Chaetocorophium facts for kids

Chaetocorophium lucasi is a tiny creature that lives in water. It's a type of amphipod, which is a small crustacean. Think of it like a tiny shrimp! This special animal is the only known species in its group, called a monotypic genus named Chaetocorophium.

Meet Chaetocorophium lucasi

Chaetocorophium lucasi belongs to a family of amphipods called Corophiidae. Scientists who study these creatures have noticed that Chaetocorophium is very similar to another group called Paracorophium. Some researchers even think they might be so alike that they should be considered the same group! This is called synonymising in science.

Where C. lucasi Lives

This amazing little amphipod is endemic to New Zealand. This means you can only find it naturally in New Zealand and nowhere else in the world!

It lives in a few specific places:

• In the North Island, you can find it in lakes like Lake Rotorua, Lake Waikare, and Lake Rotoiti.
• It also lives near coastal towns like Whakatane, Raglan, Waitara, and Wanganui.
• Across the South Island, C. lucasi can be found in many lakes and also in muddy areas near the coast, called intertidal mudflats.

How it Lives and Its Status

C. lucasi is an epigean species. This means it lives on the surface of the water or the mud, rather than burrowing deep underground.

In 2002, New Zealand had a special list called the New Zealand Threat Classification System. This list helps keep track of how many animals are left and if they are in danger. C. lucasi was listed as "Sparse" for freshwater invertebrates. "Sparse" means that while it's not super common, it's not in immediate danger of disappearing completely. It just means there aren't huge numbers of them, and they are found in specific, scattered locations.