New species of short range endemic troglobitic silverfish (Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from subterranean habitats in Western Australia’s semi-arid Pilbara region

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 7 years ago

ABSTRACT – Two new troglobitic species of silverfish of the genus Trinemura Silvestri are described from the semi-arid Pilbara region of Western Australia. A third species is recorded but not described due to the lack of a mature male specimen. The deep subterranean habitat of these new species is developed within weathered rocks of banded iron formation. The surveyed distributions of each species appears confi ned to proximal landforms which are topographically and geologically isolated from each other. Molecular genetic evidence (12S) supports the morphological defi nition and phylogeographic separation.