The distribution of aquatic oligochaetes in the south and eastern Mediterranean area

Abstract

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.