Melanopsis
Melanopsis parreyssiPhilippi, 1847
Order Mesogastropoda
Family Melanopsidae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Critically endangered CR [B2a, C2a-II; E].
General distribution. A European species known only from two locations in Romania and Bulgaria; a preglacial relict.
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. A thermal spring near Pyasachnik reservoir to the north of Plovdiv. No data about its numbers [1]
Habitats. Thermal springs (crenobiontic). The temperature of the water in the Romanian spring is 34-420C [2], and near Pyasachnik reservoir it is 190C [1].
Biology. No data
Similar species. None.
Negative factors. Loss and degradation of habitats caused by man: extraction and pollution of the waters; infrastructure development.
Conservation measures taken. None.
Conservation measures needed. Maintenance and preservation of the habitat; specification of a protected territory around the only locality in Bulgaria. Studies on the biology and ecology for determining nature-protection measures; monitoring.
References. 1. Angelov, 2000; 2. Grossu, 1986.
Author: Zdravko Hubenov
