Santa Fe Cave Crayfish are detritivores (as far as we know) which means they eat decomposed organic matter. Santa Fe Cave Crayfish live in groundwater areas in caves and sinkholes in southern Suwannee and southwestern Columbia counties in Florida. They are important because they are food for larger animals like opossums and racoons. They also filter and break down dead animals into smaller pieces.

Santa Fe Cave Crayfish: State Threatened

The Santa Fe Cave Crayfish is State (designated) Threatened species by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule. This is because of habitat degradation due to groundwater pollution from residential septic systems, trampling by trespassers and explorers in their caves, low reproductive rate, specimen collection, predation, and flooding.

How You Can Help the the Santa Fe Cave Crayfish

You can help by leaving cave systems alone and donating to charities that help protect their habitats.