Eucrenonaspides facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucrenonaspides |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Anaspidacea |
| Family: | Psammaspididae |
| Genus: | Eucrenonaspides Knott & Lake, 1980 |
| Species: |
E. oinotheke
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| Binomial name | |
| Eucrenonaspides oinotheke Knott & Lake, 1980
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Eucrenonaspides oinotheke is a tiny crustacean, a bit like a shrimp, that lives only in Tasmania, Australia. It's the only known species in its group, Eucrenonaspides. Scientists first found it in 1980 in a spring in Devonport, Tasmania. This was exciting because it was the first time a spring-dwelling syncarid (a type of crustacean) was found in Australia. Sadly, Eucrenonaspides oinotheke is a vulnerable species, meaning it's at risk of disappearing from the wild.
Contents
What is Eucrenonaspides oinotheke?
Eucrenonaspides oinotheke is a type of crustacean that belongs to the group called Anaspidacea. It has a unique body shape. Its head and chest (thorax) are joined together, and it doesn't have a hard shell like some other crustaceans.
Body Parts and Features
This creature has a head that's somewhat rectangular. It has special mouthparts called maxillipeds and other limbs near its mouth. Its small antennae, called antennules, are about half the length of its body. They have many small segments.
The back part of its body, called the pleon (or abdomen), is a bit flat. It has tiny spines along its back edge. It also has five pairs of small, leg-like structures called pleopods on its underside. At the very end of its abdomen, it has two long appendages called uropods, which are on either side of a central tail segment.
Legs and Gills
Eucrenonaspides oinotheke has pairs of legs on its chest. Some of these legs can be branched. It also has flat, leaf-like gills at the base of its legs. These gills help it breathe underwater. The movement of its outer leg branches (exopods) helps push oxygen-rich water over its gills.
Appearance
This crustacean does not have eyes. Its body is slender and clear, so it doesn't really have a color. It's almost transparent!
Where Does Eucrenonaspides oinotheke Live?
Eucrenonaspides oinotheke lives in Tasmania. It's part of a larger group of crustaceans called Anaspidaceans, which are found in caves, cave streams, and lakes. Eucrenonaspides oinotheke prefers small, quiet spots like drip pools and wet areas where water seeps, away from strong currents.
The first Eucrenonaspides oinotheke was found in a spring in Devonport, Tasmania. Even though there are many springs around Devonport, scientists haven't found this specific species anywhere else nearby.
Scientists believe that the family of crustaceans Eucrenonaspides oinotheke belongs to (Psammaspids) once lived all across southern Australia. This was when the climate was much wetter. Today, they are only found in a few separate places in New South Wales, Tasmania, and Western Victoria. This suggests they might be found in other wet places in southern Australia, like springs in Western Australia.
Threats to Eucrenonaspides oinotheke
The caves and springs where Eucrenonaspides oinotheke lives are very sensitive. They depend on the surrounding environment for food and clean water. This makes them vulnerable to many dangers.
Human Impact
Human activities can harm these habitats. Things like building new developments, quarrying (digging for stone), or pollution can damage the caves and springs. Water carries food into these habitats, so anything that affects water quality, like pollution from land use, can threaten the crustaceans' food and clean water supply. Even footsteps can destroy the small seepage pools where Eucrenonaspides oinotheke lives.
Other Dangers
Trout are another big threat. Trout were brought to Australia from Europe by early settlers. Eucrenonaspides oinotheke didn't evolve with trout, so they don't have natural ways to defend themselves. They can only survive in parts of streams and rivers that trout can't reach. Because of these threats, Eucrenonaspides oinotheke is listed as vulnerable by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), meaning it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.
How Eucrenonaspides oinotheke Lives and Reproduces
Eucrenonaspides oinotheke uses its chest legs to crawl around its habitat. These legs also help move oxygen-rich water over its gills. Its legs and abdomen move together in a smooth, steady way. It's not a strong swimmer, preferring to walk along the bottom. If it gets scared, it can jump upwards.
Reproduction
Scientists know that both male and female Eucrenonaspides oinotheke exist, but they don't know much about their mating habits. Unlike many other crustaceans that carry their eggs, female Anaspidaceans like Eucrenonaspides oinotheke lay their eggs one by one on plants or stones. They don't guard or care for their young after the eggs are laid.
The eggs hatch into tiny larvae after about 30 to 60 days. These larvae only have antennae and mouthparts at first. As they grow, they shed their outer skin (molt) many times. With each molt, they add more body parts until they reach adulthood. Eggs laid in spring or early summer hatch in about 32–35 weeks, while those laid in the fall can take up to 60 weeks to hatch because of a period of inactivity during winter.
What Eucrenonaspides oinotheke Eats
Eucrenonaspides oinotheke eats both plant and animal materials, which means it's an omnivore. It's always looking for food, either chewing on pieces of plants or scraping food off the surface of pebbles with its mouth.
The streams where Eucrenonaspides oinotheke lives are very important for its diet. These streams bring in food supplies like dead plant bits (wood and leaves) and other small creatures that accidentally fall into the water.
History of Discovery
Eucrenonaspides oinotheke was first found in a spring located in a house's wine cellar in Devonport, Tasmania. In 1990, researchers tried to find this spot again, but a drought made it difficult. Not much more is known about the history of Eucrenonaspides oinotheke since then.
 | Precious Adams |
 | Lauren Anderson |
 | Janet Collins |
