List of critically endangered arthropods facts for kids

Critically endangered (CR) species face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

As of July 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed 394 critically endangered arthropod species, including 86 which are tagged as possibly extinct. 4.1% of all evaluated arthropod species are listed as critically endangered. The IUCN also lists three arthropod subspecies as critically endangered.

No subpopulations of arthropods have been evaluated by the IUCN.

Additionally 2875 arthropod species (30% of those evaluated) are listed as data deficient, meaning there is insufficient information for a full assessment of conservation status. As these species typically have small distributions and/or populations, they are intrinsically likely to be threatened, according to the IUCN. While the category of data deficient indicates that no assessment of extinction risk has been made for the taxa, the IUCN notes that it may be appropriate to give them "the same degree of attention as threatened taxa, at least until their status can be assessed".

This is a complete list of critically endangered arthropod species and subspecies as evaluated by the IUCN. Species considered possibly extinct by the IUCN are marked as such.

Centipedes

Ityphilus melanostigmus
Mecistocephalus cyclops (possibly extinct)
Mecistocephalus sechellarum (possibly extinct)

Seed shrimps

Kapcypridopsis barnardi
Spelaeoecia bermudensis

Arachnids

There are 47 arachnid species assessed as critically endangered.

Harvestmen

Seychelles blind harvestman (Benoitinus elegans)
Biantes parvulus (possibly extinct)
Holozoster ovalis (possibly extinct)
Ibalonius lomani (possibly extinct)
Mitraceras crassipalpum (possibly extinct)
Sitalcicus incertus (possibly extinct)

Spiders

Anapistula ataecina
Andasta siltte
Apolania segmentata
Ariadna ustulata
Conothele truncicola
Euso muehlenbergi (possibly extinct)
Farqua quadrimaculata
Gamasomorpha austera (possibly extinct)
Hasarius mahensis
Desertas wolf spider (Hogna ingens)
Hybosida dauban
Hybosida lucida
Idioctis intertidalis (possibly extinct)
Ischnothyrella jivani
Lionneta gerlachi
Kanthan cave trapdoor spider (Liphistius kanthan)
Microdrassus inaudax
Moneta coercervea (possibly extinct)
Nesiergus gardineri (possibly extinct)
Nesiergus halophilus (possibly extinct)
Horrid ground-weaver (Nothophantes horridus)
Opopaea probosciella
Opopaea suspecta
Orchestina maureen
Paccius quadridentatus (possibly extinct)
Napoleon jumping spider (Paraheliophanus napoleon)
Patu silho
Rameshwaram ornamental (Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica)
Peacock tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica)
Prodida stella
Sesato setosa
Seychellia lodoiceae (possibly extinct)
Spermophorides lascars
Steriphopus lacertosus (possibly extinct)
Voraptus tenellus (possibly extinct)
Zoma zoma

Other arachnid species

Afrogarypus seychellesensis (possibly extinct)
Silhouette giant mite (Dicrogonatus niger)
Seychelles forest scorpion (Lychas braueri)
Mahezomus apicoporus
Saaristo's giant mite (Michaelothyrus seychellensis)

Branchiopoda

Branchinecta belki
Branchinecta mexicana
Stone mountain fairy shrimp (Branchinella lithaca)
Streptocephalus gracilis
Streptocephalus moorei

Millipedes

Diglossosternoides curiosus (possibly extinct)
Major black millipede (Doratogonus major)
Eostemmiulus caecus
Eucarlia mauriesi
Rhinotus albifrons (possibly extinct)
Sechelleptus unilineatus
Spirobolellus simplex (possibly extinct)

Entognatha

Ceratophysella sp. nov. 'HC' (possibly extinct)
Delamarephorura tami (possibly extinct)

Maxillopoda

Includes barnacles, copepods and a number of related animals.

Antrisocopia prehensilis
Erebonectes nesioticus
Nanocopia minuta
Paracyclopia naessi
Speleoithona bermudensis
Speleophria bivexilla
Speleophria scottodicarloi

Malacostracans

Malacostraca includes crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, woodlice, and many others. There are 125 malacostracan species and one malacostracan subspecies assessed as critically endangered.

Mysida

Bermudamysis speluncola
Sterrer's cave mysid (Platyops sterreri)

Mictaceans

Mictocaris halope

Isopods

Atlantasellus cavernicolus
Bermudalana aruboides
Curassanthura bermudensis
Spiky yellow woodlouse (Pseudolaureola atlantica)
Thermosphaeroma cavicauda
Thermosphaeroma dugesi
Thermosphaeroma macrura
Thermosphaeroma smithi

Amphipods

Aquadulcaris pheronyx
Dandenong freshwater amphipod (Austrogammarus australis)
Bogidiella bermudensis
Cocoharpinia iliffei
Noel's amphipod (Gammarus desperatus)
Idunella sketi
Ingolfiella longipes
Pseudoniphargus grandimanus

Decapods

There are 106 decapod species and one decapod subspecies assessed as critically endangered.

Parastacids

Cherax leckii
Hairy marron (Cherax tenuimanus)
Central north burrowing crayfish (Engaeus granulatus)
Mallacoota burrowing crayfish (Engaeus mallacoota)
Scottsdale burrowing crayfish (Engaeus spinicaudatus)
Warragul burrowing crayfish (Engaeus sternalis)
Margaret river burrowing crayfish (Engaewa pseudoreducta)
Euastacus bindal
Euastacus dalagarbe
Fitzroy falls crayfish (Euastacus dharawalus)
Euastacus eungella
Euastacus gamilaroi
Euastacus girurmulayn
Euastacus guruhgi
Euastacus guwinus
Euastacus jagabar
Euastacus jagara
Euastacus maidae
Ochre-bellied crayfish (Euastacus mirangudjin)
Euastacus monteithorum
Euastacus robertsi
Euastacus setosus
Euastacus yigara
Ombrastacoides denisoni
Ombrastacoides parvicaudatus

Gecarcinucids

Ceylonthelphusa callista
Ceylonthelphusa durrelli
Ceylonthelphusa kotagama
Ceylonthelphusa nana
Ceylonthelphusa nata
Ceylonthelphusa orthos
Ceylonthelphusa sanguinea
Ceylonthelphusa savitriae
Clinothelphusa kakoota
Mahatha helaya
Mahatha iora
Mahatha lacuna
Mahatha regina
Oziothelphusa intuta
Oziothelphusa kodagoda
Swamp forest crab (Parathelphusa reticulata)
Perbrinckia cracens
Perbrinckia enodis
Perbrinckia fido
Perbrinckia gabadagei (possibly extinct)
Perbrinckia glabra
Perbrinckia morayensis
Perbrinckia punctata
Perbrinckia quadratus
Perbrinckia rosae
Perbrinckia scitula
Phricotelphusa hockpingi

Atyids

Atya brachyrhinus (possibly extinct)
Caridina apodosis (possibly extinct)
Caridina linduensis
Caridina subventralis
Caridina tumida
Caridina yilong (possibly extinct)
Edoneus atheatus
Lancaris kumariae
Paratya norfolkensis
Sinodina acutipoda (possibly extinct)
Typhlatya iliffei

Cambarids

Species

Cambarellus areolatus (possibly extinct)
Cambarellus prolixus
Benton County cave crayfish (Cambarus aculabrum)
Lacon exit cave crayfish (Cambarus laconensis)
Obey crayfish (Cambarus obeyensis)
Delaware County cave crayfish (Cambarus subterraneus)
Oklahoma cave crayfish (Cambarus tartarus)
White spring cave crayfish (Cambarus veitchorum) (possibly extinct)
Hell creek cave crayfish (Cambarus zophonastes)
Hatchie burrowing crayfish (Fallicambarus hortoni)
Shelta cave crayfish (Orconectes sheltae)
Silver Glen springs cave crayfish (Procambarus attiguus)
Procambarus catemacoensis
Big-cheeked cave crayfish (Procambarus delicatus) (possibly extinct)
Caddo chimney crayfish (Procambarus machardyi)
Putnam County cave crayfish (Procambarus morrisi)
Procambarus ortmannii
Procambarus paradoxus (possibly extinct)
Procambarus regiomontanus

Subspecies

Procambarus rogersi expletus

Palaemonids

Cryphiops brasiliensis
Cryphiops luscus (possibly extinct)
Leptopalaemon glabrus
Macrobrachium denticulatum (possibly extinct)
Macrobrachium oxyphilus (possibly extinct)
Macrobrachium purpureamanus (possibly extinct)
Macrobrachium scorteccii (possibly extinct)
Florida cave shrimp (Palaemonetes cummingi) (possibly extinct)
Palaemonetes lindsayi
Palaemonetes mesopotamicus
Palaemonetes mexicanus

Other decapod species

Barbouria cubensis
Orchid Island crab (Geothelphusa lanyu)
Green crab (Geothelphusa lutao)
Singapore freshwater crab (Johora singaporensis)
Karstama balicum
Karstama emdi
Grandbassa river crab (Liberonautes grandbassa)
Lugbe river crab (Liberonautes lugbe)
Placid crayfish (Pacifastacus fortis)
Procaris chacei
Somersiella sterreri
Strengeriana antioquensis (possibly extinct)
Tehuana veracruzana (possibly extinct)

Insects

There are 195 insect species and two insect subspecies assessed as critically endangered.

Blattodea

Balta crassivenosa (possibly extinct)
Desroches cockroach (Delosia ornata)
Holocompsa pusilla (possibly extinct)
Hololeptoblatta pandanicola
Sliferia similis (possibly extinct)
Theganopteryx grisea (possibly extinct)
Theganopteryx liturata (possibly extinct)
Theganopteryx scotti (possibly extinct)

Orthoptera

There are 72 species in the order Orthoptera assessed as critically endangered.

Euschmidtiids

Morogoro monkey grasshopper (Chromomastax movogovodia) (possibly extinct)
Mlingano monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia bidens) (possibly extinct)
Burtt's monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia burtti) (possibly extinct)
Dirsh's monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia dirshi) (possibly extinct)
Phipps' monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia phippsi) (possibly extinct)
Usambara monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia uvarovi)
Dar-es-salaam monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia viridifasciata) (possibly extinct)

Crickets

Gryllapterus tomentosus
Metioche payendeei
Metioche superbus
Mahé boulder cricket (Phalangacris alluaudi)
Seychellesia nitidula

Acridids

Zanzibar giant forest grasshopper (Allaga ambigua) (possibly extinct)
Usambara splendid grasshopper (Anischnansis burtti) (possibly extinct)
Uluguru forest grasshopper (Burttia sylvatica)
Adana grasshopper (Chorthippus antecessor)
Bozdagh grasshopper (Chorthippus bozdaghi)
Ilgaz mountain grasshopper (Chorthippus ilkazi)
Epirus dancing grasshopper (Chorthippus lacustris)
Uluguru mountain grasshopper (Cyphocerastis uluguruensis)
Maspalomas bow-legged grasshopper (Dericorys minutus) (possibly extinct)
Kilosa noble grasshopper (Eupropacris abbreviata) (possibly extinct)
Gastrimargus immaculatus
Myrmeleotettix ethicus
Triandafilia mountain grasshopper (Oropodisma lagrecai)
Willemse's mountain grasshopper (Oropodisma willemsei)
East Usambara speckled grasshopper (Physocrobylus tessa)
Schayera baiulus

Tettigoniids

Mount Coke false shieldback (Acilacris furcatus)
Kristin's false shieldback (Acilacris kristinae)
Santa Monica shieldback katydid (Aglaothorax longipennis)
Black-spotted false shieldback (Aroegas nigroornatus)
Pondo flat-necked shieldback (Arytropteris pondo)
Fer's marbled bush-cricket (Eupholidoptera feri)
Gran Canaria bush-cricket (Evergoderes cabrerai) (possibly extinct)
Hemisaga elongata
Middlekauf's shieldback katydid (Idiostatus middlekaufi)
Ixalodectes flectocercus
Nanodectes bulbicercus
Pachysaga strobila
Imperiled grass false shieldback (Paracilacris periclitatus)
Paradecolya briseferi
Giona Greek bush-cricket (Parnassiana gionica)
Menalon Greek bush-cricket (Parnassiana menalon)
Akarnanika Greek bush-cricket (Parnassiana nigromarginata)
Panaitoliko Greek bush-cricket (Parnassiana panaetolikon)
Parnassos Greek bush-cricket (Parnassiana parnassica)
Zulu ambush katydid (Peringueyella zulu) (possibly extinct)
Cyprian grey bush-cricket (Platycleis kibris)
Calbali bush-cricket (Psorodonotus ebneri)
Three-lobed bush-cricket (Rhacocleis trilobata) (possibly extinct)
Rodriguesiophisis spinifera
Sardinian grey bush-cricket (Sardoplatycleis galvagnii)
Arboreal seedpod shieldback (Thoracistus arboreus)
Peringuey's seedpod shieldback (Thoracistus peringueyi) (possibly extinct)
Transkei shieldback (Transkeidectes multidentis)

Other Orthoptera species

Morogoro pretty grasshopper (Acanthothericles bicoloripes) (possibly extinct)
Palma stick grasshopper (Acrostira euphorbiae)
Tenerife stick grasshopper (Acrostira tenerifae)
Arachnocephalus medvedevi
Castleton's flightless katydid (Austrodontura castletoni)
Cave katydid (Cedarbergeniana imperfecta)
Mpwapwa silent grasshopper (Chromousambilla burtti) (possibly extinct)
Seychelles crested groundhopper (Coptottigia cristata)
Duplessis' agile katydid (Griffiniana duplessisae)
Crau plain grasshopper (Prionotropis rhodanica)
Seychelles shortwinged groundhopper (Procytettix fusiformis) (possibly extinct)
Marais' lace-winged katydid (Pseudosaga maraisi)
Pyrgacris descampsi
Pyrgacris relictus
Torreya pygmy grasshopper (Tettigidea empedonepia)
San Torini cave-cricket (Troglophilus marinae)

Hymenoptera

Adetomyrma venatrix
Ammobates dusmeti
Andrena labiatula (possibly extinct)
Sri Lankan relict ant (Aneuretus simoni)
Rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis)
Franklin's bumblebee (Bombus franklini)
Bombus rubriventris (possibly extinct)
Suckley cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus suckleyi)
Variable cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus variabilis)
Megachile cypricola (possibly extinct)
Nomada siciliensis (possibly extinct)
Australian ant (Nothomyrmecia macrops)

Lepidoptera

Moths and butterflies

Marion's plume moth (Agdistis marionae)
Sri Lankan rose (Atrophaneura jophon)
Cotrell's daisy copper (Chrysoritis cotrelli)
Prairie sphinx moth (Euproserpinus wiesti)
Natterer's Longwing (Heliconius nattereri)
Lepidochrysops lotana
David's tiger (Parantica davidi)
Pieris wollastoni (possibly extinct)
Bolland's blue (Polyommatus bollandi)
Macedonian grayling (Pseudochazara cingovskii)
Sinai baton blue butterfly (Pseudophilotes sinaicus)

Beetles

Coral pink sand dunes tiger beetle (Cicindela albissima)
Colophon berrisfordi
Colophon cassoni
Colophon montisatris
Colophon primosi
Delta green ground beetle (Elaphrus viridis)
Glaphyra bassettii
Canterbury knobbled weevil (Hadramphus tuberculatus)
Edith's fungus weevil (Homoeodera edithia)
Click beetle-like fungus weevil (Homoeodera elateroides)
Greater fungus weevil (Homoeodera major)
Bark beetle-like fungus weevil (Homoeodera scolytoides)
Hydrotarsus compunctus
Meladema imbricata
American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)
Cromwell chafer beetle (Prodontria lewisi)
Propomacrus cypriacus
Thorectes coloni

Odonata

Includes dragonflies and damselflies.