Perrin's cave beetle, ''Siettitia balsetensis'', is an extinct freshwater

beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

from

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. Listed as Extinct (EX) It and '' Siettitia ayenionensis'' are the only two

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

in the genus ''Siettitia''. This subterranean species was discoloured, its sensory silks were well developed and the eyes were extremely reduced yet probably functional. The

trachea The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is a Cartilage, cartilaginous tube that connects the larynx to the bronchi of the lungs, allowing the passage of air, and so is present in almost all air-breathing animals with lungs. The trachea extends ...

e of its wing-cases ( elytra) were well developed and it absorbed dissolved

oxygen Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as wel ...

through its

cuticle A cuticle (), or cuticula, is any of a variety of tough but flexible, non-mineral outer coverings of an organism, or parts of an organism, that provide protection. Various types of "cuticle" are non- homologous, differing in their origin, structu ...

.Maas, P. 2006. Extinctions in Europe
The Extinction Website
.

References

Dytiscidae Cave beetles Extinct insects since 1500 Extinct beetles Extinct animals of Europe Beetles described in 1904 Endemic beetles of Metropolitan France Taxa named by Elzéar Abeille de Perrin {{Dytiscidae-stub

See also

References