Smaller Najas
Najas minor
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Najas_minor
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Alismatales
Family
Hydrocharitaceae
Genus
Najas
Smaller Najas belongs to the family Hydrocharitaceae, order Alismatales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Smaller Najas faces severe threats from habitat degradation and loss of suitable aquatic environments due to water pollution, eutrophication, and human development pressures. The species' specialized requirements for clean, shallow freshwater systems make it particularly vulnerable to water quality changes and habitat fragmentation.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Smaller Najas inhabits shallow freshwater environments including ponds, lakes, slow-moving streams, and temporary pools with muddy or sandy substrates. The species typically occurs in nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich waters at depths of 0.5 to 3 meters.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Smaller Najas faces severe threats from habitat degradation and loss of suitable aquatic environments due to water pollution, eutrophication, and human development pressures. The species' specialized requirements for clean, shallow freshwater systems make it particularly vulnerable to water quality changes and habitat fragmentation.
Agricultural runoff and chemical contamination
Habitat loss from wetland drainage and development
Water pollution and eutrophication
Climate change affecting water levels and temperature
Competition from invasive aquatic plant species
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
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
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Smaller Najas (Najas minor). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/smaller-najas