| Alabama cave shrimp | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Caridea |
| Family: | Atyidae |
| Genus: | Palaemonias |
| Species: | P. alabamae
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| Binomial name | |
| Palaemonias alabamae (Smalley, 1961)
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The Alabama cave shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae) is a species of shrimp in the family Atyidae, found only in caves in the state of Alabama.
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Transcription
Life is tough in the darkness. This is a catfish that couldn't find its way out. Christine searches for another mass of tree roots that might harbor a cavefish. When we find one, I start looking carefully in the roots. At last I spot it! A pinkish white fish hiding in there! It's great to see, but impossible to film in that tangled mess. Fortunately for me, the fish shies away from light and swims out of the roots. Even though this species of fish has evolved for thousands of years in the complete absence of light and has no eyes, it can still detect the presence of light through its albino skin using a gland in its head. Why? This fish's only defense is darkness. If it wanders out of the dark part of the cave, other fish can see it—but it won't see them. The blind cavefish needs to stay in the dark where it's safe. My lights make the cavefish swim for cover and safety. The fish that followed me into the cave from outside take an interest in the cavefish. I have to shoo them away. In fact, in the cave ecosystem, this little fish is the top predator—the Great White shark if you will, of the cave! With our mission complete, it's time for me and Christine to turn around and head back out to the light.
Conservation status
Palaemonias alabamae is listed as an endangered species both on the IUCN Red List,[1] and since September 7, 1988, under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.[2]
Distribution
The Alabama cave shrimp is only known from five caves, all in Madison County, Alabama.[3] Shelta Cave is the species' type locality, but viable populations have only been confirmed in Bobcat Cave and the complex comprising Hering Cave, Glover Cave and Brazelton Cave.
Ecology
P. alabamae occurs in cave pools with silty bottoms.[3] Predators of the Alabama cave shrimp include the southern cavefish Typhlichthys subterraneus, the Tennessee cave salamander Gyrinophilus palleucus, various crayfish species, bullfrogs and raccoons.[3]
Taxonomy
The closest relative of the Alabama cave shrimp is the Kentucky cave shrimp, Palaemonias ganteri, which lives in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky.[3] The two species can be distinguished by size (P. alabamae being larger than P. ganteri), the longer rostrum in P. alabamae, and the greater number of spines on the rostrum of P. alabamae.[3]
References
- ^ a b De Grave, S.; Rogers, C. (2013). "Palaemonias alabamae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T15887A788932. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T15887A788932.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Alabama cave shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae) species profile". Environmental Conservation Online System. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. October 10, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Jeff Powell (August 29, 2006). "Alabama Cave Shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae). 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation" (PDF). United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
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This page was last edited on 26 October 2023, at 18:19