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 
| |
| 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
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Kauai Cave amphipod (Spelaeorchestia koloana) species profile". Environmental Conservation Online System. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. October 26, 2010.