Invertebrates account for 97 percent of all animal species. Insects, spiders, crustaceans, squid, snails, octopus, jellyfish, sponges, flatworms, roundworms, segmented worms, starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and sea mats are all major invertebrate phylums or classes.

Invertebrate species, especially in locations like the Amazon Basin, are going extinct at an alarming rate. Over half of those evaluated are now listed as threatened or endangered by the IUCN, with crustaceans accounting for the highest percentage. Habitat loss seems to be the major reason why invertebrate species continue to vanish.

[About the IUCN and USFWS.]

CONSERVANCY FAIRY SHRIMP IUCN Status: Endangered USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threat: Agricultural development

KAUAI CAVE WOLF SPIDER IUCN Status: Endangered USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threats: Environmental pollution and habitat disturbance

AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE IUCN Status: Critically Endangered USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threats: Habitat loss and declining prey species

BASKING MALACHITE DAMSELFLY IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats: Environmental pollution and habitat alteration by non-native species

CALLIPPE SILVERSPOT BUTTERFLY USFWS Status: Endangered Major Threat: Habitat loss

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