Stygiocaris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stygiocaris |
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| Stygiocaris stylifera | |
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Atyidae
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Stygiocaris
Holthuis, 1960
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Stygiocaris is a special kind of shrimp that lives deep inside caves. These tiny creatures are found in Western Australia, specifically around the North West Cape and Barrow Island. They are quite unique because they have adapted to life in dark, underground waters.
Contents
Discovering Stygiocaris Shrimp
What Makes Them Special?
Stygiocaris shrimp are known as "troglobites." This means they are creatures that live their whole lives in dark caves. Because they live in complete darkness, they have some very interesting features. They are almost completely transparent, so you can often see right through them! They are also quite small, usually less than 20 millimeters (about 0.8 inches) long. Their eyes are very small and don't work well, as they don't need to see in their dark homes.
A scientist named Lipke Holthuis first described these shrimp in 1960. He studied them to understand more about their unique adaptations.
Two Kinds of Stygiocaris
There are two known species of Stygiocaris:
- S. stylifera
- S. lancifera
These two species look quite similar, but they have some key differences. S. stylifera is generally a bit larger than S. lancifera. You can also tell them apart by looking at their "rostrum." The rostrum is a pointy part that sticks out from the shrimp's head. In S. lancifera, this part is shaped like a spear and is narrower at its base. But in S. stylifera, the rostrum is straight and doesn't get narrower at the base.
Scientists also look at the shape of their fifth and sixth abdominal segments (parts of their tail) and the bases of their antennae (feelers) to tell the two species apart.
Where Do They Live?
The two species of Stygiocaris were the first cave shrimp ever found in Australia. The first samples, called "type specimens," were mostly collected from a place called Kuddumurra Well. This well is also where another unique creature, a fish called Milyeringa veritas, was discovered in 1945.
The water in Kuddumurra Well is quite warm, usually between 29 and 30 degrees Celsius (84 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit). It's fresh water, but it's also affected by the ocean's tides, which is interesting for an underground water source. This shows how these special shrimp have adapted to their unique underground world.
