Microhabitat-specialist

Guides

Anurida
Anurida is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Neanuridae, established in 1865 by Laboulbène. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution with species occupying diverse habitats including intertidal marine zones, river floodplains, riparian areas, and forest ecosystems. Well-studied species include the intertidal specialist Anurida maritima, which exhibits complex tidal-entrained behaviors, and the terrestrial A. granaria, which has documented mycophagous associations. The genus shows notable morphological diversity in chaetotaxy and eye reduction, with some species groups exhibiting cryptic genetic divergence despite morphological similarity.
Collembola springtails intertidal tidal-behavior cryptic-species endosymbionts Wolbachia Spiroplasma diapause univoltine mycophagy chaetotaxy Neanuridae cosmopolitan-distribution circatidal-rhythm egg-diapause salt-marsh river-floodplain riparian-zone forest-habitat Beringian-fauna genetic-divergence-without-morphological-change tidal-entrainment aggregation-behavior sexual-dimorphism-in-foraging starvation-mortality holometabolous-like-development setal-reduction ocelli-reduction hammerae-group Anurida-maritima-species-group Laboulbène-1865 Poduromorpha Neanurinae Pseudachorutinae terrestrial marine-intertidal freshwater-riparian nutrient-cycling organic-matter-decomposition fungal-dispersal apothecia-feeding clay-wall-nests air-filled-cavities tidal-refuge weather-dependent-activity temperature-dependent-diapause-termination mitochondrial-genome-divergence ancient-circatidal-behavior cytoplasmic-incompatibility male-killing Type-V-cif-genes genome-wide-differentiation Pool-seq-phylogenomics Holarctic-distribution temperate-zone-adaptation overwintering-eggs autumn-mortality physiological-stress foraging-efficiency low-temperature-limitation tidal-inundation-response behavioral-synchronization nest-construction sexual-reproduction colonial-aggregation fungal-association Peziza-arvernensis riverina granaria octoculata hirsuta elegans reducta narli bisetosa Vladivostok-Botanical-Garden Primorsky-Krai Poland Southern-Brazil North-western-Europe United-Kingdom The-Netherlands Andean Arctic Sub-arctic Cape Caribbean Central-Australia coniferous-broadleaved-forest protected-forest vertical-clay-walls creek-walls salt-marsh-foraging marsh-wandering nest-marsh-exchange molting-refuge egg-deposition-sites sexually-mature-aggregation hibernating-eggs spring-hatching summer-egg-laying autumn-diapause-termination winter-development-suppression adult-death starvation-risk glycogen-depletion lipid-depletion body-size-decline sluggishness-at-low-temperature limited-low-water-period temperate-survival-strategy cosmopolitan-species-with-local-adaptation genetic-crosses-needed sex-ratio-studies-needed endosymbiont-effects-unknown reproductive-manipulation-potential selfish-genetic-elements maternal-inheritance phylogenomic-analysis single-copy-orthologous-genes nuclear-genome-divergence mitochondrial-lineage-association species-group-concept morphological-stasis evolutionary-divergence systematic-revision-needed tribe-validity Neanurinae-subdivision Pseudachorutinae-placement higher-rank-taxonomy-match GBIF-records iNaturalist-observations Catalogue-of-Life-acceptance NCBI-taxonomy Entognatha Hexapoda Eukaryota Metazoa Animalia Arthropoda springtail-biodiversity soil-mesofauna intertidal-invertebrate marine-terrestrial-transition-zone estuarine-ecology tidal-flat-ecology floodplain-ecology riparian-ecology forest-floor-ecology mycophagous-collembolan fungal-feeding-springtail nutrient-cycler decomposer detritivore organic-matter-processor ecosystem-engineer-(nest-construction)microhabitat-specialist habitat-partition sexual-dimorphism behavioral-plasticity environmental-cue-response phototaxis-modification thermotaxis-response hydrotaxis-response aggregation-pheromone-(inferred)social-behavior-(colonial)reproductive-behavior courtship oviposition-site-selection egg-guarding-(absent)diapause-evolution life-history-strategy univoltinism semelparity-(effective)annual-life-cycle seasonal-polyphenism-(absent)developmental-arrest cold-requirement-for-development temperature-threshold 5°C-diapause-termination spring-warming-trigger phenology population-dynamics demography mortality-factor starvation environmental-stress climate-sensitivity habitat-specificity endemism-(some-species)cryptic-biodiversity molecular-taxonomy integrative-taxonomy phylogeography population-genetics genomic-resources Wolbachia-genome Spiroplasma-genome bacterial-endosymbiosis host-microbe-interaction reproductive-parasitism mutualism-(unknown)commensalism-(unknown)symbiont-phylogeny horizontal-gene-transfer-(absent-in-data)prophage-genes cif-gene-evolution Type-V-clade male-killing-gene-absence CI-gene-presence wmk-gene-presence SpAID-absence bacterial-genome-reduction-(inferred)host-adaptation coevolution symbiont-sharing-between-host-lineages genetic-divergence-with-symbiont-sharing speciation-mechanism reproductive-isolation cytoplasmic-incompatibility-as-speciation-driver-(unlikely-given-identical-cif-sequences)alternative-speciation-mechanisms ecological-speciation behavioral-isolation habitat-isolation temporal-isolation geographic-isolation allopatric-divergence parapatric-divergence sympatric-divergence-(possible)cryptic-species-identification-challenge morphological-taxonomy-limitations molecular-systematics-necessity DNA-barcoding genome-skimming Pool-seq phylogenomic-inference species-delimitation integrative-species-concept operational-taxonomic-unit evolutionary-significant-unit conservation-unit biodiversity-assessment faunistics biogeography dispersal-ability passive-dispersal active-dispersal habitat-fidelity site-fidelity nest-fidelity philopatry-(inferred)population-structure gene-flow genetic-differentiation isolation-by-distance isolation-by-environment local-adaptation phenotypic-plasticity genetic-accommodation evolutionary-developmental-biology evo-devo setal-development sensory-organ-development eye-reduction-evolution cave-adaptation-(absent)soil-adaptation intertidal-adaptation desiccation-resistance-(inferred)salinity-tolerance hypoxia-tolerance-(inferred)nest-air-pocket-maintenance respiratory-adaptation cuticular-waterproofing-(inferred)osmoregulation ion-regulation excretory-system Malpighian-tubules-(standard)labial-glands digestive-system midgut hindgut feeding-apparatus maxilla mandible labrum epipharynx hypopharynx mouthparts-entognathous head-capsule antennae segment-number segment-fusion thorax abdomen furca-(absent-in-some-Neanuridae)tenaculum collophore ventral-tube reticulate-pattern pigmentation coloration size-variation body-shape cylindrical-body setal-arrangement macrosetae microsetae sensory-setae mechanoreceptors chemoreceptors hygroreceptors thermoreceptors photoreceptors ocelli-structure eye-number-reduction eye-complete-loss-(some-species)pigment-loss cuticular-granulation cuticular-tubercles cuticular-scales body-sclerotization intersegmental-membranes appendage-structure leg-segmentation claw-structure unguiculus tenent-hair empodial-appendage tibiotarsus femur trochanter coxa subcoxa abdominal-segmentation tergite-structure sternite-structure pleurite-structure tergal-chaetotaxy sternal-chaetotaxy pleural-chaetotaxy axial-setae paraxial-setae marginal-setae p-row-setae a-row-setae m-row-setae setal-formula setal-nomenclature Fjellberg-system Gisin-system taxonomic-stability nomenclatural-acts type-species type-locality type-specimen original-description subsequent-redescriptions faunal-revisions catalogues checklists databases GBIF iNaturalist NCBI BOLD COL ITIS Encyclopedia-of-Life Wikipedia primary-literature taxonomic-literature ecological-literature physiological-literature genomic-literature symbiont-literature behavioral-literature entomology acarology soil-zoology marine-biology intertidal-ecology estuarine-science limnology freshwater-biology terrestrial-ecology forest-ecology fungal-ecology microbial-ecology symbiosis-research evolutionary-biology population-biology conservation-biology biodiversity-science systematics phylogenetics paleontology-(absent)fossil-record-(absent)amber-inclusion-(possible-but-unreported)subfossil-(absent)quaternary-record-(absent)historical-ecology anthropogenic-impact pollution-sensitivity bioindicator-potential conservation-status-(unevaluated)IUCN-Red-List-(absent)habitat-protection-needs protected-area-occurrence invasive-potential-(low)agricultural-pest-(absent)household-pest-(absent)economic-importance-(minimal)scientific-importance-(high)model-organism-potential teaching-organism research-subject biodiversity-component ecosystem-service-provider cultural-significance-(absent)traditional-knowledge-(absent)indigenous-knowledge-(absent)vernacular-names-(absent)etymology Anurida-(etymology-unknown,-possibly-Greek-'an-'-without-+-'oura'-tail,-referring-to-reduced-furca)Laboulbène 1865 historical-taxonomy classical-taxonomy modern-taxonomy future-research-needs taxonomic-revision phylogenetic-analysis population-genomic-study functional-genomic-study developmental-study physiological-study behavioral-study ecological-study symbiont-study conservation-study
Caccoplectus
Caccoplectus is a genus of myrmecophilous (ant-loving) rove beetles in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. The genus was established by Sharp in 1887 and contains approximately nine described species. These beetles are associated with ant colonies, a common ecological strategy among pselaphine beetles. Most species have been described from the Neotropical region, particularly Central America.
myrmecophile ant-associated pselaphine rove-beetle Neotropical Staphylinidae Pselaphinae Arhytodini tropical ant-colony-inhabitant inquiline microhabitat-specialist leaf-litter soil-dwelling cryptic rarely-collected small-beetle morphologically-specialized 1887-description Sharp Central-America Panama Coleoptera Polyphaga Staphyliniformia Staphylinoidea Pselaphitae genus-level nine-species conicus degallieri lucidus nuttingi pectinatus schwarzi sentis spinipes sucineas spine-legged-pselaphid Chandler Wolda Schaeffer 1906 1976 1986 type-species-unknown rarely-observed iNaturalist:-2-observations Catalogue-of-Life-accepted GBIF-accepted NCBI-accepted Eukaryota Metazoa Hexapoda Insecta Arthropoda Animalia beetle insect arthropod animal
Cicindela oregona
Western Tiger Beetle
Cicindela oregona, commonly known as the Western Tiger Beetle, is a North American tiger beetle species found from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast and north into Alaska. It is closely related to C. duodecimguttata (Twelve-spotted Tiger Beetle), with which it forms a hybrid zone along the Front Range of the Rockies. The species exhibits distinctive microhabitat segregation with co-occurring tiger beetles, preferring moist stream edge habitats and showing physiological adaptations for foraging in wet conditions at temperatures between 25-38°C.
tiger-beetle riparian predator western-North-America microhabitat-specialist thermoregulation running-hunter
Cicindela willistoni echo
Echo Tiger Beetle
Cicindela willistoni echo is a subspecies of tiger beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the Echo Tiger Beetle. It is found in saline habitats of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Larvae construct distinctive turreted burrows on barren saline flats, a feature shared with other subspecies of C. willistoni. The subspecies exhibits strong habitat fidelity for specific moisture and salinity conditions within salt flat environments.
tiger-beetle saline-habitat burrowing-insect turreted-burrow microhabitat-specialist
Cicindela willistoni estancia
Torrance Tiger Beetle
Cicindela willistoni estancia is a subspecies of tiger beetle known from salt lake habitats in New Mexico. It was described by Rumpp in 1962 and is commonly called the Torrance Tiger Beetle. The subspecies shows a strong preference for the water's edge in salt flat environments, representing a distinct microhabitat specialization that reduces competition with sympatric tiger beetle species. Adult emergence is triggered by summer monsoonal rains, restricting activity to a relatively short post-monsoonal period.
tiger-beetle salt-flat microhabitat-specialist monsoon-dependent New-Mexico-endemic
Clypastraea ornata
minute hooded beetle, minute fungus beetle
Clypastraea ornata is a minute beetle in the family Corylophidae, commonly known as minute hooded beetles or minute fungus beetles. Adults measure approximately 2 millimeters in length. The genus Clypastraea is characterized by a pronotum with a shelf-like projection that conceals the head. This species is found in association with fungi and mold in rotting wood and under bark on dead trees. It is one of 61 species in ten genera of Corylophidae recorded north of Mexico.
fungivore saproxylic cryptic microhabitat-specialist
Copestylum florida
Florida bromeliad fly
Copestylum florida is a syrphid fly species commonly known as the Florida bromeliad fly. It belongs to the genus Copestylum, a group of flies associated with bromeliad plants. The species has been documented in Florida and the Carolinas.
Syrphidae Diptera bromeliad-associated Florida-endemic North-Carolina South-Carolina epiphytic-plants microhabitat-specialist
Hypochilus coylei
lampshade weaver
Hypochilus coylei is a lampshade spider described by Platnick in 1987 from the southern Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It belongs to a relictual genus of microhabitat specialists with disjunct distributions across three North American montane regions. The species is sister to H. thorelli and exhibits extreme genetic divergence coupled with morphological stasis, characteristic of short-range endemic taxa with limited dispersal ability.
endemic montane microhabitat-specialist relictual conservation-concern
Hypochilus pococki
Pocock's lampshade-web spider
Hypochilus pococki is a relictual lampshade spider endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains. It belongs to a paleoendemic genus distributed disjunctly across three montane regions in North America. The species exhibits extreme genetic divergence over small geographic distances, with five identified mitochondrial haplogroups, yet shows striking morphological stasis in male reproductive structures. As a microhabitat specialist, it has extremely low dispersal ability, leading to pronounced population genetic structuring.
paleoendemic montane microhabitat-specialist genetic-structuring morphological-stasis conservation-concern
Latridiidae
minute brown scavenger beetles, fungus beetles
Latridiidae is a cosmopolitan family of minute beetles containing approximately 1,050 described species in 29 genera, though true diversity is likely much higher. Adults range from 1.2 to 2 mm in length and are uniformly brown to black in coloration. The family is divided into two subfamilies: Latridiinae (glabrous, heavily sculptured dorsal surface, smooth pronotal margin) and Corticariinae (finely pubescent, lightly sculptured, serrate pronotal margin). Both adults and larvae are obligate mycetophages, feeding exclusively on fungal hyphae and spores.
mycetophagous cryptic saproxylic synanthropic microhabitat-specialist
Leptonetidae
cave spiders
Leptonetidae is a family of small, primitive haplogyne spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1890. The family comprises approximately 22 genera and 400 species, though taxonomic boundaries have been revised recently with elevation of Archoleptonetinae to family rank (Archoleptonetidae). Leptonetids are characterized by their small size (2-5 mm), reduced eye number, and adaptation to dark, moist microhabitats. They represent a relict fauna with origins dating to the Cretaceous period and exhibit complex biogeographic patterns across the Holarctic.
cave-dwelling haplogyne relict-fauna cryptic-diversity microhabitat-specialist short-range-endemic
Psyllipsocus decoratus
A small barklouse species in the family Psyllipsocidae, described by Mockford in 2011. Members of this genus are typically found in sheltered microhabitats and are characterized by reduced or absent wings. The species name "decoratus" suggests distinctive ornamental or patterned features.
barklouse psocid psyllipsocid wingless cave-associated microhabitat-specialist
Rhyopsocus
bird nest barklice
Rhyopsocus is a genus of barklice in the family Psoquillidae, commonly referred to as bird nest barklice. The genus contains more than 20 described species. These insects are associated with bird nests, where they feed on organic debris. They are small, soft-bodied insects typical of the order Psocodea.
barklice bird-nest-associate decomposer microhabitat-specialist
Temnothorax texanus
Texas Acorn Ant
Temnothorax texanus is a species of acorn ant in the genus Temnothorax, described by Wheeler in 1903. The species is native to Texas and surrounding regions, where it inhabits small cavities such as hollow nuts, twigs, and other pre-existing shelters. Like other members of its genus, it is a small, cavity-nesting ant with a specialized lifestyle dependent on finding and occupying suitable microhabitats. The species has been documented in entomological collections and is recognized as part of the diverse North American Temnothorax fauna.
acorn-ant cavity-nesting-ant Myrmicinae Formicidae North-America Texas microhabitat-specialist