Alabama cave shrimp
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The Alabama cave shrimp (''Palaemonias alabamae'') is a species of Caridea, shrimp in the family (biology), family Atyidae, found only in caves in the state of Alabama.


Conservation status

''Palaemonias alabamae'' is listed as an endangered species both on the IUCN Red List, and since September 7, 1988, under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.


Distribution

The Alabama cave shrimp is only known from five caves, all in Madison County, Alabama, Madison County, Alabama. Shelta Cave is the species' type locality (biology), 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. Predators of the Alabama cave shrimp include the southern cavefish ''Typhlichthys subterraneus'', the Tennessee cave salamander ''Gyrinophilus palleucus'', various crayfish species, American bullfrog, bullfrogs and raccoons.


Taxonomy

The closest relative of the Alabama cave shrimp is the Kentucky cave shrimp, ''Palaemonias ganteri'', which lives in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. The two species can be distinguished by size (''P. alabamae'' being larger than ''P. ganteri''), the longer rostrum (anatomy), rostrum in ''P. alabamae'', and the greater number of spines on the rostrum of ''P. alabamae''.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3935149 Atyidae Crustaceans of the United States Cave shrimp Endemic fauna of Alabama Freshwater crustaceans of North America Madison County, Alabama Crustaceans described in 1961 Endangered fauna of the United States ESA endangered species