Typhloblatta caeca ( Chopard, 1921 )

Kharkongor, Ilona Jacinta, Saikia, Uttam, Khynriam, Dimos & Saikia, Bhaskar, 2023, Current status of faunal diversity of Siju Cave, South Garo Hills, Meghalaya, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 123 (3), pp. 283-303 : 295

30. Typhloblatta caeca ( Chopard, 1921) * [ Figure 9J ]

1921. Spelaeoblatta caeca Chopard, Rec. Ind. Mus. , 22: 511- 514, pl. 21, Figs. 1 -11; pl. 22, Figs. 12-14.

Material examined: 1 ex. ♂. Siju Cave (~ 450-750m inside the Cave), Siju village, South Garo Hills District , Meghalaya, 25 o 21.061’N, 90 o 41.006’E, 119m, 04.i.2020, coll. I. J. Kharkongor & party, Reg. No. IV / NERC /ZSI-

327.

Remarks: Typhloblatta caeca is a troglomorphic cockroach that was described by Chopard (1921) from Rupmath Cave (local name is Krem Syndai), a 970m long cave located in Syndai village, West Jaiñtia Hills District, Meghalaya. It exhibits troglomorphism in being depigmented, anopthalmic and in possession of unusually long antennae, legs and cerci. This cave-adapted cockroach has been reported from several caves in the Jaiñtia Hills area of Meghalaya ( Harries et al., 2008) with an unverified record from a cave in the West Khasi Hills District of the State. Harries et al. (in press) had conferred a similarlooking specimen of oftroglobytic cockroaches found in Siju Cave to this species. Our specimen is a confirmed identification of this species. The current record extends its distribution range further west into the Garo Hills area of the State.

Figures

Figure 1. Map of Siju Cave showing the explored parts. (Courtesy: Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association, Shillong).

Figure 9. Fauna of Siju Cave. G. Cubaris cavernosus, H. Metassamia septemdentata, I. Heteropoda robusta, J. Typhloblatta caeca, K. Kempiola longipes and L. Tachys micraulax.