Favoritos de gwt2102

1 of 2 found in rich shell drift by the tent camping area at Flamingo (Florida Bay), at the end of the Everglades National Park Road. I have never seen rupicola during multiple visits at this site until that day. According to Bruce Neville, this could be the 1st record from S. Florida (or at least the 1st such record that he or I are aware of). Generally the distribution of this species had previously appeared to be discontinuous from NE Florida to Collier or Lee County, SW Florida. Shell ca. 16.5mm

Drama. These guys all normally get along pretty well, but here a squirrel decided to start something and nearly got kicked in the head as reward. Moments later they were back to munching sunflower seeds side-by-side again.

Updated 11/26/2022. ID’d to species. Photos of male pleopod II added. Curvature on appendix masculina is not exactly as illustrated in the description, but is quite similar. Uropod exopod is subequal in length with endopod: a diagnostic character for the species. Without material from the type locality, I’m calling it T. subequalum.

Probably the most abundant invertebrate in most of the spring runs in the Lower Canyons. ID assumed to be T. subequalum based on proximity to the type locality in Big Bend National Park. This is the only described species in the region.

Whole body dorsal photo is a female. Ventral photo is a male showing appendix masculina on pleopod II.

Dissection and more detailed comparison with T. subequalum will be made in the future.