Allocrangonyx Explained

Allocrangonyx is a genus of troglobitic amphipod crustaceans from the South Central United States.^[1] The two species are both listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.^{[2] [3]} The animals are blind and unpigmented. During the male's development, the outer ramus of the third uropod differentiates into secondary segments and grows to a length greater than the animal's body length.

Allocrangonyx pellucidus

A. pellucidus, the "Oklahoma cave amphipod", is known from caves and springs in the Arbuckle Mountains of Johnston, Murray and Pontotoc counties, Oklahoma.^[4] The largest males reach 21.75mm long, while females reach 18mm.^[1]

Allocrangonyx hubrichti

A. hubrichti, the "Central Missouri cave amphipod" or "Hubricht's long-tailed amphipod",^[5] was thought for many years to be endemic to the state of Missouri, but specimens were discovered in 1996, 283km (176miles) away, in a water well near Romance, White County, Arkansas.^[6] While the well is drilled into Pennsylvanian age sandstone, all previous records have been from Ordovician limestones and dolomites.^[6]

Notes and References

1. John R. Holsinger . 1971 . A new species of the subterranean amphipod genus Allocrangonyx (Gammaridae), with a redescription of the genus and remarks on its zoogeography . . 3 . 3/4 . 317–331 . 10.5038/1827-806x.3.3.11 . 2010-04-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722054140/http://www.ijs.speleo.it/article.php?id_art=411 . 2011-07-22 . dead . free .
2. Inland Water Crustacean Specialist Group . Allocrangonyx hubrichti . 1996 . e.T873A13087606 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T873A13087606.en .
3. Inland Water Crustacean Specialist Group . Allocrangonyx pellucidus . 1996 . e.T874A13087705 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T874A13087705.en .
4. Annotated checklist of the amphipod crustaceans of Oklahoma, with emphasis on groundwater habitats . G. O. Graening . John R. Holsinger . Danté B. Fenolio . Elizabeth A. Bergey . Caryn C. Vaughn . . 86 . 65–74 . 2006 . PDF.
5. Web site: Conservation assessment for Hubricht's long-tailed amphipod (Allocrangonyx hubrichti) . Julian J. Lewis . . October 2002 . PDF.
6. Henry W. Robison . John R. Holsinger . First record of the subterranean amphipod crustacean Allocrangonyx hubrichti (Allocrangonyctidae) in Arkansas . . 54 . 2000 . 153 . PDF.