%2021.jpg)
The genus Petaloptila is a group of European crickets belonging to the subfamily Gryllomorphinae, characterized by species with troglobitic habits (living in caves). A notable example is Petaloptila venosa, an Iberian endemism distributed in some caves in Castellón, Valencia, Teruel, and Tarragona.
Distribution: Most species are found in continental Europe, with notable exceptions in Scandinavia and the British Isles.
%2022.jpg)
Habitat: The species live in cave environments, near entrances and in areas of total darkness, with high humidity and some influence from external conditions.
Adaptations: They do not usually show very marked adaptations to underground life, beyond slight depigmentation and elongation of legs and cephalic appendages.
Reproduction: They do not have well-established reproductive cycles, which is common in cave insects.
Example of a species
Petaloptila venosa: This species has a restricted distribution in the Iberian Peninsula and is one of those found in the Tarragona area, specifically in the caves of Los Puertos.
