Zoogeographical Analysis and Specificity of Subterranean Fauna in the Territory of the Former Soviet Union

摘要

Problems associated with the geographical distribution and formation of subterranean fauna in the territory of the former Soviet Union are discussed. The subterranean fauna of this territory consists of no less than 59.5 animal species and forms. Among them, 193 are considered to be troglobionts. Zoogeographic characteristics of speleobionts in the northern (Central Russia, the Urals, and Siberia) and southern (the Crimea, the Caucasus, the Transcarpathian region, the Dniester River basin, Central Asia, and the southern Far East) latitudinal zones are given. Within these zones, speleobionts differ in origin and distribution. On the whole, the spe-leofauna of southern regions is richer and more diverse than that in northern regions. The causes of these differences are to be identified in the developmental history of the corresponding subterranean faunas and in changes in climatic conditions that began in the late Pliocene. The speleofaunas of different latitudinal zones are compared with those of the well-studied karst-speleological regions of Europe.