Redescription of two troglobiotic species of Deuteraphorura Absolon, 1901 (Collembola, Onychiuridae) from the Western Carpathians

A detailed redescription of two troglobiotic species, Deuteraphorura kratochvili and D. schoenviszkyi, from the Western Carpathian caves reveals their unique morphological traits, including the absence of pseudocelli on thoracic tergum I and the presence of a male ventral organ on abdominal terga II–III. Both species are obligate cave-dwelling forms (troglobionts), restricted to subterranean environments. The study examines intraspecific variability in D. kratochvili from its type locality, Demänovská Cave System, while D. schoenviszkyi is redescribed based on specimens from both Slovak and Aggtelek Karst, where the type locality is situated. An identification key for Deuteraphorura species lacking pseudocelli on thoracic segment I is also provided, aiding in their taxonomic differentiation.

PARIMUCHOVÁ, A., & KOVÁČ, Ľ. (2016). Redescription of two troglobiotic species of Deuteraphorura Absolon, 1901
(Collembola, Onychiuridae) from the Western Carpathians. Zootaxa, 4168(2). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4168.2.6