English - Convention on Biological Diversity

COUNTRY STUDY FOR BIODIVERSITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Segmented worms, the phylum Annelida, includes 54 recorded endemic taxa, the
dominant among them being the class Oligochaeta (Oligochaetes), with 39 endemics. It
is followed by the class Hirudinea (Leeches), with 11 endemics, and the taxonomically
non-differentiated group of Branchiobdellidae, with four endemic taxa.
The most numerous animal phylum, Arthropoda, has 419 recorded endemic taxa
(367 species and 52 subspecies). The subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates) has 71
endemic forms (65 species and six subspecies), subphylum Branchiata (Branchiate
arthropods) – 137 endemics (113 species and 24 subspecies) and subphylum Tracheata
(Tracheates) – the most endemic forms – 211 (189 species and 22 subspecies). The
highest degree of endemism among the Chelicerates is seen in the orders
Pseudoscorpiones (73%) and Opiliones (47.5%). Among Branchiata, the highest degree
of endemism is shown by the subclass Malacostraca (orders Isopoda [85%] and
Amphipoda [81.4%]), but is also seen in the subclass Ostracoda (26%). Within
Tracheates (Tracheata), class Myriapoda (order Diplopoda) shows the highest degree of
endemism (37%) and within class Insecta, the order Lepidoptera has the largest number
of endemics (90).
In regard to Vertebrata, the class Pisces (Fishes) has the highest degree of endemism
(34.5%). Among the other classes, only four endemic mammals are known (Mammalia).
Of the major centres of faunal endemism, the three relict lakes are especially
noteworthy. The largest, Ohrid Lake, with 216 endemic taxa, has been described as the
most important centre for endemism in Macedonia and nearby areas. No less important
are Prespa and Doyran lakes which, due to their shallower depths, have fewer numbers
of endemic and relict species. Of particular interest is the presence of six endemic taxa
(four species and two subspecies) common to both Ohrid and Prespa lakes, which
confirms the common origin of these lakes from the former Pliocene Desaret Lake.
The groundwater, springs and caves of Macedonia are second in importance as
centres of endemism. They are characterised by the presence of thalassophreatic (i.e.,
from saline waters), limnophreatic (i.e., from fresh waters) and terrestrial relict fauna
which date from the Upper Tertiary.
Table 19. Number of endemic taxa of various faunal groups in the Republic of Macedonia.
Restricted to:
Taxonomic category
Taxonomic group
Ohrid Lake.
Prespa Lake
Doyran Lake
Other localities in
Macedonia
Phylum Protozoa (Protozoans) 32 - - - 32
Phylum Porifera (Sponges) 4 1 1 6
Phylum Plathelminthes (Flatworms) 32 2 - 1 35
Phylum Nemathelminthes (Roundworms) 3 - - - 3
Phylum Mollusca (Molluscs) 61 8 1 31 101
Phylum Annelida (Segmented worms) 26 3 5 20 54
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) 51 4 4 360 419
Phylum Chordata (Chordates) 7 6 1 10 24
Total Number of Endemic Taxa 216 24 12 422 674
Total number
61