| Typhlocaris ayyaloni | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Infraorder: | Caridea |
| Family: | Typhlocarididae |
| Genus: | Typhlocaris |
| Species: | T. ayyaloni |
| Binomial name | |
| Typhlocaris ayyaloni Tsurnamal, 2008 [1] | |
Typhlocaris ayyaloni is a species of troglobitic shrimp in the family Typhlocarididae. [2]
This species grows to 4 to 5 cm in length and is blind. [3]
Typhlocaris ayyaloni species was discovered in 2008 in the Ayalon Cave in Israel, 100 meters below ground, with no natural access to the surface. It was found living in a small pool of sulphide-rich, brackish water. It is one of eight new species recently discovered in the area, the others being Tethysbaena ophelicola , Metacyclops longimaxillis , Metacyclops subdolus , Akrav israchanani (a land species, only found dead and also in other parts of the cave), Ayyalonia dimentmani (land species), Lepidospora ayyalonica (land species), and a still-unnamed species in the genus Collembola . [3]
This species is endangered as it is known only in the Yarkon-Taninim Aquifer, which is experiencing diminishing water levels. It is one of the main sources of water in Israel. [2]
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