Mictocaris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mictocaris halope |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Mictocaris halope | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Subphylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: |
Mictacea
|
| Family: |
Mictocarididae
Bowman & Iliffe, 1985
|
| Genus: |
Mictocaris
Bowman & Iliffe, 1985
|
| Species: |
M. halope
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mictocaris halope Bowman & Iliffe, 1985
|
|
Mictocaris halope is a very small crustacean that lives only in caves. It's the only known species in its group, called Mictocaris. This tiny creature is also the only member of its family, Mictocarididae. It is sometimes even considered the only member of a larger group called Mictacea.
This special animal lives only in certain caves in Bermuda. These caves are called anchialine caves, which means they have a mix of fresh water and salt water. Mictocaris halope can grow up to about 3.5 millimeters long, which is super tiny! Scientists don't know much about its life.
Contents
What is Mictocaris halope?
Mictocaris halope is a unique cave animal. It is the only species in the Mictocaris genus. It also belongs to its own family, Mictocarididae. Some scientists even place it as the only species in the entire Mictacea order. This makes it a very special and rare creature!
Where Does Mictocaris Live?
This tiny crustacean is found only in Bermuda. It lives in four special limestone caves that have anchialine waters. These caves include Crystal Cave, Green Bay Cave, Roadside Cave, and Tucker's Town Cave. Divers first found Mictocaris in Crystal Cave. Later, more groups were found in the other caves.
Mictocaris is rarely seen because it lives deep inside these caves. It prefers the dark, isolated parts of the cave waters. It avoids sunlight completely.
How Does Mictocaris Live?
Most of the time, Mictocaris is swimming around. But sometimes, you might see it resting or walking on a rock. If scientists move them to an aquarium, they like to stick to the walls and surfaces.
Scientists are still trying to figure out what Mictocaris eats. However, it has very strong muscles in its mouth. These muscles help it chew food well. When Mictocaris was first discovered, divers collected 56 of them. You can now find these specimens at the National Museum of Natural History.
Why is Mictocaris Endangered?
Mictocaris halope is in big trouble. It is considered critically endangered. This means it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
There are a few reasons for this:
- Small Population: There are not many of them left.
- Broken Homes: Their groups are separated from each other.
- Only One Place: They only live in a few specific locations.
- Habitat Loss: Some of the places where they live are being damaged.
Because of these problems, it's very important to protect these special cave crustaceans and their homes.
 | May Edward Chinn |
 | Rebecca Cole |
 | Alexa Canady |
 | Dorothy Lavinia Brown |
