Parastenocaris
Parastenocaris bulgarica Apostolov, 1992
Order Harpacticoida
Family Parastenocarididae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Critically endangered CR [B1a, b].
General distribution. Bulgaria.
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. A local endemic. Found only in the Dushnika cave near the village of Iskrets (Ponor mountain). It has a limited distribution in the zone of aeration of the Iskretski karstic basin [1]. There are no data of the numbers of the population.
Habitats. A stygobiont, inhabitant of underground waters in cracks.
Biology. Not studied. The female individuals have maximum dimensions of the body up to 0.34 mm, and the males up to 0.31 mm. These are some of the smallest crustaceans in the fauna of Bulgaria.
Similar species. Parastenocaris elegans, P. dubia, P. vicesima, P. pannonica, P. minutissima, P. karamani, P. orcina, P. hippuris. It differs from them by the presence of two spikes in the base of the endopodite of the fourth pair of swimming feet.
Negative factors. The building of a derivation, carrying part of the superficial water outflow from the ridge part of Ponor mountain to the Barziya hydroelectrical station and other water users in Northern Bulgaria; reduction of the total quantity of underground waters in the Iskretski karstic basin. Intensive use of artificial fertilizers in the catchment area of the Iskretski karstic springs.
Conservation measures taken. None.
Conservation measures needed. Control on the use of artificial fertilizers and other chemicals in the region of Ponor mountain.
References. 1. Apostolov, 1992.
Author: Ivan Pandurski
