The NSS Bulletin - ISSN 1090-6924
Volume 54 Number 2: 37-60 - December 1992

A publication of the National Speleological Society

A Synopsis of the Invertebrate Cave Fauna of Jamaica
Stewart B. Peck

Abstract

Fifty-two Jamaican caves have been investigated for invertebrate faunas. This has resulted in the discovery of about 250 invertebrate species that are judged to be non-accidental residents of subterranean spaces or caves. Thirty-six species are considered to be troglobites (specialized for subterranean or cave life) and include 1 flatworm, 1 onychophoran, 1 schizomid, 9 spiders, 2 harvestmen, 4 pseudoscorpions, 1 grapsid crab, 1 palaemonid shrimp, 2 mysidaceans, 4 amphipods, 1 terrestrial isopod, 1 interstitial anthurid isopod, 2 collembolans, 1 cockroach, 2 cixiid bugs, and 2 carabid beetles. The vertebrate fauna may include an eyeless fish. After Cuba, this is the richest known diversity of cave faunas on any island in the West Indies.

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