Tropical Silverfish vs Canary Islands Cave Silverfish

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tropical Silverfish Canary Islands Cave Silverfish
Scientific Name Nicoletia phytophila Coletinia majorensis
Order Zygentoma Zygentoma
Family Nicoletiidae Nicoletiidae
Size 8-12 mm 6-10 mm
Habitat Caves Caves
Diet Detritivores Fungus Feeders
Regions Central America, Caribbean Spain
Conservation Least Concern Vulnerable

Tropical Silverfish

A soil-dwelling silverfish found in tropical regions and occasionally in caves. It has a slender white body with very long cerci.

💡

Did You Know?

It has been recorded from caves in Belize despite being primarily a soil species.

Canary Islands Cave Silverfish

A cave-adapted silverfish from Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. It lives in lava tubes and volcanic caves.

💡

Did You Know?

Males of this species have distinctive asymmetric antennae.