Bulletin of the National Speleological Society - ISSN 0146-9517
Volume 33 Number 1: 23-44 - January 1971

A publication of the National Speleological Society

The Invertebrate Cave Fauna of Georgia
John R. Holsinger and Stewart B. Peck

Abstract

During the early summer of 1967, extensive biological field work was carried out in the caves of northwestern Georgia. Prior to that time the biology of Georgia caves was poorly known. Speleologically, Georgia can be divided into the Appalachian region in the northwest and the Coastal Plain region in the southwest. The majority of caves occur in the Paleozoic limestones of the Appalachians, although a few are found in the early Tertiary limestones of the Coastal Plain.

The data obtained from the collection of invertebrates from 29 caves in Georgia are listed systematically, and brief descussion of the zoogeographic relations of the troglobitic forms (obligatory cavernicoles) are given. Based on troglobite distribution, two faunal units are recognized in northwestern Georgia: the Appalachian Plateau and the Appalachian Valley. The former unit is divided into two faunal subunits.

Approximately 130 species of invertebrates are recorded from Georgia caves and between 24 and 27 of them are troglobites. Major animal groups represented by troglobites in Georgia include planarians, snails, isopods, amphipods, crayfish, pseudoscropions, spiders, millipeds, diplurans, collembolans, and beetles. The invertebrate cave fauna of Georgia also includes a large number of troglophiles (facultative carvernicoles), with about 25 genera being represented.

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