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Cave Biology Data Portal
Subterranean biodiversity of North America and around the globe
AnimaliaArthropodaCrustaceaMalacostracaIsopodaAsellidaeLirceus

Lower Ohio Waterslater
Lirceus fontinalis Rafinesque, 1820

Taxonomy

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Order Isopoda
Family Asellidae
Genus Lirceus
Species Lirceus fontinalis Rafinesque, 1820

Description

Diagnostic characters

Ecological class
Stygophile
Realm
Aquatic

Distribution

Range

Known from 10 counties across four states.

Continent

North America

Country

United States

States and provinces

Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee

Counties

Georgia
Walker
Illinois
Hardin, Monroe
Kentucky
Edmonson, Ohio, Pulaski, Warren, Woodford
Tennessee
Franklin, Marion

Conservation and management

NatureServe

GNR Unranked

G1G2G3G4G5

National ranks

United States
NNR

Subnational ranks

Illinois
SNR Unranked

State and federal status

Not listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

References

  • Barr, T.C., Jr. & Kuehne, R.A. 1971. Ecological studies in the Mammoth Cave system of Kentucky. II. The Ecosystem. Annales de Speleologie 26: 47–96. doi:10.5038/1827-806X.3.1.10
  • Harker, D.F., Jr. & Barr, T.C., Jr. 1980. Caves and associated fauna of the Western Kentucky coal field, Volume 2. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfurt, Kentucky, USA. 114 pp.
  • Hay, W.P. 1902. Observations on the crustacean fauna of Nickajack Cave, Tennessee, and vicinity. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 25: 417–439. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.25-1292.417
  • Hay, W.P. 1902. Observations on the crustacean fauna of the region about Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 25: 223–236. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.25-1285.223
  • Lewis, J.J. & Bowman, T.E. 1981. The subterranean asellids (Caecidotea) of Illinois (Crustacea: Isopoda: Asellidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 335: 1–66. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.335
  • Lewis, J.J. 2004. Interstate 66 karst faunal study. Environmental Impact Statement. 17 pp.
  • Lewis, J.J. & Lewis, S.L. 2005. Inventory of the subterranean fauna of Tims Ford State Park, Franklin County, Tennessee. Tennesee Natural Heritage Program, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. 28 pp.
  • Peck, S.B. & Lewis, J.J. 1978. Zoogeography and evolution of the subterranean invertebrate faunas of Illinois and southeastern Missouri. National Speleological Society Bulletin 40: 39–63.
  • Webb, D.W., Taylor, S.J. & Krejca, J.K. 1993. The biological resources of Illinois caves and other subterranean environments. Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois, USA. 143 pp.

How to cite this account

Lirceus fontinalis Rafinesque, 1820. Cave Biology Data Portal, account SP-1806. https://cavebiology.org/species/lirceus-fontinalis/ (accessed 7 September 2026).

Data sources and funding are listed in the Acknowledgments.

Spotted something wrong on this page? Report a correction. Accounts are compiled from many sources and corrections from people who know the group are the most useful email we get.

Cave Biology Data Portal

Species accounts, distributions, and conservation status for the subterranean fauna of North America and around the globe, with resources for the cave and karst research community.

Text and data CC BY 4.0. Images all rights reserved unless stated.

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