The Miami Cave Crayfish (Procambarus milleri)

There are many groundwater crayfish in the aquifers of Florida. This is a seldom observed species, Procambarus milleri, from Miami Dade Co., Florida. Experts estimate that this is a recently evolved subterranean species, probably having moved into aquifers roughly 10,000 years ago. Visual structures are still in tact and pigmentation is only faded. This is a female. Groundwater dwelling organisms are threatened owing to overexploitation of groundwater by humans, contamination of groundwater via agricultural runoff and illegal chemical dumping, and destruction of associated cave habitats where bat colonies have been eradicated; bat guano can be a significant energy input into these groundwater communities.