Bermuda cave amphipod (Pseudoniphargus grandimanus)
Facts
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Crustacea |
| Order | Amphipoda |
| Family | Hadziidae |
| Genus | Pseudoniphargus (1) |
| Size |
Total male body length: 6.5 - 8 mm (2) |
Status
Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List 2006 (1).
Description
Range
Recorded from wells, waterworks and cave waters in Hamilton, St. George's, Devonshire, Paget, Smith's and Warwick Parishes, Bermuda, including Church, Wonderland, Admiral's and Government Quarry Caves (2).
 | View a distribution map for this species at UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. |
Habitat
Found in a wide range of anchialine limestone cave and groundwater habitats throughout the entire salinity range, although most frequently in low salinity areas. Juveniles are found far closer (11-180 m) to the sea coast than adults (147-853 m) (2).
Biology
The fact that large adults, but notably no specimens carrying eggs, have been found further from the sea coast than juveniles could indicate a dependence on anchialine/marine habitats for reproduction, and also that juveniles migrate inland to mature (3).
Nothing else is known of this Bermuda cave amphipod's biology.
Threats
The threats to this species are unknown.
Conservation
There are currently no conservation measures underway targeting this species.
Further Information
For more information on this atyid shrimp see:
- Anchialine Caves and Cave Fauna of the World:
http://www.tamug.edu/cavebiology/fauna/amphipods/P_grandimanus.html
Authentication
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk
Amphipod: A species belonging to the Amphipoda order.
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.
Rostrum: Central, forward-projecting and occasionally long spine between the eyes of crustaceans.
Salinity: The concentration of dissolved salt in water.
References
- IUCN Red List (January, 2007)
http://www.iucnredlist.org - Anchialine Caves and Cave Fauna of the World (February, 2007)
http://www.tamug.edu/cavebiology/fauna/amphipods/P_grandimanus.html - Stock, J.H., Holsinger, J.R., Sket, B. and Iliffe, T.M. (1986) Two new species of Pseudoniphargus (Amphipoda), in Bermudian groundwaters. Zoologica Scripta, 15 (3): 237 - 249.
