Opossum shrimp  (Bermudamysis speluncola)

Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List 2006 (1).

The opossum shrimp has a slightly translucent outer body covering (integument) with an intense red tint. The eyes are short and cylindrical, with the visible part being golden-brown, and the first antenna has more than 15 fine, closely gathered hair-like structures (setae) and a long flagellum. The fourth and fifth walking limbs (pereiopods) are very long with four segments, while the first three are shorter and thicker, with just three segments. The female is slightly larger than the male (2).

Recorded from Green Bay, Castle Grotto, Cherry Pit, Palm, Walsingham, Leamington and Grenadier Pool Caves, Bermuda (2).

Always found in close proximity to the surface of silty sediments of anchialine limestone caves, at depths from 0.5 to 16 m (2).

Nothing is known about the biology of this species.

The threats to this species are unknown.

There are currently no conservation measures underway targeting this species.

For more information on this opossum shrimp see:

• Anchialine Caves and Cave Fauna of the World:
  http://www.tamug.edu/cavebiology/fauna/mysids/B_speluncola.html

• Anchialine: coastal bodies of standing waters that have no surface connections to the ocean but display both tidal fluctuations and salinity ranges characteristic of fresh and brackish waters, indicating the presence of subsurface connections to the watertable and ocean.
• Flagellum: A long, whip-like appendage used by many microscopic organisms for locomotion and feeding.

1. IUCN Red List (January, 2007)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. Anchialine Caves and Cave Fauna of the World (February, 2007)
   http://www.tamug.edu/cavebiology/fauna/mysids/B_speluncola.html