''Ctenolepisma lineatum'' is a species of

insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three ...

of the order

Zygentoma Zygentoma are an order in the class Insecta, and consist of about 550 known species. The Zygentoma include the so-called silverfish or fishmoths, and the firebrats. A conspicuous feature of the order are the three long caudal filaments. The t ...

. It is generally similar to the closely related silverfish but can be distinguished by being rather stouter and less shiny with all appendages ( antennae and 3 "tails") noticeably longer. The

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the to ...

is often marked with dark brown lines and the species is sometimes called four-lined silverfish. This species is native to southern

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

but is now found throughout most of the world as an accidental introduction although it is absent from polar and cooler

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout ...

regions (e.g. the

British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...

). It is found both indoors and outdoors and can be a nuisance pest. Recent studies on this species in Europe suggest that there is enough geographical variation to justify splitting into several species, with one form already having been given specific status as '' Ctenolepisma almeriense'' from south-eastern

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. ''Lepisma pilifera'' Lucas, 1840, which was considered a synonym of ''C. lineatum'', is now treated as a synonym of '' Thermobia aegyptiaca'' (Lucas, 1840).

References

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Fauna EuropaeaPicture
Lepismatidae Insects described in 1775 Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius Insects of Europe {{Thysanura-stub