searchable PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

Type-Iocality.-Balaam Canche Cave (=Grotas deBalankanche), three miles east, half mile south ofChichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.Distribution.-Known from many caVf~S and wellsin Quintana Roo and Yucatan. See Fig. 13.Records.-Quintana Roo: Actun Ha, Cenote deJuan Coh, Cenote de Las Ruinas, Cenote de San Martin,and Cenote de Santo Domingo; Yucatan: Well(Hacienda Calcehtok), Well (iron mill at Oxkutzcab),Cenote de las Abejas, Cenote Aka Chen, Grotas deBalankanche, Cenote Calchuhuim, Cenote Calchum,ActUn Chac, Cueva Chac Mol, Cenote Chen Mul, Cenotede la Culebra, Cenote G, Cenote de Hoctun,Cenote de Kankirixche, Actun Kaua, Cueva Luchil,Cenote Nohchen, Cenote de Orizaba, Cueva de Orizaba,Cueva Oxolodt, Cenote del Pochote, Cenote deSambula (Motul), Cenote de San Diego, Cueva de SanIsidro, Cenote de San Jose, Pozo de Santa Elena, Cenotede Sihunchen, Cenote de Sodzil, Grotas de Tzab­Nah, Cueva Xconsacab, Cenote Xkeken, Cenot Xtacabiha,Cenote Yunchen, and Cenote Zaci.Discussion.-This species is most closely related tothe troglobitic A. cubanica Hacescu and Orghidanfrom Cuba and A. peckorum Bowman from Jamaica.Antromysis cenotensis is extremely abundant in almostevery cave containing groundwater in the coastalplain of Yucatilll.Antromysis (Antromysis) reddelli BowmanAntromysis (Antromysis) reddelli Bowman, 1977b:34,35,36,37, fig. 7-8.Type-Iocality.-Cueva de las Maravillas, 6 km SAcatlan, Oaxaca, Mexico.Distribution.-Known only from the type-locality.See Fig. 13.Discussion.-This species was taken from a rockand silt-floored stream passage in which also werefound the blind shrimp Alpheopsis stygicola, theblind crayfish Procambarus oaxacae reddelli, andundescribed troglobitic catfish of the genus Rhamdia.This species is most closely related to A. peckorum,A. cubanica, and A. cenotensis.Order DecapodaThe order Decapoda is well represented III thecaves of Mexico by both troglophiles and troglobites.A total of 33 species of shrimp, crayfish, and crabhave been found in Mexican and Guatemalan caves(see Table 12). Many more species probably awaitdiscovery, especially in the caves of Belize and Guatemala.Table 12.-Summary of cave inhabiting Decapoda.TroglobitesOther SpeciesNatantiaAlpheidae 1 0Atyidae 3 0Palaemonidae 6 3ReptantiaCambaridae 3 9Grapsidae 0 1Pseudothelphusidae 3 4Triehodaetylidae 1 1Total 17 18Suborder NatantiaThe caves of Mexico are particularly rich in troglobiticshrimps with ten described species. This is insharp contrast with the United States where only fourtroglobitic shrimps have been described.Family AlpheidaeAlpheopsis stygicola HobbsAlpheopsis stygicola Hobbs, 1973b:73, 76-77, fig.1-2; Hobbs et al., 1977:6, 8, 11, 12, 16, 24, 52,67,68,69, fig. 31-32; Holthuis, 1977:174.Alpheopsis: Hobbs et al., 1977:5,66-67.Type-Iocality.-Cueva del Nacimiento del Rio SanAntonio, 10 km SSW Acatlan, Oaxaca, lexico.Distribution.-Known only from three caves nearAcatlan, Oaxaca, See Fig. 14.New records.-Oaxaca: Cueva de la Finca andCueva de Las Maravillas.Discussion.-This species is of special interest inbeing the only known subterranean member of thefamily and only the third species of the family to bereported from fresh water. The other freshwater speciesare known from a lake in the Ogooue Basin inGabon and from a stream in the vicinity of Manoka,Cameroon. The genus Alpheopsis is known from marinehabitats throughout much of the world, includingAntigua Island and Puerto Rico. The relationshipsof this species to other members of the genusare obscure and probably cannot be clarified until acomparative study of many poorly described speciesis made (Hobbs, 1973b). The species is unquestionablya marine relict. It is an inhabitant of lakes andpools in the caves in which it has been collected. Onespecimen was disgorged by an undescribed blind catfishof the genus Rhamdia when the fish was preserved.105