Checklist of Invertebrates from the Racha and Khvamli Karst Massifs, Sakartvelo (Georgia)
The Caucasus region is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, hosting a remarkable diversity. Among its unique ecosystems, karst caves in western Georgia provide habitat for highly specialized invertebrate fauna. Despite the ecological significance of these cave systems, biospeleological research in the region remains limited. Based on recent studies, an updated and expanded checklist of invertebrates from the Racha and Khvamli karst massifs is provided. We report 102 species, representing 25 orders, 57 families, and 78 genera, including eight newly recorded taxa for the caves of Racha and Khvamli karst Massifs: Globochthonius satapliaensis , Harpolithobius perplexus , H. spinipes , Lithobius viriatus , Chaetoleptophyllum flexum , Leucogeorgia gioi , Porrhomma convexum and Colchidoniscus kutaissianus . Of these 102 species, 20 are troglobionts, 11 are stygobionts, 45 are troglophiles, two are stygophiles, 13 are trogloxenes, six are accidental records and for five species ecological status is not defined.
Institutions
- Ilia State University (GE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Caucasiana
- Published
- 2025-12-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3897/caucasiana.4.e169350
- Primary Topic
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation
- Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund