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Rare Florida Crayfish To Be Studied

Big-cheek cave crayfish live in the Ocala National Forest.
Robbie Gaffney
/
WFSU
Big-cheek cave crayfish live in the Ocala National Forest.
Big-cheek cave crayfish live in the Ocala National Forest.
Credit Robbie Gaffney / WFSU
/
WFSU
Big-cheek cave crayfish live in the Ocala National Forest.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is getting new funds to study endangered crayfish. Two rare species live in Florida.

Not many people have seen the big-cheeked cave crayfish. Its eyes look like pearls and its shell is bone-white. It swims in the dark waters of caves. Less than a dozen confirmed cases of the creature exist--which is why the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida wants to study the animal. The organization is giving $4,300 to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It will also fund a study of the Silver Glen Springs cave crayfish--another endangered species. The money comes from the purchase of a specialty license plate. It reads “Protect Florida Springs” and features a scuba diver. When someone buys the plate $25 dollars go to projects like helping the crayfish. 

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Robbie Gaffney is a recent graduate from Florida State University with degrees in Digital Media Production and Creative Writing. Before working at WFSU, they recorded FSU’s basketball and baseball games for Seminole Productions as well as interned for the PBS Station in Largo, Florida. Robbie loves playing video games such as Shadow of the Colossus, Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Their other hobbies include sleeping and watching anime.