coast amaranth vs Common blowfly

Amaranthus pumilus compared with Calliphora grahami

Key Differences

• coast amaranth is Extinct while Common blowfly is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	coast amaranth	Common blowfly
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)	Diptera (Diptera)
Family	Amaranthaceae	Calliphoridae
Genus	Amaranthus	Calliphora
Species	Amaranthus pumilus	Calliphora grahami

Conservation Status

coast amaranth

EX — Extinct

Common blowfly

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	coast amaranth	Common blowfly
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

coast amaranth

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found in Japan.

Common blowfly

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in United States.

coast amaranth

Coast amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is an annual herb in the family Amaranthaceae, native to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the eastern United States, where it once grew on coastal foredunes, beach strand, and shell-hash substrates above the high tide line from New York south to South Carolina. It is a low-growing, fleshy plant with small, rounded leaves and inconspicuous green flowers typical of the genus. Coast amaranth is assessed as Extinct in the Wild by the IUCN, as it has not been reliably documented from wild populations since the mid-20th century; the last confirmed collections date to the 1960s. The species' decline and likely extinction resulted from intense human pressure on Atlantic coastal habitats through shoreline development, beach stabilisation, vehicular traffic on beaches, and increased storm frequency disrupting pioneer dune vegetation. It is federally listed as Threatened in the United States, though this listing predates confirmed extinction in the wild. A small number of ex-situ accessions may exist in botanical garden collections. Genetic material and seed banking efforts represent the only remaining conservation options for this critically reduced species.

Common blowfly

The common blowfly (<em>Calliphora grahami</em>) is a fly species found across the United States, typically inhabiting all terrestrial and freshwater environments. As a member of the family Calliphoridae, this species often plays an important ecological role as a decomposer and pollinator across its range. The common blowfly is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population with no immediate threat of extinction. Its diet includes decaying organic matter, making it a significant contributor to nutrient cycling in its native habitats. The species is commonly associated with a wide variety of terrestrial ecosystems, from open grasslands to forested areas, and is often found near human settlements. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.