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 Edit this 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

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Eukoenenia 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

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Eukoenenia christiani is 1.2 millimetres (0.047 in) long, and is depicted as having a light brown colouring.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c d Wildlife of the Maltese Islands, BirdLife Malta and Nature Trust, 1995