Ozark Cave Silverfish vs Giant Nicoletiid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Ozark Cave Silverfish Giant Nicoletiid
Scientific Name Speleonycta ozarkensis Texoreddellia aquilonaris
Order Zygentoma Zygentoma
Family Nicoletiidae Nicoletiidae
Size 8-12 mm 15-25 mm
Habitat Caves Caves
Diet Fungus Feeders Detritivores
Regions United States North America, Texas
Conservation Vulnerable Vulnerable

Ozark Cave Silverfish

A blind cave-adapted silverfish found in caves of the Ozark Highlands. It is completely white and eyeless.

💡

Did You Know?

It is the only known species of its genus, endemic to Ozark caves.

Giant Nicoletiid

A cave-dwelling, blind silverfish relative found in Texas caves. It is completely unpigmented and white, with elongated appendages adapted to cave life.

💡

Did You Know?

Cave-adapted silverfish like this species represent some of the most ancient lineages of living insects still inhabiting their ancestral habitat type.