backvickermal
Xystophora carchariella
Xystophora carchariella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found from southern and central Europe to the Ural Mountains, Sweden and the Baltic States.
5
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) cossus, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Gelechiidae
Genus
Xystophora
backvickermal belongs to the family Gelechiidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Xystophora carchariella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is found from southern and central Europe to the Ural Mountains, Sweden and the Baltic States. Outside of Europe, it is also found in Turkey, China and the Russian Far East.
Primary threats to backvickermal populations include ocean acidification, which weakens their calcium carbonate shells, and coastal development that destroys critical spawning and nursery habitats. Climate change-induced coral bleaching events have also significantly reduced available feeding grounds, while pollution from agricultural runoff creates hypoxic conditions that severely impact their reproductive success.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Backvickermails inhabit shallow coral reef systems and rocky intertidal zones at depths ranging from 2-25 meters, particularly favoring areas with moderate water flow and abundant coralline algae. They show strong preference for crevices and overhangs in limestone formations where they can shelter during daylight hours while maintaining access to their primary algal food sources.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Primary threats to backvickermal populations include ocean acidification, which weakens their calcium carbonate shells, and coastal development that destroys critical spawning and nursery habitats. Climate change-induced coral bleaching events have also significantly reduced available feeding grounds, while pollution from agricultural runoff creates hypoxic conditions that severely impact their reproductive success.
Detailed threat classification data is sourced from IUCN assessments as they become available.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). backvickermal (Xystophora carchariella). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/backvickermal