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Mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and insects
- The majority of mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and insects all rely on freshwater to survive.
People also ask
What animals rely on freshwater?
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What is a freshwater habitat?
How many species are in a freshwater ecosystem?
How many freshwater fish species are there?
Most freshwater habitats are teeming with nature, supporting a range of plant and animal species from common fish and algae, to critically endangered species, like the Irrawaddy dolphin and Siamese crocodile.
Freshwater ecosystems are home to an incredible diversity of species. Rivers, lakes, swamps, peatlands and all the other freshwater wetlands harbour more than 10% of the world's species. Each week, we will profile one of the most extraordinary.
One third of all freshwater species are at threat of extinction including: 61% of freshwater turtles; 40% of amphibians; 30% freshwater fishes; and 43% of freshwater mammals. One quarter of Critically Endangered species are freshwater species.
Animal and plant species in freshwater are particularly endangered: animal populations in rivers, lakes and wetlands, for example, are shrinking twice as fast as those in the sea and on land.
Freshwater habitats—such as lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and aquifers—house an incredible proportion of the world’s biodiversity: more than 10% of all known animals and about 50% of all known fish species.
Some unusual animals, like the river dolphin and the diving bell spider, are freshwater creatures. Plants such as algae, cattails, water lilies, and aspen and...
