Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 9, 2026

Shelta Cave

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.

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Shelta Cave
Shelta Cave
LocationHuntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Established1967
Governing bodyNational Speleological Society
Websitewww.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 (Orconectes sheltae) is endemic to the cave.4 The Alabama cave shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae) can also be found here and is its type locality.5

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.67

References

References

  1. NPS NNL Summary page
  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 December 12, 2008.
  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 March 5, 2013.
  5. Jeff Powell (August 29, 2006). "Alabama Cave Shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae). 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation" (PDF). United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  6. Dooley, Katherine E.; Niemiller, K. Denise Kendall; Sturm, Nathaniel; Niemiller, Matthew L. (May 20, 2022). "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" (PDF). Subterranean Biology. 43: 11–31. doi:10.3897/subtbiol.43.79993. ISSN 1314-2615.
  7. "Cave creature thought extinct for 30 years is rediscovered". For The Win. June 4, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
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