Thermosphaeroma thermophilum
Encyclopedia
Thermosphaeroma thermophilum, commonly known as the Socorro isopod or Socorro sowbug, is a crustacean
in the family Sphaeromatidae
. It was endemic to the thermal water of Sedillo Spring located in Socorro County in the state of New Mexico
, US
.
In the isopod's natural habitat
the thermal waters ranged in temperature from 26–33 °C (78.8–91.4 F); however in 1947 when the spring was diverted to supply the city of Socorro
with drinking water, the isopod ended up living in an old water supply pipe that led to a horse trough and two small, old, concrete bathing pools. however, in 1988, the wild population became extinct when a tree root burst the pipe and cut off water flow to the concrete pools. Existing captive populations were bred to restore the isopod community near the spring and they were reintroduced, into eight new concrete pools (tanks). As of 2006, captive populations were kept at the Albuquerque Biological Park
, the Minnesota Zoo
, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Laboratory in Santa Fe
, and by the Department of Biology at New Mexico Tech.
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...
in the family Sphaeromatidae
Sphaeromatidae
Sphaeromatidae is a family of isopods, containing the following genera:*Afrocerceis Müller, 1995*Agostodina Bruce, 1994*Amphoroidea H...
. It was endemic to the thermal water of Sedillo Spring located in Socorro County in the state of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In the isopod's natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
the thermal waters ranged in temperature from 26–33 °C (78.8–91.4 F); however in 1947 when the spring was diverted to supply the city of Socorro
Socorro, New Mexico
Socorro is a city in Socorro County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It stands in the Rio Grande Valley at an elevation of . The population was 9,051 at the 2010 census...
with drinking water, the isopod ended up living in an old water supply pipe that led to a horse trough and two small, old, concrete bathing pools. however, in 1988, the wild population became extinct when a tree root burst the pipe and cut off water flow to the concrete pools. Existing captive populations were bred to restore the isopod community near the spring and they were reintroduced, into eight new concrete pools (tanks). As of 2006, captive populations were kept at the Albuquerque Biological Park
Albuquerque Biological Park
The Albuquerque Biological Park is an environmental museum located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It contains four separate facilities:...
, the Minnesota Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
The Minnesota Zoo , is an AZA-accredited zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota. When it opened on May 22, 1978 it was fairly revolutionary in its exhibit design. The zoo, built in a suburbanizing rural area, had more space to house exhibits and was one of the first zoos to organize its animals by their...
, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Laboratory in Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, and by the Department of Biology at New Mexico Tech.