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Distribution of Austropotamobius pallipes in Croatia– past and present

In order to get a better insight into the distribution of white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) in Croatia, we pooled together all of the available historical data and recent ones. The historical data on the distribution were compiled from the literature and the Croatian Natural History Museum collection, while fieldwork, to evaluate the current distribution of crayfish, took place from 1995 to 2003 on all types of suitable habitats. The distribution of Austropotamobius pallipes is restricted to limestone region and therefore the species is found widely spread in rivers belonging to the Adriatic Sea basin (from the NW to the SE part of Croatia). Those waters are mainly unpolluted and substrate of the bottom consists of rocks and stones and crayfish could be found near banks, where the current is slower and where aquatic plants are abundant. During our research we also occasionally found crayfish in subterranean habitats. Nevertheless, they show no troglomorphic adaptations as they probably enter underground habitats accidentally from original epigean populations. According to the literature data in coastal rivers, apart from A. pallipes, lives A. torrentium. But to date, we have not yet personally recorded its presence there, while we recorded presence of Astacus astacus. While studying the data from literature, we were frequently confronted with contradictory findings. Consequently, we are planning intensive field research in coastal region to get a clear picture on detailed distribution of freshwater crayfish in that part of Croatia.

Austropotamobius pallipes; Croatia; biogeography

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