This little critter is common in caves of the central United States. It has gone under various names: Meta menardi, Meta americana, and Meta ovalis. The correct name for North American specimens is Meta ovalis Gertsch. The european species is Meta menardi. See Platnick, Norm. 1993. Advances in spider taxonomy 1988-1991: with synonymies and transfers 1940-1980. American Museum of Natural History. ISBN 0913434102 for more details. Another picture of Meta ovalis, from an Illinois cave. Photo by Steve Taylor, 2000. Troglobitic harvestman, Bishopella laciniosa. Arthropoda: Arachnida: Opiliones (=Phalangida) Alabama Another troglobitic harvestman. Arthropoda: Arachnida: Opiliones (=Phalangida) Coahuila, Mexico [Go Back to Cave Critters] Illinois Natural History Survey This page is maintained by Steve Taylor. Please email sjtaylor@inhs.uiuc.edu with comments and corrections. Created 21 January 2001, last modified 22 February 2006.