Hyalella is a genus of epigean freshwater amphipods endemic to the Americas. The study morphological characters alone has traditionally dominated description new species. Recently, molecular systematics tools have contributed identifying many cryptic species and high level convergent evolution in complexes from North America South American highlands. In this study, we evaluate for first time di...

Daddy long-legs spiders are common inhabitants of tropical and subtropical caves around the globe. Numerous species have evolved troglomorphisms, including loss body pigments eyes. Here we describe first troglomorphic pholcids from Australia Réunion. Belisana coblynau Huber & Clark, sp. nov. was extracted mining boreholes in arid West Australian Pilbara region. It represents a genus that is...

The Pax-6 gene encodes a transcription factor essential for eye development in a wide range of animal phyla. In order to elucidate a possible role of Pax-6 in the eye regression of a blind cave form of the freshwater fish Astyanax fasciatus (Characidae, Teleostei) we investigated the expression of Pax-6 in eyes and brains of different larval stages by in situ hybridization. Pattern, strength, a...

Glow-worms are bioluminescent fly larvae (Order Diptera, genus Arachnocampa) found only in Australia and New Zealand. Their core habitat is rainforest gullies and wet caves. Eight species are present in Australia; five of them have been recently described. The geographic distribution of species in Australia encompasses the montane regions of the eastern Australian coastline from the Wet Tropics...