engleski

Conservation status of the genus Cobitis and related species in Croatia

The objective of this paper is to summarize our knowledge to date on the abundance, distribution and conservation status of loaches and related genera species in Croatian rivers. Zoographically, Croatia is divided into two well separated watersheds, the Danube and the Adriatic basins. In the Croatian part of the Danube watershed, four species of loaches have been reported: C. elongatoides, C. elongata, Misgurnus fosilis and S. balcanica. In the Adriatic watershed live five species: C. bilineata, C. dalmatina, C. narentana, C. jadovae and C. jezerae (nomen nudum). In recent years, the Red List of Freshwater Fish and the Natura 2000 documents have unveiled a number of questions. Sixty percent of Croatian freshwater fish are in varying threat category. The criteria and categories from IUCN 2001 were used in the assessment of the threat level of Croatian loaches. Accordingly, S. balcanica, C. elongata and Misgurnus fossilis belong to the vulnerable category. Cobitis elongatoides from the Danube watershed is in a lower risk category. The species C. dalmatina and C. narentana in the Adriatic rivers are considered vulnerable. The newly determined species, C. bilineata and C. jadovensis, will be in the endangered category (not yet assigned). It is a mystery as to why the rivers within the Adriatic region of the Istria Peninsula as well as the Krka and Ljuta Rivers in Dalmatia do not support any Cobitis representatives. All eight representatives of the family Cobitidae are included in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. The preparation of Natura 2000 in Croatia is underway, with the majority of important water bodies for these species are already covered by potential special protection areas.

conervation status; Cobitis; Croatia

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