Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi
CR

Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risiocnemis_seidenschwarzi

Overview

Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi is a species of damselfly in the family Platycnemididae and the only known species in the genus Risiocnemis. It is endemic to the Philippines. It can only be found in a small river area in one of the last forests in Central Cebu, which is threatened by habitat loss, illegal logging, and water pollution.

The survival of the species is believed to rely solely only the continued conservation of the river where it lives and breeds. There are no conservation programs yet to be administered in the area where it lives. It is the most endangered insect species in the whole Philippine archipelago.

It is one of the 2012 World's 100 Most Threatened Species, which was compiled by IUCN and the Zoological Society of London.

Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat conversion in its limited Philippine range. Mining activities and agricultural expansion have destroyed critical forest stream habitats essential for this damselfly's reproduction. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and pollution of freshwater systems.

Threat summary

Habitat

This damselfly inhabits pristine forest streams and riparian areas in tropical montane forests of the Philippines. It requires clean, flowing water with dense canopy cover and minimal human disturbance for successful breeding and larval development.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi classified as Critically Endangered?
Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat conversion in its limited Philippine range. Mining activities and agricultural expansion have destroyed critical forest stream habitats essential for this damselfly's reproduction. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and pollution of freshwater systems.
Where does Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi live?
Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi occurs in Philippines. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi?
The main threats to Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi are 1.1, 5.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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