Alabama Cave Shrimp
Palaemonias alabamae Smalley, 1961

Taxonomy

Description

Diagnostic characters

Ecological class

Stygobiont

Realm

Aquatic

Troglomorphy

Troglomorphic

Maximum length

20 mm

Distribution

Type locality

Shelta Cave, Madison Co. AL

Range

Known from four counties in Alabama in the Interior Low Plateau karst region.

Continent

North America

Country

United States

States and provinces

Alabama

Counties

Alabama

Blount, Jackson, Madison, Morgan

Karst regions

Interior Low Plateau

Genetics

Molecular resources

14 sequences, retrieved 23 August 2026. Counts change as sequences are deposited. Search GenBank.

Download all 14 sequence records (CSV) Accession, marker, molecule type, length, GenBank definition and a direct link.

Specimens

Type material

Holotype

USNM 107028 · National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Paratype

USNM 107029 · National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Collections holding material

5 cataloged lots in 2 collections. Compiled from GBIF and not an exhaustive census: many collections are not yet digitised, and holdings are added continually. Search GBIF for specimen records.

Download all 5 specimen records (CSV) Institution, catalog number, type status and preparation. No coordinates.

Conservation and management

IUCN Red List

EN Endangered B1ab(iii)

Assessed in 2012.

NatureServe

G1 Critically Imperiled

Global rank last reviewed 31 May 2024.

Subnational ranks

Alabama

S1 Critically Imperiled

Ranks looked up 23 August 2026. Conservation status changes, and a rank here is as current as that date and no more.

State and federal status

Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, listed in 1989.

Threats

• Urbanization - Residential
• Urbanization - Comm. & Industrial
• Oil & Gas Drilling
• Pollution -Sewage or Urban Wastewater
• Pollution - Commercial/Industrial
• Pollution - Agricultural & Forestry

Other resources

Catalogue of Life

8VBQZ

GBIF

2223015

ITIS

97246

iNaturalist

108240

NCBI Taxonomy

859809

References

• Bearden, R.A., McGregor, S.W. & West, D.A. 2019. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2019. Open-File Report 1907. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 46 pp.
• Bearden, R.A., McGregor, S.W. & West, D.A. 2020. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2020. Open-File Report 2013. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 53 pp.
• Bearden, R.A., McGregor, S.W., West, D.A., Ponta, G.M. & Hastert, G.A. 2022. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2022. Open-File Report 2204. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 149 pp.
• Blackwood, R. & Kalange, J. 1999. Cave biomonitoring and water quality analysis of Hering Cave Madison County, Alabama. Journal of the Alabama Academy of Science 70: 91–96.
• Bouchard, R.W. 1976. Crayfishes and shrimps. In: Boshung, H. (ed), Endangered and threatened plants and animals of Alabama. Alabama Museum of Natural History Bulletin 2, pp. 13–20. Alabama Museum of Natural History, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.
• Campbell, C.W., Sullivan, S.M. & Livingston, L.R. 1997. Modeling of a cave ecosystem. In: Beck, B.F., Herring, J.G. & Stephenson, J.B. (eds), The Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology of Karst Terranes, pp. 395–399. CRC Press, London, United Kingdom. doi:10.1201/9781003078128
• Cooper, J.E. 1966. Preliminary observation on the biology of Shelta Cave, Alabama. Bulletin of the National Speleological Society 28: 96–97.
• Cooper, J.E. 1967. Animals in Alabama caves. In: Veitch, J. (ed), The Caves of Alabama: A Guide for the 1967 Convention of the National Speleological Society, pp. 14–16. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
• Cooper, J.E. 1968b. Shelta Cave, a biological marvel. National Speleological Society News 26: 33–35.
• Cooper, J.E. 1975. Ecological and behavioral studies in Shelta Cave, Alabama, with emphasis on decapod crustaceans. University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. 364 pp.
• Cooper, J.E. & Cooper, M.R. 1966. Comments on Alabama cave biology. Huntsville Grotto Newsletter 7: 37–41.
• Cooper, J.E. & Cooper, M.R. 1974. Distribution and ecology of troglobitic shrimp of the genus Palaemonias (Decapoda; Atyidae). ASB Bulletin 21: 48.
• Cooper, J.E. & Cooper, M.R. 1997a. New troglobitic crayfish of the genus Orconectes, subgenus Orconectes (Decapoda: Cambaridae), endemic to Shelta Cave, Huntsville, Alabama. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 59: 119–127.
• Cooper, J.E. & Cooper, M.R. 2009. Long-term mark-recapture studies of population sizes in the stygobiotic crayfishes (Decapoda: Cambaridae) of Shelta Cave, Alabama, USA. Subterranean Biology 7: 35–40.
• Cooper, J.E. & Cooper, M.R. 2011. Observations on the biology of the endangered stygobiotic shrimp Palaemonias alabamae, with notes on P. ganteri (Decapoda: Atyidae). Subterranean Biology 8: 9–20.
• Culver, D.C. 1999. A history of management of biological resources of Shelta Cave, Alabama, USA. Proceedings of the Meeting on Caves of Natural Origin under Cities and Urban Areas: 130–131.
• Dooley, K.E., Niemiller, K.D.K., Sturm, N. & Niemiller, M.L. 2022. Rediscovery and phylogenetic analysis of the Shelta Cave Crayfish (Orconectes sheltae Cooper & Cooper, 1997), a decapod (Decapoda, Cambaridae) endemic to Shelta Cave in northern Alabama, USA. Subterranean Biology 43: 11–31. doi:10.3897/subtbiol.43.79993
• Engel, A.S. & Niemiller, M.L. 2024. The Southern Cumberland Plateau. In: Weaver, A. (ed), 2024 NSS Convention Guidebook: TAG Tour 2024, pp. 24–30. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
• Godwin, J.C. 2000. Reassessment of the historical and search for new localities of the Tennessee cave salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus) in Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Montgomery, Alabama, USA. 15 pp.
• Hobbs, III., H.H. & Bagley, F.M. 1989. Shelta Cave management plan. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Jackson, Mississippi, USA. 78 pp.
• Hobbs, H.H. Jr., Hobbs, H.H. III & Daniel, M.A. 1977. A review of the troglobitic decapod crustaceans of the Americas. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 244: 1–183.
• Jacobson, T. 1999. Endangered and threatened species of north Alabama karstlands. Journal of the Alabama Academy of Science 70: 105–107.
• Jandebeur, T.S. 1999. Caves and springs of north Alabama in social context. Journal of the Alabama Academy of Science 70: 108–122.
• Kuhajda, B.R. & Fluker, B.L. 2010. Status of the endangered Alabama Cavefish Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 16 pp.
• Lawson, K.M., Schotz, A.R., Jenkins, A.J., Armbruster, J.W., Black, C., Callahan, M., Goertzen, L., Hansen, C., Stephen, C.D.R., Werneke, D., Mendonca, M. & Molina, E. 2021. Planning level survey of Redstone Arsenal for at-risk species and ecologically significant communities. Environmental Management Division, U.S. Army Garrison, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama, USA. 402 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 1996. Investigations of the source and fate of ground water in the vicinity of Bobcat Cave, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama and initiation of a management plan for Bobcat Cave. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 57 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2000. Investigations of physical and biological conditions in the vicinity of Bobcat Cave, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, relative to the Alabama cave shrimp (Atyidae: Palaemonias alabamae) 1999–2000. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 49 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2001. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2001. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 28 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2002. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2002. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 30 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2003. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2003. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 30 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2004. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2004. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 33 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2006. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2006. Open-File Report 0620. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 33 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2008. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2007. Open-File Report 0801. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 44 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2010. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2010. Open-File Report 1007. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 38 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2011. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2011. Open-File Report 1115. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 41 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2012. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2012. Open-File Report 1216. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 42 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2013. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2013. Open-File Report 1313. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 43 pp.
• McGregor, S.W. & O'Neil, P.E. 2014. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2014. Open-File Report 1411. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 39 pp.
• McGregor, S.W., O'Neil, P.E. & Bearden, R.A. 2015. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2015. Open-File Report 1513. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 42 pp.
• McGregor, S.W., O'Neil, P.E. & Bearden, R.A. 2016. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2016. Open-File Report 1608. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 43 pp.
• McGregor, S.W., O'Neil, P.E. & Bearden, R.A. 2017. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2017. Open-File Report 1706. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 45 pp.
• McGregor, S.W., O'Neil, P.E. & Bearden, R.A. 2018. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2018. Open-File Report 1812. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 46 pp.
• McGregor, S.W., O'Neil, P.E., Burnett, K.F. & Blackwood, R. 2003. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2002. In: Beck. B.F. (ed), Ninth Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst: American Society of Civil Engineers Geotechnical Special Publication no. 122, pp. 241–249.
• McGregor, S.W., O'Neil, P.E. & Gillett, B. 2005. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2005. Open-File Report 0528. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 32 pp.
• McGregor, S.W., O'Neil, P.E., Rheams, K.F., Moser, P.H. & Blackwood, R. 1997. Biological, geological, and hydrological investigations in Bobcat, Matthews, and Shelta caves and other selected caves in north Alabama. Geological Survey of Alabama Bulletin 166: 1–198.
• McGregor, S.W., O'Neil, P.E. & Wynn, E.A. 2008. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2008. Open-File Report 0813. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 37 pp.
• McGregor, S.W., O'Neil, P.E. & Wynn, E.A. 2009. Water quality and biological monitoring in Bobcat and Matthews caves, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 1990–2009. Open-File Report 0919. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 37 pp.
• McGregor, S.W., Rheams, K.F., O'Neil, P.E., Moser, P.H. & Blackwood, R. 1994. Biological, geological, and hydrological investigations in Bobcat, Matthews, and Shelta caves and other selected caves in north Alabama. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 226 pp.
• Niemiller, M.L., Anderson, C.L., Maxwell, E.C., Midgette, H., Quering, C., Richards, M., Wilson, K. & Wirwa, N. 2025b. A noteworthy range extension of the federally endangered Alabama Cave Shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae) south of the Tennessee River in northern Alabama. Southeastern Naturalist 24: N47-N58. doi:10.1656/058.024.0403
• Niemiller, M.L., Inebnit, T., Hinkle, A., Jones, B.D., Jones, M., Lamb, J., Mann, N., Miller, B., Pinkley, J., Pitts, S., Sapkota, K.N. & Slay, M.E. 2019. Discovery of a new population of the federally endangered Alabama cave shrimp, Palaemonias alabamae Smalley, 1961, in northern Alabama. Subterranean Biology 32: 43–59. doi:10.3897/subtbiol.32.38280
• Niemiller, M.L., Slay, M.E., Inebnit, T., Miller, B., Tobin, B., Cramphorn, B., Hinkle, A., Jones, B.D., Mann, N. & Niemiller, K.D.K. 2023a. Fern Cave: a hotspot of subterranean biodiversity in the Interior Low Plateau karst region of Alabama in the southeastern United States. Diversity 15: 633. doi:10.3390/d15050633
• Poulson, T.L. 1961. Cave adaptation in amblyopsid cavefishes. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. 185 pp. doi:10.7302/9847
• Rheams, K.F., Moser, P.H. & McGregor, S.W. 1992. Geologic, hydrologic, and biologic investigations in Arrowwood, Bobcat, Matthews, and Shelta caves and selected caves, Madison, County, Alabama. Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. 262 pp.
• Rheams, K.F., Moser, P.H. & McGregor, S.W. 1994. Hydrogeologic and biologic factors related to the occurrence of the Alabama cave shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae), Madison County, Alabama. Geological Survey of Alabama Bulletin 161: 1–147.
• Tennessee Cave Survey. 2005. Biological records from Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia caves. Tennessee Cave Survey.

How to cite this account

Data sources and funding are listed in the Acknowledgments.

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