Distribution range

Cave cell spider is the first scientifically described (1847) cave spider in the world. Like many other cave type species (beetles, amphipods, pseudoscorpiones, diplurans etc.) the first cave spider was described on the basis of an individual find from the Postojnska jama cave. In the past 170 years researchers from the Dinaric karst described numerous species of cave cell spiders, belonging to the family of Dysderidae (cell spiders), all of them being eyeless.

Besides cave cell spiders, another family, rich in species, are the liniphids (Linyphiidae), especially the genus Troglohyphantes. In the latter, the whole morphological spectrum of species can be found, from surface species with eyes or partly reduced eyes to true subterranean forms with completely reduced eyes.

Representatives of the two families differ ecologically. While the predatory cell spiders are robust and do not produce webs, the liniphids are tiny and gentle, and catch prey using funnel like webs.