Shelta Cave Crayfish
Cambarus sheltae (Cooper & Cooper, 1997)
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum | Crustacea |
| Class | Malacostraca |
| Order | Decapoda |
| Family | Cambaridae |
| Genus | Cambarus |
| Species | Cambarus sheltae (Cooper & Cooper, 1997) |
Description
Diagnostic characters
- Ecological class
- Stygobiont
- Realm
- Aquatic
- Eyes
- Vestigial
- Pigment
- Absent
- Troglomorphy
- Troglomorphic
- Maximum body length
- 19.7 mm
Morphological description
Body size
Type series
Similar species
Distribution
Type locality
Shelta Cave, Madison Co. AL
Range
Known from one county in Alabama in the Interior Low Plateau karst region.
Continent
North America
Country
United States
States and provinces
Alabama
Counties
- Alabama
- Madison
Karst regions
Interior Low Plateau
Habitat
- Aquatic habitat
- Cave lake
- Cave zone
- Deep cave
Ecology and life history
Reproduction
Development
Diet
Predators
Population ecology
Community associates
Diseases and parasites
Behavior
Genetics
Phylogenetics
Population genetics
Genetic resources
Conservation and management
IUCN Red List
CR Critically Endangered B2ab(iii)
Assessed in 2010.
NatureServe
G1 Critically Imperiled
Global rank last reviewed 2010.
Subnational ranks
- Alabama
- S1 Critically Imperiled
State and federal status
Not listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act
Threats
- Urbanization - Residential
- Recreational/Commerical Cave Activities
- Pollution - Agricultural & Forestry
- Climate Change - Precip
Other resources
How to cite this account
Cambarus sheltae (Cooper & Cooper, 1997). Cave Biology Data Portal, account SP-1167. https://cavebiology.org/species/cambarus-sheltae/ (accessed 3 September 2026).
Data sources and funding are listed in the Acknowledgments.
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