Eukoenenia christiani (the Maltese palpigrade, known as Il-Palpigrad ta' Malta in Maltese) is a species in the order Palpigradi, an early-branching lineage of arachnids. There are 80 species of palpigrade worldwide. They are small and eyeless with a long tail-like structure. This species is endemic to the Maltese Islands.[2]
| Eukoenenia christiani | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Palpigradi |
| Family: | Eukoeneniidae |
| Genus: | Eukoenenia |
| Species: | E. christiani
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eukoenenia christiani Condé, 1988 [1]
| |
Taxonomy and naming
editEukoenenia christiani was first discovered in 1988 when a specimen was found in a cave in the Girgenti Valley (Malta).[2] No sightings have been reported since then.[2]
Description
editEukoenenia christiani is 1.2 millimetres (0.047 in) long, and is depicted as having a light brown colouring.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Mark S. Harvey (2003). "Order Palpigradi Thorell". Catalogue of the smaller arachnid orders of the world: Amblypygi, Uropygi, Schizomida, Palpigradi, Ricinulei and Solifugae. CSIRO Publishing. pp. 151–174. ISBN 978-0-643-06805-6.
- ^ a b c d Wildlife of the Maltese Islands, BirdLife Malta and Nature Trust, 1995