Spilaio Agias Paraskevis

Higher Geography
Region: Kriti,
Sub-Region: Irakleio,
Municipality: Chersonisos,
Closest Settlement: Skoteino
Cave Synonyms
Spilaio Skoteinou
Cave type
Natural
Description / Comments

The cave is situated at 220m a.s.l., 1.2 km northwest of the Skoteino village. The entrance opens in a 25*25m doline. The first gallery of the cave is impressive (134 m long, 33 m wide and 30 m high). At the lower part, there is a smaller chamber measuring 18 x 12 m. The floor area of the cave is 2,500 sq. m. Although it’s not officially a show cave, several thousand people are visiting it every summer. The cave is dedicated to Saint Paraskevi and her memory is celebrated with a feast at the entrance of the cave every year on 26th July.

Protection status
  • Archaeological Site - Ministerial Decision 16685/532/6-4-1981 (OGG 278/Β/14-5-1981)
Fauna
  • Acanthopetalum furculigerum (Verhoeff, 1901), Strasser 1976, Stoev et al. 2008, Felesaki et al. 2010, Beron 2016
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Diplopoda / Order: Callipodida / Family: Schizopetalidae
  • Albinaria corrugata (Bruguière, 1792), Frank 1988, Karakasi et al. 2024
    Phylum: Mollusca / Class: Gastropoda / Order: Stylommatophora / Family: Clausiliidae
  • Aporrectodea rosea (Savigny, 1826), Omodeo 1956a, Omodeo 1956b, Beron 2016
    Phylum: Annelida / Class: Clitellata / Order: Crassiclitellata / Family: Lumbricidae
  • Carpathica cretica (Forcart, 1950), Karakasi et al. 2024
    Phylum: Mollusca / Class: Gastropoda / Order: Stylommatophora / Family: Oxychilidae
  • Dolichopoda paraskevii Boudou-Saltet, 1973, Chopard 1957, Boudou-Saltet 1973a, Willemse 1984, Kollaros et al. 1991, Allegrucci et al. 2011, Rampini et al. 2012, Di Russo et al. 2014, Beron 2016, Taylan & Şirin 2016, Allegrucci et al. 2021, Kotitsa et al. 2025
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Insecta / Order: Orthoptera / Family: Rhaphidophoridae
  • Ephippiochthonius siculus (Beir, 1961), Mahnert 1979, Beron 2016
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Arachnida / Order: Pseudoscorpionida / Family: Chthoniidae
  • Holocnemus pluchei (Scopoli, 1763), Roewer 1959, Bosmans & Chatzaki 2005, Bosmans et al. 2013
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Arachnida / Order: Araneae / Family: Pholcidae
  • Hoplopholcus labyrinthi (Kulczynski, 1903), Roewer 1959, Brignoli 1976, Brignoli 1979a, Bosmans & Chatzaki 2005, Bosmans et al. 2013, Beron 2016, Huber 2020
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Arachnida / Order: Araneae / Family: Pholcidae
  • Hypsugo savii (Bonaparte, 1837), Benda et al. 2009, Georgiakakis et al. 2023
    Phylum: Chordata / Class: Mammalia / Order: Chiroptera / Family: Vespertilionidae
  • Lindbergia pseudoillyrica A. Riedel, 1960, Riedel 1960, Riedel 1968, Riedel 1992, Riedel 1996, Beron 2016, Karakasi et al. 2024
    Phylum: Mollusca / Class: Gastropoda / Order: Stylommatophora / Family: Pristilomatidae
  • Mastus cretensis (L. Pfeiffer, 1846), Frank 1988
    Phylum: Mollusca / Class: Gastropoda / Order: Stylommatophora / Family: Enidae
  • Minotauria attemsi Kulczynski, 1903, Roewer 1959, Brignoli 1979a, Deeleman-Reinhold 1993, Gasparo 2003, Gasparo 2004a, Bosmans & Chatzaki 2005, Bosmans et al. 2013, Beron 2016
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Arachnida / Order: Araneae / Family: Dysderidae
  • Ovaliptila lindbergi (Chopard 1957), Paragamian & Legakis 1986, Kollaros et al. 1987, Kotitsa et al. 2025
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Insecta / Order: Orthoptera / Family: Gryllidae
  • Plusiocampa sp., Sendra et al. 2020a
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Entognatha / Order: Diplura / Family: Campodeidae
  • Rhinolophus hipposideros (André, 1797), Georgiakakis et al. 2023
    Phylum: Chordata / Class: Mammalia / Order: Chiroptera / Family: Rhinolophidae
  • Schizidium perplexum (Vandel, 1958), Vandel 1958, Schmalfuss 1972b, Schmalfuss 1975, Schmalfuss 1979, Paragamian & Legakis 1986, Paragamian et al. 1987, Schmalfuss et al. 2004, Beron 2016
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Malacostraca / Order: Isopoda / Family: Armadillidiidae
  • Steatoda castanea (Clerck, 1757), Brignoli 1984, Bosmans & Chatzaki 2005, Bosmans et al. 2013, Beron 2016
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Arachnida / Order: Araneae / Family: Theridiidae
  • Tegenaria parietina (Fourcroy, 1785), Roewer 1959, Brignoli 1979b, Bosmans & Chatzaki 2005, Bolzern et al. 2013, Bosmans et al. 2013, Beron 2016
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Arachnida / Order: Araneae / Family: Agelenidae
  • Trechus quadristriatus (Schrank, 1781), Coiffait 1955, Beron 2016
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Insecta / Order: Coleoptera / Family: Carabidae
  • Trichoniscus lindbergi Vandel, 1958, Schmalfuss et al. 2004, Beron 2016
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Malacostraca / Order: Isopoda / Family: Trichoniscidae
  • Troglophilus spinulosus Chopard, 1921, Paragamian & Legakis 1986, Kollaros et al. 1991
    Phylum: Arthropoda / Class: Insecta / Order: Orthoptera / Family: Rhaphidophoridae
  • Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769), Pieper 1977, Paragamian & Zivanovic 1992, Benda et al. 2009, Beron 2016
    Phylum: Chordata / Class: Aves / Order: Strigiformes / Family: Tytonidae
Cave references
  • Faure, P. 1985. The sacred caves of Crete. Archaiologia 8–13.
  • Gasparo, F. 2003. Tre campagne biospeleologiche a Creta. Progressione 48:59-62.
  • Ioannou, I. 1970. The cave of Agia Paraskevi, Pediada, Kriti (CRNr 872). Bull. Soc. Speleol. Grèce 10:55–62.
  • Lindberg, K. 1955. Notes sur le grottes de l΄ île de Crète. Fragm. balc. Skopje 1(19):165-174.
  • Petrocheilou, A. 1984. The Greek Caves. Ekdotiki Athinon 160pp.
Species references
  • Allegrucci, G., Trucchi, E. & Sbordoni, V. 2011. Tempo and mode of species diversification in Dolichopoda cave crickets (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 60 (1): 108-121.
  • Allegrucci G, Rampini M, Chimenti C, Alexiou S & Di Russo C. 2021. Dolichopoda cave crickets from Peloponnese (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae): molecular and morphological investigations reveal four new species for Greece. The European Zoological Journal, 88(1): 505-524, DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2021.1902005
  • Benda, P., Georgiakakis, P., Dietz, C., Hanak, V., Galanaki, K., Markantonatou, V., Chudarkova, A., Hulva, P. & Horacek, I. 2009. Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Part 7. The bat fauna of Crete, Greece. Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemicae, 72 (3-4): 105-190.
  • Beron, P. 2016. Faune cavernicole de la Grèce. Maison d'édition Est-West., Sofia. pp. 229.
  • Bolzern, A., Burckhardt, D. & Hänggi, A. 2013. Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel-web spiders of the Tegenaria-Malthonica complex (Araneae: Agelenidae) based upon morphological and molecular data. Zool. J. Linn. Soc., 168 (4): 723-848.
  • Bosmans, R. & Chatzaki, M. 2005. A catalogue of the spiders of Greece. A critical review of all spider species cited from Greece with their localities. Newsletter Belg. Arachn. Soc., 20 (2): 1-124.
  • Bosmans, R., Van Keer, J., Russell-Smith, A., Kronestedt, T., Alderweireldt, M., Bosselaers, J. & De Koninck, H. 2013. Spiders of Crete (Araneae). A catalogue of all currently known species from the Greek Island of Crete. Newsletter Belg. Arachn. Soc., 28 (1): 1-147.
  • Boudou-Saltet, P. 1973. Les Dolichopodes (Orth. Rhaph.) de Grèce VIII. Nouvelles espèces de Crète. Biol. gallo-hellen., 5 (1): 57-63.
  • Brignoli, P. M. 1976. Ragni di Grecia IX. Specie nuove o interessanti delle famiglie Leptonetidae, Dysderidae, Pholcidae ed Agelenidae (Araneae). Rev. suisse Zool., 83 (3): 539-578.
  • Brignoli, P. M. 1979. Ragni di Grecia XI. Specie nuove o interessanti, cavernicole ed epigee. Rev. suisse Zool., 86 (1): 181-202.
  • Brignoli, P. M. 1979. Considérations zoogéographiques sur les Araignées cavernicoles de Grèce. Biol. gallo-hellen., 8: 223-236.
  • Brignoli, P. M. 1984. Ragni di Grecia XII. Nuovi dati su varie famiglie (Araneae). Rev. suisse Zool., 91 (2): 281-321.
  • Chopard, L. 1957. Notes sur les Orthoptères cavernicoles de Crète. Bull. Soc. entomol. Fr., 62 (1-2): 26-28.
  • Coiffait, H. 1955. Sur quelques Coléoptères cavernicoles de Grèce. Notes Biospeol., 10 (2): 205-209.
  • Deeleman-Reinhold, C. L. 1993. The genus Rhode and the harpacteine genera Stalagtia, Folkia, Minotauria and Kaemis (Araneae, Dysderidae) of Yugoslavia and Crete, with remarks on the genus Harpactea. Rev. Arachnol., 10 (6): 105-135.
  • Di Russo, C., Rampini, M. & Cobolli, M. 2014. The cave crickets of Greece: a contribution to the study of Southern Balkan Rhaphidophoridae diversity (Orthoptera), with the description of a new species of Troglophilus Krauss , 1879. Biodiversity Journal, 5 (3): 397-420.
  • Felesaki, I., Stoev, P., Simaiakis, S. & Mylonas, M. 2010. A catalogue of the millipedes of Crete (Myriapoda: Diplopoda). Natura Montenegrina, 9 (3): 357-368.
  • Frank, C. 1988. Über Molluskenfunde von den Inseln Chios , Kreta und Zypern sowie vom griechischen Festland (Thessalien). Ber. nat.-med. Ver. Innsbruck, 75: 81-90.
  • Gasparo, F. 2003. Tre campagne biospeleologiche a Creta. Progressione, 48 (1): 59-62.
  • Gasparo, F. 2004. Note sul genere Minotauria Kulczynski, 1903, con ridescrizione del maschio di M. fagei (Kratochvíl, 1970) stat. nov. (Araneae, Dysderidae). Atti e Memorie della Commissione Grotte “E. Boegan”, 39: 51-65.
  • Georgiakakis P, Kafkaletou Diez A, Salvarina I, Benda P, Billington G, Dietz C, Billington J, Cove D, Davison S, Cooke M, Papadatou E. 2023. The Bats of Greece: An Updated Review of Their Distribution, Ecology and Conservation. Animals. 2023; 13(15):2529. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152529
  • Huber B.A. 2020. Revision of the spider genus Hoplopholcus Kulczyński (Araneae, Pholcidae). Zootaxa 4726:1–94.
  • Karakasi D, Paragamian K, Mylonas M, Vardinoyannis K 2024. What`s crawling in the dark? An annotated list of gastropods in Greek caves.. Subterranean Biology 48: 73-116. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.48.113383
  • Kollaros, D., Paragamian, K. & Legakis, A. 1987. Notes on the systematics of cavernicolous Orthoptera of Crete. Biol. gallo-hellen., 13: 137-140.
  • Kollaros, D., Paragamian, K. & Legakis, A. 1991. Revision of the genus Troglophilus (Orthoptera, Raphidophoridae) in Crete, Greece. Int. J. Speleol., 20: 37-45.
  • Kotitsa N, Chobanov D, Trichas A, Mylonas M 2025. New and noteworthy records of Orthoptera (Insecta) from Crete (Greece) and its satellite islets.. Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa” 68(1): 143-217. https://doi.org/10.3897/travaux.68.e151701
  • Mahnert, V. 1979. Pseudoskorpione (Arachnida) aus Höhlen Griechenlands, insbesondere Kretas. Arch. Sci. Genève, 32 (3): 213-233.
  • Omodeo, P. 1956. Oligocheti dell΄ Indochina e del Mediterraneo Orientale. Mem. Mus. Civ. St. Nat. Verona, 5: 321-336.
  • Omodeo, P. 1956. Contributo alla revisione dei Lumbricidae. Arch. Zool. Ital., 41: 129-212.
  • Paragamian, K. & Legakis, A. 1986. Ecological and faunistic investigations of the cave Ag. Paraskevi near Skoteino (Greece, Crete). Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Medit.,, 30 (2): 99.
  • Paragamian, K. & Zivanovic, S. 1992. Preliminary results of the examination of barn owl (Tyto alba) food pellets from two caves in central Crete, Greece. Bull. Soc. Speleol. Grèce, 20 (1): 95-97.
  • Paragamian, K., Galanopoulos, V., Legakis, A. & Spanakis, M. 1987. Ecological, electrophoretic and electron microscope investigations on Schizidium perplexum (Isopoda) of Crete. Biol. gallo-hellen., 13: 165-168.
  • Pieper, H. 1977. Fledermäuse aus Schleiereulen-Gewöllen von der Insel Kreta. Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde, 42 (1): 7-12.
  • Rampini, M., Di Russo, C., Taylan, M. S., Gelosa, A. & Cobolli, M. 2012. Four new species of Dolichopoda Bolivar, 1880 from Southern Sporades and Western Turkey (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae, Dolichopodainae). ZooKeys, 201: 43-58.
  • Riedel, A. 1960. Die Gattung Lindbergia Riedel (Gastropoda Zonitidae) nebst Angaben über Vitrea illyrica (A. J. Wagner). Ann. Zool. (Wars.), 18: 333-346.
  • Riedel, A. 1968. Zonitidae (Gastropoda) Kretas. Ann. Zool. (Wars.), 25: 473-537.
  • Riedel, A. 1992. The Zonitidae (sensu lato) (Gastropoda, Pulmonata) of Greece. Fauna Graeciae V. Hellenic Zoological Society. pp. 194.
  • Riedel, A. 1996. Die in West-Paläarktis unterirdisch lebenden Zonitidae sensu lato (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora). Fragm. faun., 39 (24): 363-390.
  • Roewer, C. F. 1959. Die Araneae, Solifuga und Opiliones der Sammlungen des Herrn Dr. K. Lindberg aus Griechenland, Creta, Anatolien, Iran und Indien. Göteborgs kungl. vet. vitterh. Samh. Handl., 8 (4): 3-47.
  • Schmalfuss, H. 1972. Die Isopoden von Kreta. Biol. gallo-hellen., 4 (1): 33-60.
  • Schmalfuss, H. 1975. Neues Isopoden-Material aus Griechenland. Sber. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-naturw. Kl. Abt. I, 184: 27-66.
  • Schmalfuss, H. 1979. Revidierte Check-List der Landisopoden (Oniscoidea) Griechenlands. Stuttgart. Beitr. Naturk. Ser. A. (Biol.), 331: 1-42.
  • Schmalfuss, H., Paragamian, K. & Sfenthourakis, S. 2004. The terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea) of Crete and the surrounding islands. Stuttgart. Beitr. Naturk. Ser. A. (Biol.), 662: 1-74.
  • Sendra A., Antić D., Barranco P., Borko Š., Christian E., Delić T., Fadrique F., Faille A., Galli L., Gasparo F., Georgiev D., Giachino P.M., Kováč L., Lukić M., Marcia P., Miculinić K., Nicolosi G., Palero F., Paragamian K., Pérez T., Polak S., Prieto C. 2020. Flourishing in subterranean ecosystems: Euro-Mediterranean Plusiocampinae and tachycampoids (Diplura, Campodeidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 591: 1–138. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2020.591
  • Stoev, P., Sierwald, P. & Billey, A. 2008. An annotated world catalogue of the millipede order Callipodida (Arthropoda: Diplopoda).. Zootaxa, 1706:1–50.
  • Strasser, K. 1976. Über Diplopoda-Chilognatha Griechenlands II. Rev. suisse Zool., 83 (3): 579-645.
  • Taylan M.S., Şirin D. 2016. Speciation of the genus Dolicophoda in Anatolia with reference to the role of ancient central lake system. Insect Systematics and Evolution, 47(3): 267-283
  • Vandel, A. 1958. Isopodes récoltés dans les grottes de la Crète par le Docteur K. Lindberg. Notes biospeol., 12 (2): 81-101.
  • Willemse, F. 1984. Catalogue of the Orthoptera of Greece. Fauna Graeciae I. Hellenic Zoological Society. pp. 275.
Citation
Paragamian, K. 2026. Fauna of the cave Spilaio Agias Paraskevis, Skoteino, Chersonisos, Kriti. In Paragamian, K., M. Poulinakis, S. Paragamian and I. Nikoloudakis. Cave fauna of Greece database - Hellenic Institute of Speleological Research. Cave data updated 14.02.2024, Accessed 09.03.2026