Slovenia

The world’s most biodiverse cave is the Postojna-Planina system (Diversity) with over 110 species. Krizna Jama and Jama Logarcek are also among the richest in the world (caves.org pdf). Over 100 endemic cave invertebrates are listed at (p. 15 of Acta Carsologica pdf). Endemic cave-dwelling beetles include Prospelaeobates vrezeci (PMS WM), Petraphaenops unguiculatus (ResearchGate), Orotrechus lucensis (p. 2 of dzrjl.si pdf), Aphaenopidius treulandi (PMS WM), and Machaerites novissimus (PMS). Other endemic cave-dwelling invertebrates include the snails Spelaeodiscus hauffeni (ZooKeys) and Iglica velkovrhi (ResearchGate) and Cochlostoma zawinkanum (PLAZI), a water flea Alona sketi (p. 14 of ARSO pdf), the amphipods Ingolfiella beatricis (Oxford) and Niphargobates orophobata (Niphargus WM), a harvestman Hadzinia ferrani (fig. 3d at ResearchGate), and the Kosevje Subterranean Spider Troglohyphantes similis (PMS WM).

Crustaceans found only in Slovenia include the amphipods Jugogammarus kusceri (dLib pdf) and Niphargus hadzii (ARKive WM), the copepods Maraenobiotus slovenicus (GBIF) and Morariopsis dumonti (G.L. Pesce WM pdf), the isopods Monolistra spinosissima (p. 20 of gov.si pdf) and Monolistra bolei (p. 2 of Park Škocjanske jame pdf), and an ostracod Typhlocypris cavicola (fig. 2C at ResearchGate).

Endemic insects include the plant bugs Dimorphocoris saulii and Halticus henschii (both at pms-lj.si) and Platycranus boreae (ResearchGate), the leafhoppers Limotettix carniolicus (ResearchGate) and Jassargus bicorniger and Quartausius hamatus (both at truehopperswp.com), a click beetle Athous vavrai (Elateridae), a plume moth Merrifieldia renatae (BHL), and several caddisflies: Chaetopteryx clara, Chaetopteryx goricensis, and Chaetopteryx irenae (all at zobodat pdf).

Other endemic invertebrates include a harvestman Siro crassus (GBIF), the scorpions Alpiscorpius kappa and Alpiscorpius lambda (both at ResearchGate), a millipede Haasea faucium (GBIF), an earthworm Aporrectodea dinarica (fig. 1 at zobodat pdf), a land snail Vitrea binderi (AnimalBase WM), the freshwater snails Kerkia kusceri (Internet Archive) (iNaturalist) and Belgrandiella kusceri (Natura Mediterraneo), and a river limpet Acroloxus tetensi (ARKive WM).

The Black Olm Proteus anguinus parkelj (Wikipedia) (iNaturalist) is an endemic cave-dwelling amphibian subspecies.

Plants found nowhere else include the Carniolan Primrose Primula carniolica (ukom.gov.si WM) (CalPhotos), the Short-haired Sandwort Moehringia villosa (ukom.gov.si WM) (CalPhotos), Juvan's Houseleek Sempervivum juvanii (BioLib), a columbine Aquilegia iulia (iNaturalist), the Crimson Leek Allium kermesinum (ukom.gov.si WM) (iNaturalist), Knautia fleischmannii (iNaturalist) (Dryades WM), the vanilla orchids Gymnadenia ravnikii (pharmanatur) and Gymnadenia kossutensis (pharmanatur) and Gymnadenia (or Nigritella) carnoliaca (ResearchGate), and several buttercups: Ranunculus mediocompositus and Ranunculus peracris (both at BioOne), Ranunculus wraberi (GBIF), and Ranunculus pospichalii (p. 31 of zobodat pdf). The Hladnikia Hladnikia pastinacifolia (iNaturalist) (BioLib) represents an endemic genus.

Fungi known only from Slovenia include Pluteus cutefractus (ResearchGate). Endemic lichens include Bachmanniomyces carniolicus (GBIF).

Portions of Slovenia are included in the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity Hotspots WM). In addition to the remarkable cave fauna, important terrestrial ecoregions for endemic species include the Illyrian Deciduous Forests (WWF WM) and the Dinaric Mountains Mixed Forests (EoE). For an overview of Slovenian biodiversity see “Biological and Landscape Diversity in Slovenia” (Univ. Ljubljani pdf). Endemic amphipods are indicated at (p. 4 of Natura Sloveniae pdf).