Lepidurus packardi
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Lepidurus packardi faces severe threats from habitat destruction as temporary pools are drained for agricultural development and urban expansion across its limited range in California's Central Valley. Climate change intensifies these pressures by altering precipitation patterns that are critical for pool formation and timing. The species' dependence on ephemeral wetlands makes it extremely vulnerable to drought cycles and water diversions that prevent pools from filling adequately for successful reproduction.
Habitat
Lepidurus packardi inhabits temporary vernal pools and seasonal wetlands in California's Central Valley and surrounding foothills. These ephemeral pools fill with winter rains and gradually dry through spring and summer, providing the specific hydroperiod required for the species' complex life cycle.