Collembola Taxonomy and Ecology StudiesSubterranean biodiversity and taxonomyFossil Insects in Amber

Mahmood Mehrafrooz Mayvan, R. Ozimec, Ľ. Kováč

2026.5.11Subterranean Biology

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.56.182808

Abstract

We provide redescriptions of two subterranean species of the genus Oncopodura inhabiting caves of the Balkan Peninsula, namely O. cavernarum Stach, 1934 and O. jugoslavica Absolon & Kseneman, 1932, partly based on specimens from type localities. Oncopodura cavernarum differs from other species of the genus by a combination of the following characters: single lobe in PAO, unguis elongated, ungual basal lamella shorter than or equal to half the length of the unguis, mucro with 4 teeth and 2 basal scales, and pattern of hooks on dens: 1 dorsointernal hook on basal part, and 1 dorsoexternal and 1 dorsointernal hook on distal part. Oncopodura jugoslavica can be distinguished from other congeners by PAO with 4 equally short lobes, unguis elongated, ungual basal lamella longer than half the length of the unguis, mucro with 4 teeth and 2 basal scales, and pattern of hooks on dens: basal part with 1 dorsointernal hook, and distal part with 1 dorsoexternal and 2 dorsointernal hooks. In both species, the modification of the foot complex shows a moderate level of troglomorphy. Regarding the geographical distribution, these two Dinaric Oncopodura species occur in allopatry: O. cavernarum has north-western and central merodinaric distribution range, while O. jugoslavica is characterized by a south-eastern merodinaric distribution. For both redescribed species, tables with diagnostic characters of morphologically similar congeners are provided.

Citation format

MAYVAN, Mahmood Mehrafrooz; OZIMEC, R.; KOVÁČ, Ľ. Redescription of two subterranean species of the genus oncopodura carl & lebedinsky, 1905 (hexapoda, collembola) from the balkan peninsula. Subterranean Biology, 2026, 56: 103–125.