Mictocaris

Mictocaris halope is the only species of cave crustacean in the monotypic genus Mictocaris. It is placed in its own family, Mictocarididae, and is sometimes considered the only member of the order Mictacea. Mictocaris is endemic to anchialine caves in Bermuda, and grows up to 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long. Its biology is poorly known.

Taxonomy

Mictocaris halope is the only species in the genus Mictocaris, and in the family Mictocarididae. When the family Hirsutiidae is treated as the separate order Bochusacea, Mictocaris halope is the only species that remains in the order Mictacea. ==Description==

Description

Mictocaris is long and is reflective. It is native to four anchialine limestone caves in Bermuda: it was first discovered by divers in Crystal Cave, and then further populations were found in Green Bay Cave (South Harrington Sound Passage and North Shore Passage), Roadside Cave and Tucker's Town Cave. ==Ecology==

Ecology

Mictocaris is rarely encountered because it lives only in deep waters in the interior sections of the caves. It avoids sunlight and remains in isolated parts of the cave. ==Conservation==

Conservation

Mictocaris is critically endangered due to population fragmentation, a decline in subpopulations, and only inhabiting a single location. The population is only extant in five locations, some of which are likely experiencing habitat destruction. ==References==

Source: Wikipedia ↗

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