''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 Mictacea is a monotypic order of crustaceans. It was originally erected for three species of small shrimp-like animals of the deep sea and anchialine caves. They were placed in two families, the Mictocarididae and Hirsutiidae, but Hirsutiidae ...

. ''Mictocaris'' is endemic to

anchialine An anchialine system (, from Greek ''ankhialos'', "near the sea") is a landlocked body of water with a subterranean connection to the ocean. Depending on its formation, these systems can exist in one of two primary forms: pools or caves. The primary ...

caves in Bermuda, and grows up to 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

Description

''Mictocaris'' is long and is reflective. It is native to four

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

''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. It is usually seen swimming, but on rare occasions can be found resting or walking on a rock. When relocated into an aquarium, they prefer the walls and surfaces of the glass. It is unknown what ''Mictocaris'' eats, but it has developed powerful molar and mandible muscles which allows them to chew productively. When originally found, the divers collected 56 specimens of ''Mictocaris'', which can now be found in the National Museum of Natural History.

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

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5487648 Malacostraca genera Freshwater crustaceans of North America Endemic fauna of Bermuda Taxonomy articles created by Polbot