Stygoparnus is a monotypic genus[4] of beetles containing the single species Stygoparnus comalensis, which is known by the common name Comal Springs dryopid beetle. This rare beetle is endemic to Texas in the United States, where it is known from two springs. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.[2][3]
The Comal Springs dryopid beetle was first collected in 1987 and described as a new species in 1992. This beetle is 3 to 3.7 millimeters long. A subterranean species, it has vestigial eyes and faint pigmentation. It is the only known aquatic species in its family. It is known from Comal Springs in Comal County, and Fern Bank Springs in Hays County, Texas. Though it lives in springs, the beetle does not swim and perhaps lives in air pockets in the caves. Little is known about the life history of the beetle because the karst cave habitat is difficult to explore.[3]
The beetle lives in one spring which is fed by the Edwards Aquifer, and one spring that has an unknown water source. The Edwards Aquifer has long been tapped for its water, which is used for many purposes, such as irrigation. The primary threat to the species and other rare local endemic animals such as Peck's cave amphipod is the loss of the water source which feeds the springs.[5]
ReferencesEdit
^NatureServe (7 April 2023). "Stygoparnus comalensis". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
^ ab"Comal Springs dryopid beetle (Stygoparnus comalensis)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
^ abcUSFWS. Final rule to list three aquatic invertebrates in Comal and Hays Counties, TX, as endangered. Federal Register62(243):66295–66304. December 18, 1997. Accessed on 22 April 2023.
^USFWS. Designation of critical habitat for the Peck's Cave Amphipod, Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle, and Comal Springs Riffle Beetle; Final rule. Federal Register July 17, 2007.
External linksEdit
Stygoparnus comalensis. The Nature Conservancy.
Further readingEdit
Cheryl B. Barr & Paul J. Spangler (1992). "A new genus and species of stygobiontic dryopid beetle, Stygoparnus comalensis (Coleoptera: Dryopidae), from Comal Springs, Texas". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 105 (1): 40–54.
September 01, 2023
stygoparnus, monotypic, genus, beetles, containing, single, species, comalensis, which, known, common, name, comal, springs, dryopid, beetle, this, rare, beetle, endemic, texas, united, states, where, known, from, springs, federally, listed, endangered, specie. Stygoparnus is a monotypic genus 4 of beetles containing the single species Stygoparnus comalensis which is known by the common name Comal Springs dryopid beetle This rare beetle is endemic to Texas in the United States where it is known from two springs It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States 2 3 StygoparnusConservation statusCritically Imperiled NatureServe 1 Endangered ESA 2 3 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder ColeopteraSuperfamily ByrrhoideaFamily DryopidaeGenus StygoparnusBarr amp Spangler 1992Species S comalensisBinomial nameStygoparnus comalensisBarr amp Spangler 1992The Comal Springs dryopid beetle was first collected in 1987 and described as a new species in 1992 This beetle is 3 to 3 7 millimeters long A subterranean species it has vestigial eyes and faint pigmentation It is the only known aquatic species in its family It is known from Comal Springs in Comal County and Fern Bank Springs in Hays County Texas Though it lives in springs the beetle does not swim and perhaps lives in air pockets in the caves Little is known about the life history of the beetle because the karst cave habitat is difficult to explore 3 The beetle lives in one spring which is fed by the Edwards Aquifer and one spring that has an unknown water source The Edwards Aquifer has long been tapped for its water which is used for many purposes such as irrigation The primary threat to the species and other rare local endemic animals such as Peck s cave amphipod is the loss of the water source which feeds the springs 5 References Edit NatureServe 7 April 2023 Stygoparnus comalensis NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer Arlington Virginia NatureServe Retrieved 22 April 2023 a b Comal Springs dryopid beetle Stygoparnus comalensis Environmental Conservation Online System U S Fish amp Wildlife Service Retrieved 22 April 2023 a b c USFWS Final rule to list three aquatic invertebrates in Comal and Hays Counties TX as endangered Federal Register 62 243 66295 66304 December 18 1997 Accessed on 22 April 2023 Stygoparnus BugGuide net USFWS Designation of critical habitat for the Peck s Cave Amphipod Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle and Comal Springs Riffle Beetle Final rule Federal Register July 17 2007 External links EditStygoparnus comalensis The Nature Conservancy Further reading EditCheryl B Barr amp Paul J Spangler 1992 A new genus and species of stygobiontic dryopid beetle Stygoparnus comalensis Coleoptera Dryopidae from Comal Springs Texas Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 105 1 40 54 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stygoparnus amp oldid 1152580227, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
