Ctenolepisma almeriensis

Ctenolepisma almeriensis
Ctenolepisma almeriensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Thysanura
Family: Lepismatidae
Genus: Ctenolepisma
Species: C. almeriensis
Binomial name
Ctenolepisma almeriensis
Molero Baltanás, Gaju Ricart & Bach de Roca, 2005

Ctenolepisma almeriensis is a species of primitive insect of the order Thysanura. Members of this species were once attributed to the widespread species Ctenolepisma lineata but there are small but consistent differences which mark this as a separate species. It is found exclusively in south-eastern Spain, on Mediterranean slopes of the provinces of Alicante, Almería, Murcia and Valencia.

This species inhabits arid regions, usually under debris at the base of trees and shrubs, especially Pinus and Juniperus. There appears to be no overlap in the ranges of this species and C. lineata, the latter species preferring moister environments.

Both C. lineata and C. almeriensis are up to 13mm in length (excluding appendages) with considerable variation in pattern. The only consistent morphological differences between the two is in the combs of bristles on the thorax, C. almeriensis generally having these combs in double-rows rather than single.

References

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