Sterrer’s cave shrimp  (Parhippolyte sterreri)

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

A Critically Endangered cave-dwelling crustacean, Sterrer’s cave shrimp is bright red with characteristic white bands on the leg joints and three white spots on the tail (3). Specialised appendages, which help in the trapping of prey, are red at the base, fading to white towards the tip, and extend from a smooth, broad, short rostrum (2) (3). The abdominal segments are rounded, with the fifth segment possessing a sharp spine, and dark eyes sit prominently on the head (3). There is some degree of variation in the appearance of Sterrer’s cave shrimp across its range, and individuals found in Mexico typically have longer antennae than those found elsewhere (4). 

Sterrer’s cave shrimp is known to occur on Grand Bahama, Exuma Cays and Andros in the Bahamas, as well as at Chalk Cave and Tucker’s Town Cave in Bermuda and at Cozumel in Mexico (1) (3).

Found in inland anchialine caves in Bermuda and marine caves in the Bahamas and Mexico (2).

A female specimen collected carried an estimated 2,000 tiny eggs. The small size of these eggs would suggest a relatively long planktonic larval stage (4). Little else is known of this species’ biology.

With so little known about this enigmatic species, assessing the level of threats it faces is very challenging. It is currently known from only a handful of locations; however, due to the extended period in which the larval shrimp are thought to remain in the plankton, passively floating in oceanic currents, it is possible that Sterrer’s cave shrimp will be discovered in new areas of suitable habitat within the Caribbean region (4).  

There are currently no conservation measures underway targeting this little-known shrimp (1). As Sterrer’s cave shrimp is restricted to such a specific habitat, affording adequate protection to the caves in which it is found may be deemed a high priority for its conservation.

ARKive is supported by OTEP, a joint programme of funding from the UK FCO and DFID which provides support to address priority environmental issues in the Overseas Territories, and Defra

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

To find out more about conservation in Bermuda, see:

• The Bermuda National Trust:
  http://www.bnt.bm/
• Procter, D. and Fleming, L.V. (1999) Biodiversity: the UK Overseas Territories. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, UK.