Ref ID : 6609
Enrique Martinez-Ansemil and Narcisse Giani; The distribution of aquatic oligochaetes in the south and eastern Mediterranean area. Hydrobiologia 155:293-303, 1987
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On the basis of the material collected in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, and published data, mainly on Israel and Egypt, we try to establish a synthesis of the geographical distribution of the poorly known fauna of the South and Eastern Mediterranean basin. A first analysis shows that the fauna of this region is characterized by a high number of species with a widespread distribution (cosmopolite, holarctic, palaearctic...) and therefore, with great affinities with the European fauna. Nevertheless, three distinct communities can be distinguished: - The south western basin (North Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia), where the community is very poor, and which shows great affinities with south European, but none with the Ethiopian region; - The south eastern basin (Egypt), with some species of African origin; - The eastern basin (Near East, mainly Lebanon and Israel) with a very diversified community, partly due to its geographical situation, and partly due to a more intensive collecting pressure. This community includes a group of species with more eastern affinities (East Siberian...), but none typically Ethiopian or exclusively Sino-Indian.