Plutomurus grahami (A Cave Obligate Springtail)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Collembola

Order: Entomobryomorpha

Family: Tomoceridae

Genus: Plutomurus

Species: grahami

A Cave Obligate Springtail - Plutomurus grahami

325168

Species Extent (New Mexico)

Global Rank: G1

State Rank: S1

Rank Metadata
State Rank: S1	Rank Changed: 04/30/2025
Rank Reviewed: 03/21/2000
Reason: This species is only known from one occurrence in a cave in northern New Mexico. As a cave obligate species it is highly range restricted and habitat specific.The species has not been seen in fifty years and its current condition is unknown. More research is needed on the threats as well as population size and trends for this species in order to determine needed conservation actions. Additionally, further surveying could reveal more populations. Until that time due to the species only being found at one occurrence in a very limited range which has been threatened by drought, climate change, and fire recently it is currently assessed as S1 in New Mexico. However, a reassesment should be done if more information becomes available.

Ecological Factors
Specificity: Very narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements scarce.	Range Extent: <100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Occurences: 1 - 5	Population Size: Unknown
Area of Occupancy: This species is known only from Terrero Cave, in Terrero, in the Pecos Wilderness of New Mexico, in the United States. It was found at the type locality in 1975 (Christiansen 1980), and it is unclear if it has been observed since then. Whether it may be found in neighboring cave systems is unknown.	Threat Summary: N/A

State Status:

Federal Status:

USFS Status:

BLM Status:

SWAP Status:

NMRP Strategy Status:

Number of Subpopulations: 1

Number of Mapped Locations: 1

Number of Observations: 1

Observation date range: 08-11-1975 to 08-11-1975

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