BIODIVERSITY OF CROATIA

INVERTEBRATES
To date, 15,474 taxa of terrestrial and 1,780 taxa of freshwater
invertebrates have been recorded in Croatia. They are dominant
in abundance and diversity, but are insufficiently studied.
351 taxa of terrestrial invertebrates and 172 taxa of freshwater
invertebrates are endemic. Most endemic freshwater species
inhabit underground waters.
Considering that Croatia’s invertebrate fauna has been inadequately
studied, the total number of species and number of
endemic species is expected to be much higher. The main causes
of threat to particular invertebrate species are habitat destruction
and change, all types of pollution and the excessive
use of pesticides, introduction of alien species and redundant
exploitation and collecting.
To date, only the butterflies and dragonflies have been analyzed
for conservation status. The Red List includes 28 of the
total 180 butterfly taxa considered as threatened as well as 31
of 71 dragonfly species.
Threatened species of butterflies
Troglobitic leech Croatobranchus mestrovi was recently discovered in
underground of the Velebit Mountain; it is the new species and the
new genus for science (Photo: D. Bak{i})
Threatened species of dragonflies
TERRESTRIAL INVERTEBRATES NO. OF TAXA
Phyllum
No. of taxa
Aschelminthes 127
Mollusca 470
Annelida 141
Tardigrada 7
Arthropoda 14,729
Total 15,474
FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES NO. OF TAXA
Phyllum
No. of taxa
Protozoa 268
Spongia 4
Platodes 20
Cnidaria 6
Aschelminthes 360
Mollusca 156
Annelida 99
Tardigrada 7
Arthropoda 869
Total 1,789
Red coral (Corallium rubrum) is an endangered Mediterranean species
(photo: D. Frka)
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