The Coume Ouarnède System, a Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in Pyrenees (France)

Located in Northern Pyrenees, the Arbas massif, France, system of Coume Ouarnède, also known as Réseau Félix Trombe—Henne Morte, is longest and most complex cave France. The system, developed massive Mesozoic limestone, has two distinct resurgences. Despite relatively limited sampling, its subterranean fauna rich, composed a number local endemics, terrestrial well aquatic, including remarkable relictual species, Arbasus caecus (Simon, 1911) Tritomurus falcifer Cassagnau, 1958. With 38 stygobiotic troglobiotic species recorded so far, Ouarnède second richest hotspot France first one Pyrenees. This richness is, however, expected to increase because several taxonomic groups, like Ostracoda, important habitats, MSS (“Milieu Souterrain Superficiel”), have not been considered far inventories. Similar levels biodiversity are occur less-sampled karsts central western