Lepidurus cryptus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lepidurus cryptus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Branchiopoda |
| Order: | Notostraca |
| Family: | Triopsidae |
| Genus: | Lepidurus |
| Species: | L. cryptus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lepidurus cryptus Rogers, 2001[2] | |
Lepidurus cryptus, or the cryptic tadpole shrimp, is a relatively small species of freshwater crustacean endemic to California and Oregon. The name "cryptus" is derived from its role as a cryptic species, being visually indistinguishable from Lepidurus packardi. Though its range is large, it remains uncommon, and is considered a vulnerable species by NatureServe. It lives in temporary pools of water throughout its range, which may be filled with aquatic plants.
Lepidurus cryptus was originally discovered in 1998, though it was thought to be a separate population of Lepidurus couesii. In 2001, D. Christopher Rogers described the animal as its own species based on both field and museum specimens. The type locality, or where the species was originally found, is Poison Lake in Lassen County, California.[2]
The name "cryptus" is based on the Latin word for "cryptic", as this species is a cryptic species of Lepidurus packardi, meaning the two cannot be distinguished by their physical appearance. Instead, this species is distinguished by its DNA.[2]
The holotype (primary specimen used to describe the species) is a female, and was collected from the type locality in 1998. This specimen, along with several paratypes, are located at the Bohart Museum of Entomology at the University of California, Davis.[2] Other paratypes are located in the collections of the Smithsonian and the California Academy of Sciences, respectively.[2][3]
Distribution
Lepidurus cryptus may be found anywhere in the Great Basin regions of northern California, with its range extending into southern and eastern Oregon. In California, specific occurrences have been recorded in Plumas, Lassen, Shasta, and Siskiyou County. In Oregon, the species has been observed in Lake, Harney, and Klamath County. Some specimens were found within 0.5 mi (0.80 km) of the California/Nevada border, though no occurrences within the state of Nevada have been recorded.[2] One source records the species as far north as the states of Washington and Idaho. Though its range is large, the species remains uncommon.[1]