List of data deficient arthropods facts for kids
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) keeps a special list of animals and plants that need our help. As of July 2016, they listed 2,875 types of arthropods as "data deficient." This means there isn't enough information about them to know if they are safe or in danger. About 30% of all arthropods that have been checked are in this category. The IUCN also lists 17 types of arthropod subspecies as data deficient.
What Does 'Data Deficient' Mean?
When an animal or plant is "data deficient," it means scientists don't have enough information to figure out if its population is growing, shrinking, or staying the same. They don't know if it's common or rare. It's like trying to solve a puzzle when you're missing too many pieces! This makes it hard to protect these creatures because we don't know what they need.
Why Are Arthropods Important?
Arthropods are a huge group of animals. They include insects, spiders, crabs, and many more. They are super important for our planet! They help pollinate plants, break down dead stuff, and are a food source for many other animals. When we don't know much about some arthropods, it's harder to make sure they can keep doing their important jobs in nature.
Types of Arthropods We Need to Learn More About
Many different kinds of arthropods are on the data deficient list. Here are some of the main groups:
Spiders and Their Relatives (Arachnids)
This group includes spiders, scorpions, and similar creatures. Some arachnids on the data deficient list are:
- Key gnaphosid spider (Cesonia irvingi)
- Torreya trap-door spider (Cyclocosmia torreya)
- Tooth Cave spider (Neoleptoneta myopica)
- Nelson cave spider (Spelungula cavernicola)
- Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion (Tartarocreagris texana)
Millipedes
Millipedes are long, segmented creatures with many legs. Several types of millipedes are also data deficient, including:
- Doratogonus bilobatus
- Doratogonus circulus
- Doratogonus liberatus
Crabs, Lobsters, and Shrimps (Malacostracans)
This is a very large group that includes many familiar sea and freshwater creatures. There are 1,130 malacostracan species and 17 subspecies that need more study.
Crayfish
Many types of crayfish are data deficient. These freshwater crustaceans are important parts of river and lake ecosystems. Examples include:
- Madagascar freshwater crayfish (Astacoides madagascarensis)
- Murray crayfish (Euastacus armatus)
- River crayfish from the south (Samastacus spinifrons)
- Bayou Bodcau crayfish (Bouchardina robisoni)
- Cypress crayfish (Cambarellus blacki)
- Zarigani (Cambaroides japonicus)
- Big sandy crayfish (Cambarus veteranus)
Crabs
Many freshwater crabs are also on the list, especially from families like Gecarcinucids, Potamonautids, and Potamids. These crabs live in rivers and streams around the world. Some examples are:
- Austrothelphusa insularis
- Holthuisana beauforti
- Kensley's river crab (Potamonautes kensleyi)
- Nigerian stream crab (Sudanonautes nigeria)
- Qiu Shi Ze crab (Geothelphusa chiui)
- To Lanze crab (Geothelphusa ilan)
Shrimps
Many freshwater shrimps, especially from the Atyidae and Palaemonidae families, are data deficient. These small shrimps play a key role in aquatic food webs. Some examples are:
- Atya abelei
- Caridina africana
- Caridina hainanensis
- Neocaridina heteropoda
- Macrobrachium andamanicum
- Macrobrachium johnsoni
Lobsters
Several types of lobsters, including spiny lobsters, true lobsters, and slipper lobsters, are also data deficient. These include:
- Juan Fernandez rock lobster (Jasus frontalis)
- Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus)
- Red lobster (Eunephrops bairdii)
- Cape lobster (Homarinus capensis)
- Japanese fan lobster (Ibacus ciliatus)
- Galápagos slipper lobster (Scyllarides astori)
- Striped reef lobster (Enoplometopus daumi)
Insects
Insects are the largest group of arthropods, and 1,702 insect species are data deficient. This means we have a lot to learn about them!
Grasshoppers and Crickets (Orthoptera)
About 50 species of grasshoppers and crickets are data deficient. These include:
- South-east African burrowing grasshopper (Acrotylus mossambicus)
- Piedmont banded grasshopper (Arcyptera alzonai)
- Kaikoura weta (Deinacrida parva)
- Prairie mole cricket (Gryllotalpa major)
Bees and Wasps (Hymenoptera)
A large number of bees and wasps (316 species) are data deficient. Bees are especially important as pollinators. Some examples are:
- Colletes dinizi
- Hylaeus alpinus
- Melitta iberica
- Ashton's cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus bohemicus)
- Great yellow bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus)
- Polar bumble bee (Bombus polaris)
- Tawny mining bee (Andrena fulva)
Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera)
There are 87 species of butterflies and moths on the data deficient list. These beautiful insects are also key pollinators. Some examples include:
- ʻOhe hedyleptan moth (Omiodes asaphombra)
- Laysan hedyleptan moth (Omiodes laysanensis)
- Mansfield's three-tailed swallowtail (Bhutanitis mansfieldi)
- African giant swallowtail (Papilio antimachus)
- Golden kaiserihind (Teinopalpus aureus)
- Mullin's copper (Aloeides mullini)
- Lebanese adonis blue (Polyommatus syriacus)
- Scarce fritillary (Euphydryas maturna)
- Spanish moon moth (Graellsia isabelae)
Beetles (Coleoptera)
Beetles are another huge group, with 377 species listed as data deficient. They play many roles, from breaking down dead wood to being predators. Some examples are:
- Allotrypes mandibularis
- Ceratophyus maghrebinicus
- Ampedus balcanicus
- Ampedus gallicus
- Triplax andreinii
- Triplax cyanescens
- Allogymnopleurus histrio
- Canthon brunnipennis
- Scarabaeus asceticus
Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)
There are 868 species of dragonflies and damselflies on the data deficient list. These amazing flying insects are important predators of other insects, like mosquitoes. Some examples include:
- Wall's shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta walli)
- Congo red jewel (Chlorocypha ghesquierei)
- Queensland pin (Eurysticta reevesi)
- Murray river hunter (Austrogomphus angelorum)
- Tamaulipan clubtail (Gomphus gonzalezi)
- Williamson's darner (Aeshna williamsoniana)
- Bromeliad dragonlet (Erythrodiplax bromeliicola)
- St. Helena darter (Sympetrum dilatatum)
- Montane relict damsel (Amphipteryx agrioides)
What's Next for Data Deficient Species?
For these data deficient arthropods, the most important step is to gather more information. Scientists need to study where they live, how many there are, and what threats they might face. Once we have enough data, we can then decide if they are truly endangered and what conservation actions are needed to protect them.
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