Pungitius hellenicus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	GASTEROSTEIFORMES	GASTEROSTEIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pungitius hellenicus

Species Authority:

Stephanidis, 1971

Common Name/s:

English

–

Ellinopygósteos

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2006

Assessor/s:

Crivelli, A.J.

Reviewer/s:

Barbieri, R. & Kottelat, M. (Mediterranean Workshop, Dec. 2004)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
This species is restricted to a very small area of remaining habitat (estimated area of occupancy (AOO) <10 km²) and is undergoing a continuous decline due to ongoing water extraction, pollution, and habitat destruction. The population is now extremely fragmented such that individual sub-populations are at an increased risk from stochastic events.

History:

1996	–	Critically Endangered (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
1996	–	Critically Endangered
1994	–	Endangered (Groombridge 1994)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Restricted to an estimated ten separate, deep, isolated pools in the Sperchios River catchment in Central Greece: the Aghia Paraskevi spring, and a system of drainage and irrigation canals and a small number of natural wells in the areas of Lycochoria and Valtos and near the village of Kompotades.
Countries:	Native: Greece
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Decreasing.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Lives in springs and drainage and irrigation systems with cool springs or slow-running waters with rich vegetation. The water temperature never exceeds 20°C in summer. Its present location appears to provide the only remaining suitable habitat where it can survive.
Systems:	Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Water extraction (some springs have been completely capped for water extraction), and pollution.

Major Threat(s):

Water extraction (some springs have been completely capped for water extraction), and pollution.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Both the Aghia Paraskevi spring and P. hellenicus have been granted protection by law No 67/1981 of the Greek State and official decision of the Phthiotis Prefect. However, the law is not effectively enforced. It is listed in Appendix III of the Bern Convention.

Conservation Actions:

Both the Aghia Paraskevi spring and P. hellenicus have been granted protection by law No 67/1981 of the Greek State and official decision of the Phthiotis Prefect. However, the law is not effectively enforced. It is listed in Appendix III of the Bern Convention.

Citation:	Crivelli, A.J. 2006. Pungitius hellenicus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2013.
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