List of troglobites explained

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.

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).

Flatworms

Mollusca

Bivalvia

Gastropoda

Velvet worms

Arthropoda

Arachnida

Myriapoda

Millipedes
Centipedes

Crustacea

Crayfish
  • Others

    • Insecta

    See Cave insects

    Fish

    See main article: article and Cavefish.

    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

    Notes and References

    1. Sket. Boris. 2008-06-01. Can we agree on an ecological classification of subterranean animals?. Journal of Natural History. 42. 21–22. 1549–1563. 10.1080/00222930801995762. 84499383. 0022-2933.
    2. Book: Vandel, Albert. Biospeleology: the biology of cavernicolous animals. registration. 1965. Pergamon Press. 9781483185132. Oxford. 893738507.
    3. Book: Stoch, Fabio. Caves and karstic phenomena. Life in subterranean world. Italian Ministry of the Environment and Territory Protection and Friuli Museum of Natural History. 2001. Italian Habitats. Udine, Italy. 2017-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20170804174142/http://www.udinecultura.it/opencms/opencms/release/ComuneUdine/cittavicina/cultura/it/musei/storianaturale/pubblicazioni/quaderni/allegati_en/01_Caves_Karstic_Phenomena_1.pdf. 2017-08-04. dead.
    4. Book: The biology of caves and other subterranean habitats. Culver. D.C.. Pipan. Tanja. Oxford University Press. 2009. 9780199219933. New York. 248538645.
    5. Book: Encyclopedia of caves. Culver. D.C.. White. W.B.. Elsevier/Academic Press. 2012. 9780123838322. 2nd. Waltham, MA. 776633368.
    6. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/6/726 Subterranean Fauna of the Lukina Jama–Trojama Cave System in Croatia: The Deepest Cave in the Dinaric Karst
    7. Web site: Summary for Porrhomma rosenhaueri (Araneae).
    8. Alvarez, Fernando . Iliffe, Thomas M. . Villalobos, José Luis . amp . 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. . . 26 . 3 . 366–378 . 10.1651/C-2658.1 . 26634586 . 2011-12-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130514224922/http://isopods.nhm.org/pdfs/13003/13003.pdf . 2013-05-14 . dead .
    9. Web site: Alabama Cave Shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae). 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation . . Powell, Jeff . August 29, 2006 . October 10, 2010 .
    10. United States Fish and Wildlife Service . United States Fish and Wildlife Service . 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 . . 68 . 68 . April 9, 2003 . 17430–17470 .
    11. A new species of the stygobiotic blind prawn Typhlocaris Calman, 1909 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Typhlocaridinae) from Israel . Tsurnamal, M. . . 81 . 4 . 2008 . 487–501 . 10.1163/156854008783797534.

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