The NSS Bulletin - ISSN 1090-6924
Volume 45 Number 4: 98-100 - October 1983
A publication of the National Speleological Society

A New Species of Proteinus From A Jamaican Cave
J.H. Frank and M.C. Thomas

Abstract

In 1972, an adult male of a hitherto unknown Proteinus species was collected from Jackson's Bay Cave, Jamaica. This is the first record of the genus from the West Indies. Despite at least 9 visits to the cave by entolmologists, no additional specimens have yet been found. THis specimen is illustrated and described as a new species, Proteinus peckorum Frank, and is differentialed from known New World Proteinus. Although no Proteinus is known to be a troglobite, two other species have been recored from Old World caves, and one of these seems to be a troglophile. Occurrence of P. atomarius Erichson in North America is confirmed by specimens from McLean Co., Illinois.

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