Groundwater-dependent
Guides
Cambarus tartarus
Oklahoma Cave Crayfish
Cambarus tartarus is a critically endangered cave-dwelling crayfish endemic to two caves in Delaware County, Oklahoma. Described in 1972, this species has one of the most restricted ranges of any North American crayfish. The IUCN assessed it as Critically Endangered in 2010, noting an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future due to its tiny geographic range and vulnerability to groundwater contamination.
Cosumnoperla hypocrena
Cosumnes Spring Stonefly
Cosumnoperla hypocrena is a species of spring stonefly in the family Perlodidae, described from California in 1987. The genus Cosumnoperla contains species associated with spring-fed habitats. As a member of the subfamily Isoperlinae, it shares characteristics with other western North American perlodids. The specific epithet refers to the type locality near the Cosumnes River.
Heterelmis glabra
riffle beetle
Heterelmis glabra is a species of riffle beetle in the family Elmidae, found in Central America and North America. The largest known populations occur in springs associated with the upper Devils River in south-central Texas. As a spring-adapted organism, it has life-history patterns requiring surface habitat components, making it vulnerable to changes in spring flow. The species has been studied using N-mixture models to assess abundance and distribution across spring sources.
Somatochlora hineana
Hine's Emerald, Hine's Emerald Dragonfly
Somatochlora hineana is a rare dragonfly species endemic to North America, listed as endangered in Canada since 2011 and of conservation concern in the United States. The species is highly specialized, requiring groundwater discharge areas in wetland habitats to complete its life cycle. It exhibits habitat segregation between sexes and has been documented with biased sex ratios, factors that complicate conservation efforts. The Canadian population is restricted to the Minesing Wetlands in Ontario, while U.S. populations occur in Michigan and other states with suitable calcareous wetland habitats.