Divers from Santiago de Cuba identified the Cuban Shrimp of the Caves (Barbouria cubensis), a species classified as critically endangered, in the Siboney Water Cave.
The Santiago de Cuba Divers Association reported this Thursday that the specimen had been located a few months ago and celebrated the discovery as confirmation that the species continues to inhabit that cavity, within the Siboney-Juticí Ecological Reserve.
"Our divers found a treasure in the Siboney Water Cave," the organization noted, describing the Barbouria cubensis as a shrimp adapted to living in caves where sunlight does not reach.
The association also shared a short video showing the specimen found in the waters of the cave.
"In the depths of a cave in Siboney, our divers found the Cuban Shrimp of the Caves," the organization stated alongside the images.
The group explained that these shrimp can display red, orange, or yellow shades and white spots depending on the lighting conditions.
The species, whose scientific name is Barbouria cubensis, is listed as Critically Endangered on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It was already categorized as such in the 1996 edition of the international list.
The Santiago-based organization stated that its presence in the Cueva del Agua had not been confirmed since 1973 and recalled the studies conducted there by the scientist Nicasio Viña.
However, available scientific documents record a later observation.
A specialized review published in 1994 notes that the Cueva del Agua was studied again during the Cuban-Dutch Bio-Speleological Expedition of 1989, and on that occasion, Barbouria cubensis was observed on the rocks within the water.
According to the Association of Divers, the Cueva del Agua has an underground lake of about 850 m² and is located within the Siboney-Juticí Ecological Reserve, an area of significant natural and scientific value in Santiago de Cuba.
The organization seized the opportunity of the discovery to emphasize the need to preserve the site: "Protecting the Cueva del Agua is protecting our history, our science, and our sea."
The Barbouria cubensis is a species of cave shrimp whose type locality is in Cuba, although it has since been recorded in other territories of the Caribbean, such as the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, and Bermuda, as well as the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.
Filed under: