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Cordulegaster princeps

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
ANIMALIA ARTHROPODA INSECTA ODONATA CORDULEGASTRIDAE

Scientific Name: Cordulegaster princeps
Species Authority: Morton, 1916

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Near Threatened ver 3.1
Year Published: 2010
Assessor/s: Boudot, J.-P.
Reviewer/s: Samraoui, B. (Odonata Red List Authority) & Pollock, C.M. (IUCN Red List Unit)
Contributor/s:
Justification:
Cordulegaster principes is a unique, Moroccan endemic dragonfly. The population is scattered in the High and Middle Atlas ranges over a known overall extent of occurrence (EOO) of around 17,000 km² and a known area of occupancy (AOO) of less than 20 km². Its range is apparently fragmented in two main dispersion centres, that may result in limited genetic exchange within the population. However more data are required from the areas between these main populations, where suitable habitat may occur. It is not severely fragmented. The maximum potential geographic range cannot exceed 65,000 km².

Ongoing increasing human population demography [x2.5 from 1961 to 2003 (FAO 2005)] and subsequent overgrazing, forest destruction and water extraction for human needs constitute obviously strong threats for the conservation of this species. A future drying up of this area may also be expected, owing to the global climatic change and related drought. For C. principes, the population size is not known: in 2007, two additional localities were discovered, where the species was locally abundant, but in smaller sites it is less abundant.

Given ongoing habitat degradation in the area, it is projected that this endemic species may undergo declines approaching 30% over the next ten years and it is therefore assessed as Near Threatened.
History:
2006 – Vulnerable (IUCN 2006)
2006 – Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: Cordulegaster principes is strictly endemic to Morocco, occurring from the High to the Middle Atlas Mountains.
Countries:
Native:
Morocco
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population: Apparently rather small populations are known from only 17 locations.
Population Trend: Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: Mountain brooks from 700 to 2,500 m asl.
Systems: Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): Forest destruction, water pollution and water management are threats to the species. Overgrazing and drought are also potential threats to this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: Preservation and restoration of forests, spring and brooks; preservation of water quality; control of irrigation through policy-based actions and increasing awareness. Research into taxonomy, population numbers and range, biology and ecology, habitat status, threats, conservation measures, and trends/monitoring of this species would be valuable. Habitat and site-based actions are also required.
Citation: Boudot, J.-P. 2010. Cordulegaster princeps. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2013.
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