Journal of Cave and Karst Studies - ISSN 1090-6924
Volume 58 Number 2: 131-138 - August 1996

A publication of the National Speleological Society

Biology of the Chiquibul Cave System, Belize and Guatemala
James R. Reddell and George Veni

Abstract

The Chiquibul Cave System is the longest and largest known network of caves in Central America. Most biological collections and observations in the system were conducted in 1986 in the Cebada Cave segment. Other collections were made in 1984 and 1988. At least 70 invertebrate species are known from the system. Many species await study, and of these, two aquatic and five terrestrial species are apparent troglobites. A zonation survey in the entrance of Cebada Cave showed typical forest litter species in all areas. The fauna of the deep zones of the system included only troglophiles and troglobites. Troglobites were rare and present only in the area farthest from the entrance.

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