Shelta Cave
Shelta Cave
Map showing the location of Shelta Cave
Map showing the location of Shelta Cave
Map of Alabama
LocationHuntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Coordinates34°45′13″N 86°36′38″W / 34.75364°N 86.61043°W / 34.75364; -86.61043
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Established1967
Governing bodyNational Speleological Society
www.caves.org/preserves/scp/shelta.html
DesignatedOctober 1972

Shelta Cave is a 2,500-foot-long (760 m) cave and lake located in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama, United States. It is described as one of the most bio-diverse caves within the Appalachian Mountains. The cave is currently owned and managed as a nature preserve by the National Speleological Society, with their main offices directly above the cave. It was declared a National Natural Landmark in October 1972.[1]

History

This cave was an underground bar and dance hall in the early 1900s.[2]

Speleology and wildlife

The cave is open to members of the NSS during certain times of the year to minimize the impact on the biome. There are now three sinkhole entrances. The lake can be as large as 7 acres (2.8 ha) during the winter and early spring rainy season. Other times of the year, the lake bed is exposed.[2]

There are nine species which were first discovered in this cave.[3] The Shelta Cave crayfish is endemic to the cave.[4]

Rediscovery

In May 2022, biologists led by Dr. Matthew L. Niemiller reported the rediscovery of the Shelta Cave crayfish (Orconectes sheltae) at Shelta Cave for the first time since 1988. They announced that 20 cave crayfish were discovered during 12 of 20 surveys between October 2018 and July 2021. Two of them were identified as Orconectes sheltae. The study demonstrated that the species is not yet extinct as past authors had assumed.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ NPS NNL Summary page
  2. 1 2 Duncan, Andy (2005). Alabama Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff. Globe Pequot. pp. 147–148. ISBN 978-0-7627-3088-9. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
  3. ↑ NSS Shelta page Archived 2007-02-10 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Schuster, G.A.; Taylor, C.A. & Cordeiro, J. (2010). "Orconectes sheltae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T153962A4569540. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T153962A4569540.en. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  5. ↑ Dooley, Katherine E.; Niemiller, K. Denise Kendall; Sturm, Nathaniel; Niemiller, Matthew L. (2022-05-20). "Rediscovery and phylogenetic analysis of the Shelta Cave Crayfish (Orconectes sheltae Cooper & Cooper, 1997), a decapod (Decapoda, Cambaridae) endemic to Shelta Cave in northern Alabama, USA". Subterranean Biology. 43: 11–31. doi:10.3897/subtbiol.43.79993. ISSN 1314-2615.
  6. ↑ "Cave creature thought extinct for 30 years is rediscovered". For The Win. 2022-06-04. Retrieved 2022-08-13.


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