Alabama Cave Silverfish vs Silverfish

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Alabama Cave Silverfish Silverfish
Scientific Name Speleonycta sp. nov. Alabama Lepisma saccharinum
Order Zygentoma Zygentoma
Family Nicoletiidae Lepismatidae
Size 8-12 mm 10-15mm
Habitat Caves Indoors
Diet Fungus Feeders Omnivores
Regions United States Worldwide
Conservation Data Deficient Least Concern

Alabama Cave Silverfish

A recently described cave silverfish from northern Alabama caves. It is completely blind and unpigmented, representing a new genus.

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Did You Know?

It was described in 2024, showing that new cave species are still being found in well-explored regions.

Silverfish

A primitive wingless insect with a silvery scaled body and three tail filaments. A common household inhabitant.

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Did You Know?

Has existed in essentially the same form for 400 million years making it one of the oldest surviving insect designs.