A Colony of Margaritifera auricularia was found in the Tauste Canal (Zaragoza). Molluscs. Invertebrates. Animal Kingdom. Wildlife. Fauna. Zoology.

Asociación Naturalista de Aragón (ANSAR)
Sociedad de Amigos del Museo Paleontológico de la Universidad de Zaragoza (SAMPUZ)
Sociedad Española de Malacología (SEM)

Zaragoza, March 6, 2001

FOUND IN THE TAUSTE CANAL (ZARAGOZA) A COLONY OF THE PROTECTED MOLLUSK SPECIES MARGARITIFERA AURICULARIA, A RIVER CLAM CATALOGED IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION

On the occasion of a scientific-informative excursion organized by the Naturalist Association of Aragon (ANSAR), the Society of Friends of the Paleontological Museum of the University of Zaragoza (SAMPUZ) and the Spanish Society of Malacology (SEM) on February 24 of 2001 for observation and conservation of freshwater bivalves in the Imperial Canal of Aragon and in the Tauste Canal respectively, it has been possible to find in a section of the Tauste Canal a colony of the species Margaritifera auricularia, a river clam found in serious danger of extinction.

Margaritifera auricularia is a species of bivalve mollusk strictly protected in Spain and the European Union, included in the National Catalog of Threatened Species with the category of "in danger of extinction", in the Habitats Directive (Annex IV) and in the Berne Convention (Annex II), being also included in the Catalog of Endangered Species of Aragon with the category "of special interest", although the category held by it prevails. in the National Catalog of Endangered Species.

Until now, the survival of only two populations of Margaritifera auricularia in the Ebro basin had been confirmed worldwide: one in the lower Ebro as it passes through Catalonia and another in the Imperial Canal of Aragon in the Aragonese section. The Imperial Canal of Aragon is home to about 2,000 living specimens of this species. Likewise, in recent years few living specimens have been found isolated in the nested meanders of the Ebro River in Sástago (Zaragoza) and empty shells in various areas of the Ebro River. The existence of other colonies, such as the Canal de Tauste, will allow the study of the genetic diversity of this threatened species and will contribute to its recovery.

The colony located in the Tauste Channel confirms the danger of extinction that this species of bivalve mollusk is in, since there are only a few colonies of very long-lived living specimens. This species requires the intervention of a fish to host its larvae (glochids) and thus complete its reproductive cycle; But it is still unknown for sure what host this fish may be in the natural environment, which has predictably disappeared or is in danger of extinction. For this reason, no juvenile specimens of Margaritifera auricularia have been found, as there are of the other three species of large freshwater bivalves that live in the Ebro, so the known colonies could disappear in the short or medium term, as has already happened. in the rest of the European rivers where this species existed.

The important discovery has been communicated to the General Directorate of the Natural Environment of the Department of the Environment of the General Council of Aragón, so that the competent authorities in matters of biodiversity conservation establish the needs for study, protection and conservation of Margaritifera auricularia in the Tauste Canal, a naturalized artificial channel whose lining is planned in the Hydrological Plan of the Ebro Basin. Its distribution, biology and ecology are currently being investigated within the framework of an agreement established between the Ministry of the Environment and the Higher Council for Scientific Research, through which this species is being studied in Aragon by biologists from the National Museum of Natural Sciences in coordination with the Department of the Environment of the General Council of Aragon. In this sense, the preparation and approval of the Recovery Plan for Margaritifera auricularia in Aragon is urgently needed, as it is classified as "in danger of extinction."

To obtain scientific information about the Margaritifera auricularia species, you can consult the following website: http://www.gualtierianus.com/libroj/margauri.htm. To obtain information on the environmental management needs of the colony of Margaritifera auricularia found in the Tauste Canal, contact can be made with the Biodiversity Conservation Service (General Directorate of the Natural Environment of the Department of Environment of the General Council of Aragon ; Paseo María Agustín, 36; E-50071 Zaragoza, Spain; Telephone +34 976714811).

Image of a live specimen of Margaritifera auricularia from the Tauste Channel.
© Photo: Ramón M. Álvarez Halcón Archive (2001).



Other information about Molluscs

• Introduction
• Monoplacophores
• Poliplacophores
• Scaphopods
• Gastropods
  • Slugs or Limacos
  • Snails
• Bivalves or lamelibranchs
  • Freshwater clams
  • Margaritone (Margaritifera auricularia)
  • Zebra mussel (Dressenia polymorpha)
• Cephalopods



Other information about fauna in Aragón:

A small list of species in Aragon would be the following:

Vertebrates	Invertebrates
Mammals Red squirrel. Bear. Fox. Artiodactyl Ungulates Deer. Wild pig. Birds Classification of Birds Storks. Capercaillies. Reptiles Amphibians Urodelos.    Marbled Triton.    Webbed Triton.    Pyrenean triton. Anurans. Fishes	Metazoans Arthropods Myriapods Insects Arachnids Spiders Crustaceans Annelids Worm Molluscs Asquelmintos Platelmintos Celentereos Porifera Protozoa
images about the fauna in Aragon.    photographs on invertebrates.    beneficial animals for agriculture.



Also Aragon enjoys a diverse and varied Nature where passing by plants, animals, Geology, or landscapes we can arrive at a fantastic bestiary that lives in its monuments.

The information will not be complete without a stroll by its three provinces, with shutdown in some of its spectacular landscapes like Ordesa, the Moncayo, Monegros or by opposition the Ebro.

Also you can dedicarte to the intangible ones: from the legend compilation that also does to universal Aragon.