ABSTRACT
Anchialine (anchihaline) cave habitats are located in water-filled voids near the coast, where there is a demonstrable marine influence shown either by mixohalinity (different brackish salinities) or by the presence of marine-derived animal species (Sket, 1996). The hydrological connections to the sea-as well as to the land-are underground, and there is restricted contact between the water body and the open air. Anchialine cave waters may function as corridors to open anchialine pools (Holthuis, 1973). The distinction between anchialine and marine caves is not always clear. A cave with euhaline (purely marine) water should only be considered as an anchialine habitat if it contains troglomorphic species. Riedl’s (1966) concept of the marginal cave also included a theory about its origin, which differs from the archialine cave concept.
