Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Crustacea Infraorder Caridea Scientific name Palaemonetes cummingi Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Order Decapoda Family Palaemonidae Higher classification Palaemonetes | |
Similar Palaemonetes, Caridean Shrimp, Palaemonidae, Crustacean, Decapoda | ||
Palaemonetes cummingi is a species of cave-dwelling shrimp in the family Palaemonidae, known as the Florida cave shrimp or Squirrel Chimney cave shrimp.
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Description
Palaemonetes cummingi is typically 30 mm (1.2 in) long, and almost colorless. It has a long, serrated rostrum, and no eye pigment.
Distribution and ecology
Palaemonetes cummingi is endemic to a single flooded solutional cave in Alachua County, Florida. The closely related species P. paludosus, is larger (up to 48 mm or 1.9 in) and has second pereiopods noticeably longer than the first.
Conservation
Palaemonetes cummingi is the only cave shrimp to live in Florida. It has only ever been found at a single site, and has not been seen there since 1973. It is listed as a critically endangered species on the IUCN Red List, a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, and critically imperilled by NatureServe. Other caves may exist in the area with undiscovered populations, but urban development around Gainesville, Florida, and the introduction to the caves of the redeye chub, Notropis harperi, both threaten its survival, and the species may already be extinct.