Hydrobiologia 298: 263-280, 1995.
D. Belle, H. J. Dumont & G. Maier (eds), Studies on Large Branchiopod Biology and Aquaculture II.
©1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers.
263
The geographic distribution of the European Branchiopods (Anostraca,
Notostraca, Spinicaudata, Laevicaudata)
Jan Brtek 1 & Alain Thiery2
1 Hornonitrianske Muzeum, Hlinkova 44,97101 Prievidza, Slovakia;
2Laboratoire de Biologie Animale-Hydrobiologie, Faculte des Sciences, Universite d'Avignon, 33 rue Louis
Pasteur, F-84000 Avignon, France
Key words: Europe, distribution maps, Anostraca, Notostraca, Spinicaudata, Laevicaudata
Abstract
The 'Large Branchiopod' fauna of Europe consists of 72 species and sub-species: 50 anostracans, 8 notostracans,
12 spinicaudatans, and 2 laevicaudatans. Their geographical distribution is mapped, and remarks on ecological
requirements of species are given.
Introduction
The 'Large Branchiopods' of the orders Anostraca,
Notostraca, Spinicaudata and Laevicaudatil of the Limnofauna Europaea were treated by Loffier (1978). He
listed 53 species and 14 sub-species, including those
species inhabiting palaearctic North Africa (area X)
and Asia Minor (area Y). Since that time, several
additional species and subspecies have been described
(Brtek, 1971; Cottarelli & Mura, 1975, 1984; FlOssner,
1980; Petkovski, 1986; Thiery & Champeau, 1988;
Alonso & Jaume, 1991; Stoicescu, 1992; Vekhoff,
1992; Vekhoff & Vekhova, 1992). Studies on ecology and distribution have also added new information
(e.g. Belgium: Brendonck, 1989; Brendonck et at.,
1989; Cyprus: Mura & Hadjistephanou, 1987; France:
Maillard & Baudet, 1980; Burmeister, 1982; Thiery,
1988; Thiery & Pont, 1987; Nourisson& Thiery, 1988;
Champeau & Thiery, 1990; Thiery et at., 1990; Thiery
& Gasc, 1991; Thiery & Robert, 1992; Germany:
Spitzenberger, 1980, Maier & Tessenow, 1983; Freiner & Griittner, 1984; Heidecke & Neumann, 1987;
Hossler et al., 1989; Rieder, 1979; Great Britain:
Bratton & Fryer, 1990; Greece: Abatzopoulos et al.,
1986, 1989; Triantaphyllidis et al., 1993; Hungaria:
Forro, 1987; Italy and Sardinia: Cottarelli & Mura,
1979a, b, 1983; Margraf & Maass, 1982; Mura, 1987;
Mura & Barsotti, 1985; Maltese Islands: Lanfranco et ai., 1991; Netherlands: Gulati, 1978; Norway:
Solem & Gaare, 1992; Romania: Stoicescu, 1991;
Russia: Vekhoff, 1990, 1991, 1993, Vekhoff & Vekhova, 1990, 1991). Slovakia: Brtek, 1976; Spain: May01, 1977; Alonso, 1978, 1985, 1990; Amat, 1980;
Jaume, 1989; Navarro etal., 1991; Sweden: Hellstrom
& Nauwerck, 1971; Yugoslavia: Marincek & Petrov,
1991; Petrov & Marincek, 1991; Petkovski, 1991a, b,
in press.
We present a list of the valid species and subspecies from Europe, updated (excluding North Africa
and Asia Minor). To date, except attempts in the genus
Artemia in the Mediterranean basin (Browne, 1988), in
Triops (Zaffagnini & Trentini, 1980), and some distribution maps in Banarescu (1990), no exhaustive European distribution maps are available. They are also
provided here, based on literature data.
Studied area
Our area is limited by the Caspian Sea coast, Ural river
and Mountains, the Manych depression; the Manych
and Kuma rivers, the north coast of the Azov Sea, the
Crimea, the Black Sea coast, the Bosphorus, the Sea of
Marmara, the Dardanelles, and the Aegean Sea. To the
south it is limited by the Mediterranean Sea (including the Mediterranean islands), the Atlantic coast, and
Iceland.
D. Belle, H. J. Dumont & G. Maier (eds), Studies on Large Branchiopod Biology and Aquaculture II.
©1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers.
263
The geographic distribution of the European Branchiopods (Anostraca,
Notostraca, Spinicaudata, Laevicaudata)
Jan Brtek 1 & Alain Thiery2
1 Hornonitrianske Muzeum, Hlinkova 44,97101 Prievidza, Slovakia;
2Laboratoire de Biologie Animale-Hydrobiologie, Faculte des Sciences, Universite d'Avignon, 33 rue Louis
Pasteur, F-84000 Avignon, France
Key words: Europe, distribution maps, Anostraca, Notostraca, Spinicaudata, Laevicaudata
Abstract
The 'Large Branchiopod' fauna of Europe consists of 72 species and sub-species: 50 anostracans, 8 notostracans,
12 spinicaudatans, and 2 laevicaudatans. Their geographical distribution is mapped, and remarks on ecological
requirements of species are given.
Introduction
The 'Large Branchiopods' of the orders Anostraca,
Notostraca, Spinicaudata and Laevicaudatil of the Limnofauna Europaea were treated by Loffier (1978). He
listed 53 species and 14 sub-species, including those
species inhabiting palaearctic North Africa (area X)
and Asia Minor (area Y). Since that time, several
additional species and subspecies have been described
(Brtek, 1971; Cottarelli & Mura, 1975, 1984; FlOssner,
1980; Petkovski, 1986; Thiery & Champeau, 1988;
Alonso & Jaume, 1991; Stoicescu, 1992; Vekhoff,
1992; Vekhoff & Vekhova, 1992). Studies on ecology and distribution have also added new information
(e.g. Belgium: Brendonck, 1989; Brendonck et at.,
1989; Cyprus: Mura & Hadjistephanou, 1987; France:
Maillard & Baudet, 1980; Burmeister, 1982; Thiery,
1988; Thiery & Pont, 1987; Nourisson& Thiery, 1988;
Champeau & Thiery, 1990; Thiery et at., 1990; Thiery
& Gasc, 1991; Thiery & Robert, 1992; Germany:
Spitzenberger, 1980, Maier & Tessenow, 1983; Freiner & Griittner, 1984; Heidecke & Neumann, 1987;
Hossler et al., 1989; Rieder, 1979; Great Britain:
Bratton & Fryer, 1990; Greece: Abatzopoulos et al.,
1986, 1989; Triantaphyllidis et al., 1993; Hungaria:
Forro, 1987; Italy and Sardinia: Cottarelli & Mura,
1979a, b, 1983; Margraf & Maass, 1982; Mura, 1987;
Mura & Barsotti, 1985; Maltese Islands: Lanfranco et ai., 1991; Netherlands: Gulati, 1978; Norway:
Solem & Gaare, 1992; Romania: Stoicescu, 1991;
Russia: Vekhoff, 1990, 1991, 1993, Vekhoff & Vekhova, 1990, 1991). Slovakia: Brtek, 1976; Spain: May01, 1977; Alonso, 1978, 1985, 1990; Amat, 1980;
Jaume, 1989; Navarro etal., 1991; Sweden: Hellstrom
& Nauwerck, 1971; Yugoslavia: Marincek & Petrov,
1991; Petrov & Marincek, 1991; Petkovski, 1991a, b,
in press.
We present a list of the valid species and subspecies from Europe, updated (excluding North Africa
and Asia Minor). To date, except attempts in the genus
Artemia in the Mediterranean basin (Browne, 1988), in
Triops (Zaffagnini & Trentini, 1980), and some distribution maps in Banarescu (1990), no exhaustive European distribution maps are available. They are also
provided here, based on literature data.
Studied area
Our area is limited by the Caspian Sea coast, Ural river
and Mountains, the Manych depression; the Manych
and Kuma rivers, the north coast of the Azov Sea, the
Crimea, the Black Sea coast, the Bosphorus, the Sea of
Marmara, the Dardanelles, and the Aegean Sea. To the
south it is limited by the Mediterranean Sea (including the Mediterranean islands), the Atlantic coast, and
Iceland.