The search for Egonpretneria brachychaeta

Egonpretneria brachychaeta is a Diplopoda species from Budina špilja near Perušić. It was described based on a single male collected in 1955 by the renowned speleobiologist Egon Pretner, after whom the entire genus was named. Since then, until our research in 2023, the species has not been recorded again.

This year, we expanded the search for the species to nine more caves and pits in the area of the Significant Landscape “Risovac-Grabovača”. We were on the first field trip between 12 and 15 June 2025. After only 10 minutes of searching in the first small cave, we found a specimen! However, as is often the case, it is a young animal that does not yet have the developed characteristics that allow us to confirm the species. We were not lucky in other caves and pits and we will continue the research in the fall!

The research is financed by the Public institution for management of geomorphological monuments of nature „Pećinski park Grabovača“.