Introduction

I decided to create an ID guide to help people when identifying the different species of shrimp that can be found within the anchialine pools of Hawaii. I am by no means an expert, I'm just a hobbyist who keeps a few brackish shrimp species as pets. I was deeply disappointed with the lack of information available online in regards to the species that inhabit the anchialine pools so wanted to create an ID guide to help people identify their observations. I plan to update this guide with more information and pictures as those become available in the future. If you're feeling benevolent and would like to provide pictures for any species I'm missing within this guide please do send me a message.

Shrimp Species:

Hawaiian Red Shrimp / Opae Ula (Halocaridina rubra)

This species is the most common and well known of the shrimp that inhabit the anchialine pools of Hawaii. It is a forager, which grazes on algae, bacteria and decaying organic matter in the pool, however is also capable of filter feeding. This shrimp can be variable in colour ranging from red to pink and even transparent. Very rarely yellow or orange individuals may be found. Colour can vary depending on the population. The most recognisable feature about this shrimp is it's claws. The claws are small and are held in a location to enable them to pick at the rocks they're stood on and then pull tiny pieces of food into their mouth. Their claws are held inwards towards their own body (opposed to outwards which is displayed in many of the predatory shrimp species within the same habitat.) They also possesses black coloured eyes. These shrimp can reach lengths of 0.6 inches or 15 millimetres.

Anchialine Snapping Shrimp (Metabetaeus lohena)

This species is the second most well known shrimp species to inhabit the anchialine pools. It possesses black eyes and larger claws for hunting prey. They can range in colour from red, pink, transparent or yellow. These shrimp can be identified by their larger claws and the presence of a large black spot in the centre of it's head just behind the eyes. They can reach lengths of around 0.7 inches or 18 millimetres.

Ivory Devil Shrimp (Antecaridina lauensis)

This species is red, pink or white in colour and possesses white eyes. Their claws are also white and pointed downwards for picking at algae, bacteria and decaying organic matter from the surface of rocks. They can appear similar to Halocaridina rubra, however the white claws and eyes of Antecaridina lauensis distinguishes them. Unfortunately a picture of a red individual isn't available for this guide due to copyright, however I can leave a link so you can see a red one here for yourself.

Glass Saddle Shrimp (Calliasmata pholidota)

This species looks rather similar to Metabetaeus lohena, however you can tell it apart as Calliasmata pholidota is larger, possesses larger claws and also has white eyes. Colour-wise red or transparent individuals can be found. Coloured individuals often (but not always) have a noticeable discoloured "saddle" like colouration on their carapace, which can also be transparent. The large claws for hunting prey signify their predatory nature. Unfortunately a picture of a an individual isn't available for this guide due to copyright, however I can leave a link so you can see both a clear one here and a red one here for yourself.

Feathered Hawaiian Pool Shrimp (Procaris hawaiana)

This larger shrimp species is endemic to Hawaii and lacks pinchers. It instead possesses legs covered in setae, which it uses to filter feed while swimming through the waters of the anchialine pool. It would be hard to mistake it for any other species due to the presence of setae covered legs and absence of claws. It can be found in colours ranging from light red, pink or orange. This is a rare species that is seldom photographed, so unfortunately I have no images to show of it right now.

Red-banded Skulker Shrimp (Periclimenes pholeter)

This shrimp species is red or pinkish in colour, with multiple horizontal red bands along it's abdomen. It possesses black eyes. It also has long arms and claws, indicating a predatory diet. This species is very timid and quick to flee into crevices when encountered, which makes it difficult to photograph. This is a rare species that is seldom photographed, so unfortunately I have no images to show of it right now.

Feeble Shrimp (Palaemon debilis)

A transparent shrimp species speckled with tiny brown spots. It has a brownish rostrum. It also possesses a large brown spot on the 6th abdominal segment (the tail just before the fins). This species is known to inhabit brackish water such as estuaries, but can also be found within Hawaiian anchialine pools.

Burn's Shrimp (Palaemonella burnsi)

This shrimp species is small and can be found at lengths of up to around 0.3 inches or 7.6 millimetres. It is a transparent shrimp, which is sprinkled with red pigmentation. It possesses long arms for hunting and catching prey such as H. rubra.

Subterranean Giant Pool Shrimp (Vetericaris chaceorum)

This is the largest native shrimp that can be found in the anchialine pools of Hawaii. Ranging from 1.77 to 2 inches or 45 to 50.8 millimetres. The body of the shrimp can be yellow to orange in colour, however the appendages of the shrimp are transparent. This shrimp species is a strong swimmer and a predator, feeding on crustaceans including smaller shrimp such as Halocaridina rubra. Despite being predatory it lacks claws, instead swimming while holding it's legs into a basket-like shape to catch prey as it swims. This shrimp lacks eyes, however does possess eye stalks. There are currently no images available for this guide due to copyright, however you can take a look at what this species looks like here.

Hawaiian River Prawn (Macrobrachium grandimanus)

One of the larger species that can be found in the anchialine pools, reaching lengths of around 3 inches or 80 millimetres. It is a native species to Hawaii. The species is able to survive in both saltwater to freshwater, which makes it capable of inhabiting the brackish water of the anchialine pools. This species is brown in colour and identifiable from other species due to having asymmetrical claws, with one claw being significantly larger than the other.

Tahitian Prawn (Macrobrachium lar)

It is easily identified due to being so large, with some specimens exceeding 7 inches or 180 millimetres. It possesses symmetrically long arms and large claws. It can be variable in colour being found in shades of brown, grey and blue. It is an invasive species in Hawaii and can inhabit both freshwater and saltwater, making it capable of surviving within the brackish waters of the anchialine pools. It is carnivorous, predatory and when fully grown dwarfs all of the anchialine shrimp species in Hawaii.

Image Copyright Attribution:

Introduction

During an exploration of Northwest Scotland, me and my brother found ourselves visiting The Bealach (Bealach na Ba) of Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands. Along winding roads through mountainous terrain and magnificent mountain views we found ourselves at the Bealach na Ba Viewpoint. This area had a carpark so we decided to park there and explore the nearby area to see what plants we could find. I was very keen to know what lived here as I've never had the opportunity to see alpine flora in the wild before. What I discovered was an interesting and diverse habitat, with equally diverse and interesting plant communities. The area consisted of moorland, littered with rocky terrain, bogs and ponds.

Dry Alpine Flora

The habitat consisted of acidic soil and rocky outcrops. There were many species of typical moorland plants such as: Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum). These species are quite typical on moorlands, however I felt they were still worthy of mentioning. I also found many other alpine plants within the habitat, many of which were located on the rockier areas where the ground possessed better drainage. Notable species include Dwarf Willow (Salix herbacea), Alpine Lady's-Mantle (Alchemilla alpina), Mountain Everlasting (Antennaria dioica) and Alpine Azalea (Kalmia procumbens). These species were common here, however became less common on the boggier areas. There were also other species in the dryer areas such as Woolly Fringe-Moss (Racomitrium lanuginosum), Urn Hair Moss (Pogonatum urnigerum) and the occasional Hard Fern (Struthiopteris spicant).

Bog Flora

Within the area there were also areas of bog, many of which were located around alpine pools. These areas were primarily dominated by grasses and bryophytes, with many colours and species of Sphagnum Moss being present. I saw various shades of green, orange and red. These sphagnum moss species formed extensive matts, which store water and ensure boggy conditions within the habitat. Between these patches of sphagnum moss I also found other species of bryophyte present such as Bog Haircap Moss (Polytrichum strictum), Stairstep Moss (Hylocomium splendens) and the unusual looking Purple Spoonwort (Pleurozia purpurea). The habitat also consisted of a lot of Deergrass (Trichophorum cespitosum), Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris), the occasional Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) and Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris). The rarest organisms I found in the bog were Alpine Clubmoss (Diphasiastrum alpinum), Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) and Fir Clubmoss (Huperzia selago).

Lichens and Fungi

Although these are not plants I'd still like to list them as I felt they were significant. I didn't see many lichens or fungi in this habitat, although I was mainly focusing on the plants. I did manage to find an interesting looking lichen that was nestled in some moss, which I believe to be Thorn Lichen (Cladonia uncialis). I also found what I believe to be Lichen Agaric (Lichenomphalia ericetorum), which was sprouting out from some sphagnum moss. My brother also found what he believes to be Bog Bell (Galerina paludosa).

Conclusion

The area near to the Bealach na Ba Viewpoint within the Applecross peninsula mountain range is clearly a very biodiverse habitat, which hosts both dry alpine and boggy conditions ensuring a diverse array of species can live there. Although I encountered many species, I can't help but feel there are far more species there than I had encountered in my exploration of the habitat. It was a fascinating and enjoyable experience to see so many plants that I have never seen before. I especially enjoyed exploring the sphagnum bog and feel I learnt a great deal from my time there. I don't know if I'll ever return to this place, but if I do I'll be sure to take far more photographs!

Introduction

I have been visiting the SSSI nature reserve known as Wetley Moor Common in Staffordshire to observe what species may be present there. The SSSI consists of both dry and wet lowland heath habitat, with wet heathland being quite rare. Wetley Moor Common makes up 10% of Staffordshire's heathlands. The site also possesses patches of improved grassland and woodland, however those are not the reasons for Wetley Moor Common's SSSI status.

With both dry and wet heathland being unusual habitats I decided to try and do some research into what species might live there. I strangely found very little information available online... I did some further research and learnt that back in 2023 the habitat was discovered to be within a "degraded" state, which means it requires correct habitat management to help restore it ecologically. Regardless, I thought it would be interesting to visit the site and record what species I could find there as there wasn't much information available online.

The Dry Heathland Flora

The dry heathland lies on coarse-grained sandstone and possesses sandy soil. This sandy soil provides good drainage and drier conditions for flora. I climbed a hill and saw some traditional heathland plant species present: mainly Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris), European Billberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and the occasional European Gorse (Ulex europaeus). The habitat also possessed a few spaced out English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), which was surprising. I had always seen bluebells in woodlands, but never anywhere else. I also noticed in certain places there was an extremely high amount of Bramble (Rubus sp.), which swamped a lot of the other heathland plants.

The Wet Heathland Flora

The wet heathland lies on coal measures and shale, which results in waterlogged peaty soil. It is also colonized by Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris) and European Billberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Due the habitats degraded state there is only a small amount of Sphagnum Moss (Sphagnum sp.) present, which grows under the shelter of a wooden bridge. I found some other wildflowers within the wetter soil conditions such as Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) and Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris). The wet heath also possesses many species of grass such as Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea), Hare's-Tail Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) and Wavy Hair-Grass (Avenella flexuosa). I encountered many other grass species, but I'm not good at grass ID so I didn't record them.

Beetles

When I first entered the reserve I quickly noticed the remarkable array of beetles present. Just at the entrance where the improved grassland, forest and heathland meet, I managed to find many species nestled within the bramble and grasses. One of the most noteworthy and numerous I encountered was the 7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata), which has a very strong foothold in this habitat. There was simply so many 7-Spot ladybirds that I stopped photographing them after a while. I did encounter the occasional invasive Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis), however they were nowhere near as prominent. I must have easily found over thirty 7-spot Ladybirds, but I found only two Harlequin Ladybirds. A few more beetle species I found include the: Tortoise Beetle (Cassida vibex), Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni), Hawthorn Leaf Beetle (Lochmaea crataegi) and Paradromius linearis.

Butterflies and Moths

Butterflies I spotted on my exploration of the habitat included various Orange-tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) and a single Green-veined White butterfly (Pieris napi). Both species of butterfly utilize the cuckoo flower as a host plant for their caterpillars. I had seen a lot of cuckoo flower growing in the wet heathland so there was plenty of habitat for them to lay their eggs. I also spotted a Speckled Wood Butterfly (Pararge aegeria) and a swarm of Green longhorn Moths (Adela reaumurella). The Green longhorn Moths were swarming around a juvenile Oak Tree and quickly retreated out of range of my camera after I took a single photograph.

Other Bugs

Within the habitat there were dozens of other insects present. Of the species I did manage to identify I encountered multiple Arched Spearhorn Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum arcuatum), which are commonly associated with heathlands and moors. I also encountered Black-striped Cranefly (Tipula vernalis), which has a preference for the marshy habitat provided by the wet heathland. The Gorse Shield Bug (Piezodorus lituratus) was also found in close proximity to a Gorse bush.

Birds

During my exploration I encountered Eurasian Jackdaws (Corvus monedula), Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) and a Robin (Erithacus rubecula). These birds were generally very shy and fled when I approached to get into range to photograph them. I did not focus much of my time on the birds present, however I've heard that the reserve supports various other species such as Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), Linnet (Linaria cannabina), Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis), Whitethroat (Curruca communis) and Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia).

Conclusion

In conclusion I really enjoyed visiting the Wetley Moor Common SSSI. When I read that the habitat was in a "degraded state" I assumed that perhaps there wouldn't be many species there to observe, but that was not the case. I got to see a lot of interesting plants and invertebrates that I have never seen before. I also feel as though I have a better understanding of the habitat in general now. Reading about it was one thing, but actually going out there and seeing it for myself was another entirely. I plan to visit again sometime as I'm sure there is even more interesting species there that I've yet to observe. Speaking of interesting... I also found my first Dandelion (Taraxacum sp.) exhibiting fasciation right by the nature reserve car park.