Macromia splendens

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
ANIMALIA ARTHROPODA INSECTA ODONATA CORDULIIDAE

Scientific Name: Macromia splendens
Species Authority (Pictet, 1843)
Common Name/s:
English – Shining Macromia Dragonfly

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable   A2ac+3c   ver 3.1
Year Assessed: 2006
Assessor/s Boudot, J.-P.
Evaluator/s: Clausnitzer, V. & Suhling, F. (Odonata Red List Authority)
Justification:
This emblematic species is rare and is difficult to find. However, new findings (Cordero Rivera 2000, Malkmus 2002) show that it is less rare than previously believed. The species shows a disjoint distribution with the largest populations in southern France and northwest Iberia. Only single specimens are known out of these two distribution centres. The whole area inhabited by this species reach about 653,000 km². The two main distribution centres cover about 92,000 km² in France and 57,000 km² in Iberia (Galicia, Portugal). Although flourishing populations occur, partly due to the construction of hydroelectric dams, which seem to support good populations when they are elongated and look like large rivers, a general degradation of water quality is noted almost anywhere. This species apparently disappears early facing water pollution. It has not been found again in some localities during the last decade so that a decrease of 30% is suspected to have occurred and this is expected to continue in the future. The dramatic drought of which Iberia now suffers repeatedly, which convert river barrage in lakes-like habitats, will inevitably lead to the reduction of many populations in this area in the next decade.
History:
1996 – Vulnerable (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
1994 – Rare (Groombridge 1994)
1990 – Rare (IUCN 1990)
1988 – Rare (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986 – Vulnerable (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)
1983 – Rare (Wells et al. 1983)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: Endemic to southwest France and the Iberian Peninsula.
Countries:
Native:
France; Portugal; Spain

Population [top]

Population: Known with certainty from 14 departments in France, but presently only in 12.. Not uncommon in only four departments. In Spain flourishing populations are known in Galicia and North Portugal. Otherwise scattered in single places and low numbers over almost the whole Iberian Peninsula.
Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: Slow flowing streams, even when induced by hydro-electric dams
Systems: Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): Water pollution. Drought.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: Control of water pollution is needed.
Citation: Boudot, J.-P. 2006. Macromia splendens. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 November 2008.
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