Subterranean fsuna are specialised for life in subterranean void spaces: troglofauna, living in air filled void, and stygofauna, living in water filled void spaces. These environments are typically characterised by extremely stable conditions and very low energy/nutrient availability and absence of light. Several specific morphological adaptations (troglomorphies) usually result from specialisation to these conditions:

• blind or very reduced eyes
• no or reduced body pigment
• elongated bodies and appendages
• loss or reduction of wings (in groups that normally fly)
• relatively thin exoskeleton
• very low metabolic rates

Subterranean fauna (especially troglofauna) are often ‘locked’ into their specific subterranean void network and can have very restricted distributions. They are significant environmental values in the considerations of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (WAEPA):

Technical Guidance – Subterranean fauna surveys for environmental impact assessment

Alacran offers field surveys and diagnostic capabilities to help clients meet these EPA requirements.

Alacran tartarus (troglobitic scorpion) image by Peter Sprouse Zarra Environmental LLC

Curculionidae (troglobitic weevil)

Maarka sp. (sygobitic amphipod)

Enchytraeidae (stygobitic annelid worm)