Eukoenenia christiani

Eukoenenia christiani (the Maltese palpigrade, known as Il-Palpigrad ta' Malta in Maltese) is a species in the order Palpigradi, an early-branching lineage of arachnids. There are 80 species of palpigrade worldwide. They are small and eyeless with a long tail-like structure. This species is endemic to the Maltese Islands.^[2]

Eukoenenia christiani
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Palpigradi
Family:	Eukoeneniidae
Genus:	Eukoenenia
Species:	E. christiani
Binomial name
Eukoenenia christiani Condé, 1988 [1]

Taxonomy and naming

Eukoenenia christiani was first discovered in 1988 when a specimen was found in a cave in the Girgenti Valley (Malta).^[2] No sightings have been reported since then.^[2]

Description

Eukoenenia christiani is 1.2 millimetres (0.047 in) long, and is depicted as having a light brown colouring.^[2]

See also

• Endemic Maltese wildlife