Cryphiops luscus
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Cryphiops luscus faces severe population declines primarily due to water extraction and dam construction along South American rivers, which disrupts the species' complex life cycle requiring both freshwater and brackish water environments. Overfishing and pollution from agricultural runoff have further degraded remaining populations, while climate change alters precipitation patterns critical for reproductive success.
Habitat
This freshwater shrimp inhabits rivers and streams along the Pacific coast of South America, requiring access to both freshwater breeding areas and brackish estuarine waters for larval development. The species depends on clean, well-oxygenated waters with rocky substrates and adequate flow regimes.
