Biological Conservation 72 (1995) 129-136 © 1995 Elsevier Science Limited Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved 0006-3207/95/$09.50+.00 ELSEVIER 0006-3207(94)00076-X CONSERVATION STATUS OF ENDEMIC FRESHWATER FISH IN SPAIN Benigno Elvira Department of Animal Biology L Faculty of Biology, University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain Abstract The present conservation status of the endemic flesh- water fish of Spain is reviewed and compared with a former list made in 1986. Ten taxa (species and subspecies) are exclusively endemic to Spanish waters, 13 are lberian endemics (Spain and Portugal), while three other species are also found in neighbouring European (France and Italy) or African (Algeria) countries. Endemic species belong to the families Clupeidae (33% of the native taxa), Cyprinidae (87%), Cobitidae (100%) and Cyprinodontidae (100%). A greater part of the endemic fish fauna is threatened, since three taxa are endangered, five vulnerable, seven rare and two insufficiently known. Keywords: endemic, fish, conservation, Spain. INTRODUCTION The conservation status of endemic fish in Spain was recently reviewed by Elvira (1990). Categories of threat considered there followed the Spanish Red List made some years before (ICONA, 1986; Elvira et al., 1988). The present study covers the revision by Blanco and Gonz~ilez (1992), where changes of taxonomy and con- servation status were included. Comments on the distribution, habitat and conserva- tion status of endemic species follow Elvira (1990), Doadrio et al. (1991), Blanco and Gonzdlez (1992) and personal data. Spanish, Iberian, Southwestern European and Iberian-Northern African endemic species present in Spain were considered. One circum-Mediterranean endemic species living in Spain, Blennius fluviatilis Asso, 1801, is also listed. Appendix 1 summarises the conservation status of the endemic fish fauna of Spain, including some national and EC regulations on conservation and management. LIST OF SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES Family Clupeidae Alosa fallax rhodanensis (Roule, 1924) -- Saboga Distribution: Southwestern Europe (NE Spain, SE France and NW Italy). The Spanish inland population is restricted to the lower section of River Ebro (Fig. 1 (A)). Habitat: Anadromous. Coasts and lower sections of large rivers. Conservation status: Considered as 'vulnerable' (V) (ICONA, 1986; Blanco & Gonzdlez, 1992). Reasons for decline and present threats: Construc- tion of dams, pollution of estuaries and overfishing. Family Cyprinidae Anaecypris hispanica (Steindachner, 1866) -- Jarabugo Distribution: Iberia. Very local in middle and lower River Guadiana (Spain and Portugal), and one known locality in the River Guadalquivir (Spain) (Fig. 1 (B)). Habitat: Lowland streams with a moderate current and abundant submerged plants. Conservation status: Formerly considered as 'rare' (R) (ICONA, 1986), and presently as 'endangered' (E) (Blanco & Gonzdlez, 1992). Reasons for decline and present threats: Water pollu- tion, habitat destruction and introduction of exotic fish predators. Barbus bocagei Steindachner, 1865 -- Barbo com~n Distribution: Iberia. Still common in the Rivers Duero and Tajo (Spain and Portugal), and Vouga, Mondego and Sado (Portugal) (Fig. I(C)). Habitat: Middle and lower reaches of rivers. Conservation status: Not threatened. Barbus comiza Steindachner, 1865 (-- Barbus steindachneri Almacta, 1967) - - Barbo comiza Distribution: Iberia. Scarce in the Rivers Tajo and Guadiana (Spain and Portugal) and very rare in the River Guadalquivir (Spain) (Fig. I(D)). Habitat: Middle and lower reaches, in deep and slow waters, with abundant submerged plants. Conservation status: Formerly considered as not threatened (ICONA, 1986), but presently as 'vulner- able' (V) (Blanco & Gonzalrz, 1992). Reasons for decline and present threats: Water pollu- tion, habitat destruction and introduction of exotic fish predators. 129 Barbus graellsii Steindachner, 1866 -- Barbo de Graells Distribution: Spain. Still common in the Rivers Ebro, Llobregat and Ter (Mediterranean drainage), and Oria, Artibay, Oca and Nervi6n (Cantabrian drainage) (Fig. I(E)). Habitat: Middle and lower reaches of rivers. Conservation status: Not threatened.