Stygobromus pecki
Encyclopedia
Stygobromus pecki is a rare species of crustacean
known by the common name Peck's cave amphipod. It is endemic to Texas
in the United States, where lives in only two springs
in Comal County
. It is a federally listed endangered species
of the United States.
This amphipod, like many subterranean species, is eyeless and lacks pigment.
The amphipod is found in Comal Springs, which is owned by the city of New Braunfels, Texas
, and Hueco Springs, which is privately owned. This species is threatened by the lowering water levels in the Edwards Aquifer
, which feeds the springs in which it dwells. The water in the aquifer
has long been drained for human use, in irrigation
, for example.
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
known by the common name Peck's cave amphipod. It is endemic to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in the United States, where lives in only two springs
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
in Comal County
Comal County, Texas
Comal County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 108,472. Its seat is New Braunfels.Comal County is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History Timeline:...
. It is a federally listed endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of the United States.
This amphipod, like many subterranean species, is eyeless and lacks pigment.
The amphipod is found in Comal Springs, which is owned by the city of New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
, and Hueco Springs, which is privately owned. This species is threatened by the lowering water levels in the Edwards Aquifer
Edwards Aquifer
The Edwards Aquifer is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. Located on the eastern edge of Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas, it discharges about of water a year and directly serves about two million people...
, which feeds the springs in which it dwells. The water in the aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
has long been drained for human use, in irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
, for example.
External links
- World Register of Marine Species
- Inland Water Crustacean Specialist Group 1996. Stygobromus pecki. 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 27 August 2011.