Oxbow Diving Beetle
Hydroporus rufifrons
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
19
Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Dytiscidae
Genus
Hydroporus
Oxbow Diving Beetle belongs to the family Dytiscidae, order Coleoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Oxbow Diving Beetle faces severe threats from habitat destruction and degradation of its specialized aquatic environments. Pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development, combined with climate change impacts on water levels and quality, have drastically reduced suitable habitat availability. The species' restricted range and specific habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to these ongoing pressures.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits shallow, slow-moving or stagnant freshwater bodies including oxbow lakes, ponds, marshes, and vegetated margins of streams and rivers. Prefers areas with abundant aquatic vegetation and organic debris where it can hunt for small invertebrate prey.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Oxbow Diving Beetle faces severe threats from habitat destruction and degradation of its specialized aquatic environments. Pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development, combined with climate change impacts on water levels and quality, have drastically reduced suitable habitat availability. The species' restricted range and specific habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to these ongoing pressures.
Climate change affecting water levels and temperature
Habitat destruction and wetland drainage
Water pollution from agricultural and urban runoff
Hydrological modifications and dam construction
Invasive species competition
Found in 19 Countries
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). Oxbow Diving Beetle (Hydroporus rufifrons). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/oxbow-diving-beetle