User:MonnyHCC/Halocaridina Rubra

Halocaridina rubra, common name ‘opae ‘ula or Hawaiian red shrimp, is a species of crustacean in the atyidae family.
Habitat- The shrimp are abundant in the western coasts of the island of Hawai'i, also know as the Big Island. The ponds in which the shrimp live, is made up of a mix of brackish water and freshwater that descends from an ahupua'a (waterfall). As it descends, it filters through lava rock and salt water. The larvae live in brackish water and the adult shrimp live in freshwater ponds.

Anatomy- Their colors are various types of red. As an adult its size stands at half an inch or 1.27 centimeters. Opae'ula have an outer shell, antennae, two eyes, two claws and a tail that resembles a fan.

Diet-

Their diets consist of consuming bacteria, algae, and plankton.

Taxonomy-

They are a part of the atyid family (Need to insert phylum throughout family)

Cultural Importance and Mo'olelo-

The cultural importance are mainly for consumption.

According to "The Legend of the Wai'anapanapa Caves" the mo’olelo (story/legend/myth) begins with a chief and his beloved wife. His name was Chief Kakae and the princesses name was Popoalaea. The chief treated his wife cruelly and she often dreamed of leaving him. One day she decide to escape to a cave known as Waianapanapa. She succeeds in escaping and tries to hide, but is eventually caught by the barbaric chief. Once caught, he murdered her for betraying him. Her blood ran through the ponds below. The Hawaiian red shrimp can be seen now swimming in that cave in the shallow water and it is said to represent her blood that shed the day of her murder.

Anchialine Pools - Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (US National Park Service)

Taxonomy-

They are a part of the genus atyid shrimp

Conservation Status-

These particular shrimp are endemic of Hawaii.

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