Spelaeorchestia koloana, the Kauaʻi cave amphipod or ʻuku noho ana in Hawaiian, is a cave-dwelling crustacean only found on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. It is eyeless and measures 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) long.[2] It is only known from 10 populations,[3] and eats decaying plant matter and other decomposing material.

Spelaeorchestia koloana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Amphipoda
Family: Talitridae
Genus: Spelaeorchestia
Species:
S. koloana
Binomial name
Spelaeorchestia koloana
Bousfield & Howarth, 1976

The Kauaʻi cave amphipod is endemic to the caves on Kauaʻi, Hawaii. Its main predator is the Kauaʻi cave wolf spider Adelocosa anops, another endemic of the Kauaʻi cave. It is listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act,[4] and on the IUCN Red List.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Inland Water Crustacean Specialist Group (1996). "Spelaeorchestia kiloana [sic]". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T20451A9200174. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T20451A9200174.en.
  2. ^ United States Fish and Wildlife Service (April 9, 2003). "50 CFR Part 17. RIN 1018–AH01. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Kauai Cave Wolf Spider and Kauai Cave Amphipod" (PDF). Federal Register. 68 (68): 17430–17470.
  3. ^ "Kaua'i Cave Arthropods: Adelocosa anops (Kaua'i Cave Wolf Spider), Spelaeorchestia koloana (Kaua'i Cave Amphipod)" (PDF). Hawaii’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. October 1, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  4. ^ "Kauai Cave amphipod (Spelaeorchestia koloana) species profile". Environmental Conservation Online System. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. October 26, 2010.