Madison Cave isopod (Antrolana lira)
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Isopoda
Family: Cirolanidae
Listing Status:
Where Listed: WHEREVER FOUND
General Information
The Madison Cave isopod is an eyeless, unpigmented, freshwater crustacean. It belongs to a family that consists of mostly marine species and a small number of freshwater species. The species is the only member of its genus and is the only freshwater cirolanid isopod north of Texas. Its body is flattened and bears seven pairs of long walking legs. The first pair of legs are modified as grasping structures. It has a pair of short antennae and a pair of long antennae. Males reach a length of 0.6 inches; females reach a length of 0.7 inches. While most cave isopods spend the majority of their time walking along the bottoms of streams and pools, Antrolana lira spends much of its time swimming freely through flooded caves formed in ancient limestone.
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This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)
This species is listed wherever it is found, but
- States/US Territories in which the Madison Cave isopod, Entire is known to or is believed to occur: Virginia , West Virginia
- US Counties in which the Madison Cave isopod, Entire is known to or is believed to occur: View All
| Status | Date Listed | Lead Region | Where Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/04/1982 | Northeast Region (Region 5) | Entire |
» Federal Register Documents
|
» Recovery
Recovery Plan Information Search| Date | Title | Plan Action Status | Plan Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/30/1996 | Madison Cave Isopod | View Implementation Progress | Final |
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/16/2008 | 73 FR 76373 76375 | Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 7 Listed Species: Notice of review; request for information |
» Critical Habitat
No critical habitat rules have been published for the Madison Cave isopod, Entire.
» Conservation Plans
| HCP Plan Summaries |
|---|
| Warren County Power Station Low Effect HCP |
» Petitions
No petition findings have been published for the Madison Cave isopod, Entire.
» Life History
Habitat Requirements
The Madison Cave isopod is found in flooded limestone caves beneath the Great Valley of Virginia and West Virginia where it swims freely through calcite-saturated waters of deep karst aquifers.
Food Habits
Its feeding habitats are unknown, however, it is believed to be carnivorous.
Movement / Home Range
Recent discoveries in caves and wells have extended the range of the species 200 miles. The range of the isopod is now known from a 15 mile wide belt stretching from Lexington VA to Charles Town, WV. There are documented population centers in the Waynesboro-Grottoes area (Augusta County, VA), the Harrisonburg area (Rockingham County, VA), and the valley of the main stem of the Shenandoah River (Warren and Clarke counties, VA, and Jefferson County, WV).
Reproductive Strategy
It is not known how this species reproduces.
Other
The population size of the Madison Cave isopod is unknown at most sites. Sampling results suggest that the population is dominated by adults. The population structure of the Madison Cave isopod suggests that it has a lengthy life span with a low rate of reproduction.
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
