1 2 Buhay, J.E.; Moni, G.; Mann, N. & Crandall, K.A. (2007). "Molecular taxonomy in the dark: Evolutionary history, phylogeography, and diversity of cave crayfish in the sugenus Aviticambarus, genus Cambarus". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 42 (2): 435–448. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.07.014. PMID   16971141.
  10. 1 2 3 Buhay, J.E. & Crandall, K.A. (2009). "Taxonomic revision of cave crayfish in the genus Cambarus, subgenus Aviticambarus (Decapoda: Cambaridae) with descriptions of two new species". Journal of Crustacean Biology . 29 (1): 121–134. doi: 10.1651/08-3089.1 . S2CID   83813422.
  11. ↑ Crandall, K.A. (2010). "Cambarus pecki". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T18212A7806310. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T18212A7806310.en .
  12. ↑ Bergey, E.; Cordeiro, J. & Thoma, R.F. (2010). "Cambarus tartarus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T3683A10020038. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T3683A10020038.en .
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Buhay, J.E. & Crandall, K.A. (2008). "Taxonomic revision of cave crayfishes in the genus "Orconectes", subgenus "Orconectes" (Decapoda: Cambaridae) along the Cumberland Plateau, including a description of a new species, "Orconectes barri"". Journal of Crustacean Biology . 28 (1): 57–67. doi: 10.1651/07-2827R.1 . S2CID   10326776.
  14. ↑ "A New Threat to Groundwater Ecosystems: First Occurrences of the Invasive Crayfish Procambarus Clarkii (Girard, 1852) in European Caves". Journal of Cave and Karst Studies. 86 (1): 62–65. 2014. doi: 10.4311/2013LSC0115 .
  15. ↑ Crandall, K.A. & Cordeiro, J. (2010). "Procambarus delicatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T18196A7774195. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T18196A7774195.en .
  16. ↑ Alvarez, Fernando; Iliffe, Thomas M. & Villalobos, José Luis (2006). "Macromaxillocarididae, a new family of stenopodidean shrimp from an anchialine cave in the Bahamas, with the description of Macromaxillocaris bahamaensis, n. gen., n. sp" (PDF). Journal of Crustacean Biology . 26 (3): 366–378. doi:10.1651/C-2658.1. S2CID   26634586. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2011-12-07.
  17. ↑ Powell, Jeff (August 29, 2006). "Alabama Cave Shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae). 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation" (PDF). United States Fish and Wildlife Service . Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  18. ↑ Tsurnamal, M. (2008). "A new species of the stygobiotic blind prawn Typhlocaris Calman, 1909 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Typhlocaridinae) from Israel". Crustaceana . 81 (4): 487–501. doi:10.1163/156854008783797534.
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