The Cave Fauna of Texas with Special Reference to the Western Edwards Plateau

Texas contains a rich but still poorly known cavernicole fauna. Approximately 1,040 terrestrial and 150 aquatic species have been recorded from the state. This number will doubtless greatly increase when large collections, especially of mites, centipedes, and miscellaneous insects, are identified and described. An estimated 81 aquatic and 161 terrestrial species are believed to be sufficiently cave-adapted in appearance to indicate that they are troglobites (restricted to caves). Additional troglobites probably exist in several groups not yet adequately studied taxonomically. The number of species, including troglobites, will also increase as additional caves are investigated. The degree of our ignorance of the state’s cave fauna is well illustrated by the discovery in the last few years of several additional species of troglobite in Travis, Williamson, Hays, and Bexar Countiesthe most intensively studied counties in the state.