The Dinaric Karst is inhabited by the great number of endemic and relict cave pseudoscorpions pertaining to the Laurasian, Paleo-Mediterranean, Paleo-Aegean, and South- or North-Aegean phyletic series. Among the major causes which explain the extraordinary variety of the troglobitic pseudoscorpion fauna of the region one should mention: the varied epigeous pseudoscorpion fauna populating the Proto-Balkans in the remote past, the continuity of the continental phase in different areas of the Balkans, the presence of mighty limestone beds and the subsequent evolution of the underground karst relief, the succession of the climatic conditions which were in favour of the colonisation of the subterranean domain, and the divergent differentiation of the pseudoscorpion taxa in numerous isolated underground habitats. The accessible cave representatives of the families Chthoniidae and Neobisiidae have been studied. The presence of two genera (Chthonius C. L. Koch and Neobisium Chamberlin), previously reported from this region was confirmed. The occurrence of a further two genera and 11 species previously unknown from the Dinaric Karst, was demonstrated. All are newly described. This study of the cave pseudoscorpions inhabiting the Dinaric Karst has offered further proof of their great age and probably different origin. These species and genera represent the last vestiges of an old fauna, which found their ultimate shelters in the underground domain of the Balkans and adjacent regions.
The Dinaric Karst is inhabited by the great number of endemic and relict cave pseudoscorpions pertaining to the Laurasian, Paleo-Mediterranean, Paleo-Aegean, and South- or North-Aegean phyletic series. Among the major causes which explain the extraordinary variety of the troglobitic pseudoscorpion fauna of the region one should mention: the varied epigeous pseudoscorpion fauna populating the Proto-Balkans in the remote past, the continuity of the continental phase in different areas of the Balkans, the presence of mighty limestone beds and the subsequent evolution of the underground karst relief, the succession of the climatic conditions which were in favour of the colonisation of the subterranean domain, and the divergent differentiation of the pseudoscorpion taxa in numerous isolated underground habitats. The accessible cave representatives of the families Chthoniidae and Neobisiidae have been studied. The presence of two genera (Chthonius C. L. Koch and Neobisium Chamberlin), previously reported from this region was confirmed. The occurrence of a further two genera and 11 species previously unknown from the Dinaric Karst, was demonstrated. All are newly described. This study of the cave pseudoscorpions inhabiting the Dinaric Karst has offered further proof of their great age and probably different origin. These species and genera represent the last vestiges of an old fauna, which found their ultimate shelters in the underground domain of the Balkans and adjacent regions.