Alpine Cave Springtail vs Baldani Cave Springtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Alpine Cave Springtail Baldani Cave Springtail
Scientific Name Onychiuroides alpinus Protaphorura baldanii
Order Collembola Collembola
Family Onychiuridae Onychiuridae
Size 0.8-1.2 mm 0.8-1.2 mm
Habitat Caves Caves
Diet Omnivores Detritivores
Regions Italy Italy
Conservation Data Deficient Data Deficient

Alpine Cave Springtail

A recently described blind springtail from caves in the Italian Alps. It lacks eyes, pigment, and a jumping furca.

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Did You Know?

It survives in caves where temperatures remain just a few degrees above freezing.

Baldani Cave Springtail

A cave-adapted springtail from Italy with no pigmentation and no functional eyes. It was recently described as new to science from Italian caves.

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Did You Know?

It belongs to one of the most species-rich genera of blind springtails.