Convergent evolution underground - two new troglomorphic collembolan species of the genus Schaefferia Absolon, 1900 (Collembola, Poduromorpha, Hypogastruridae) from Iran and Montenegro

Two new subterranean springtail species of the genus Schaefferia Absolon, 1900 are described: S. greensladeae sp. nov. from Danial Cave in the Alborz Mountains, Iran, and S. montenegrina sp. nov. from Babatuša Cave in Dinaric Karst, Montenegro. Both species are characterized by the absence of eyes and postantennal organ (PAO) having more than 5 lobes in the contrary to other eyeless congeners that have less than 5 lobes in PAO. Morphological traits of both species indicate high level of association with the subterranean environment. The phylogenetic relationships and morphological adaptations of two new species to subterranean life are discussed. Schaefferia greensladeae sp. nov. and S. montenegrina sp. nov. serve as a good example of convergent evolution that is characteristic of invertebrates highly adapted to deep subterranean realm. An updated key to the world species of the genus and a table summarizing diagnostic characters of the world species of Schaefferia are provided.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Subterranean Biology
Published
2025-11-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.54.157228
Primary Topic
Collembola Taxonomy and Ecology Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Convergent evolution underground - two new troglomorphic collembolan species of the genus Schaefferia Absolon, 1900 (Collembola, Poduromorpha, Hypogastruridae) from Iran and Montenegro

Ľubomír Kováč, Marko G. Karaman, Mahmood Mehrafrooz Mayvan
Subterranean Biology
Collembola Taxonomy and Ecology Studies
article

Convergent evolution underground - two new troglomorphic collembolan species of the genus Schaefferia Absolon, 1900 (Collembola, Poduromorpha, Hypogastruridae) from Iran and Montenegro

Ľubomír Kováč, Marko G. Karaman, Mahmood Mehrafrooz Mayvan
article en

Abstract

Two new subterranean springtail species of the genus Schaefferia Absolon, 1900 are described: S. greensladeae sp. nov. from Danial Cave in the Alborz Mountains, Iran, and S. montenegrina sp. nov. from Babatuša Cave in Dinaric Karst, Montenegro. Both species are characterized by the absence of eyes and postantennal organ (PAO) having more than 5 lobes in the contrary to other eyeless congeners that have less than 5 lobes in PAO. Morphological traits of both species indicate high level of association with the subterranean environment. The phylogenetic relationships and morphological adaptations of two new species to subterranean life are discussed. Schaefferia greensladeae sp. nov. and S. montenegrina sp. nov. serve as a good example of convergent evolution that is characteristic of invertebrates highly adapted to deep subterranean realm. An updated key to the world species of the genus and a table summarizing diagnostic characters of the world species of Schaefferia are provided.

Subterranean BiologyVol. 54
University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik (SK), Prirodnjacki Muzej Crne Gore (ME)
Agentúra na Podporu Výskumu a Vývoja, Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAV
Openalex Percentile: Top 74%
Collembola Taxonomy and Ecology Studies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.