Linderiella baetica Alonso & Garcia-de-Lomas 2009 (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Anostraca): On the verge of extinction?

The province of Cadiz (South of Spain) hosts the only known locality in the world of Linderiella baetica Alonso & Garcia-de-Lomas 2009 (Anostraca). In this paper, the geographical distribution of the species based on published sampling data focused on large branchiopods and temporary pools in Andalusia and the entire Iberian Peninsula is assessed. The current situation is summarized based on the threats to their survival, which are mainly related to habitat alteration. In the Iberian Peninsula, at least 1,648 bodies of water (about 720 in Andalusia) have been explored. Prevalence data suggest that L. baetica is a rare species (localities with presence / sample locations = 6.07 . 10-4). The application of the IUCN (2012) criteria suggests that L. baetica is a threatened species, catalogued as "critically endangered". Several emergency solutions such as translocation of individuals or their propagules to newly created ponds and to sustain the efforts of exploration have been proposed. However, conservation of the species in the current circumstances it is not considered viable if the natural habitat remains unprotected. The legal protection of L. baetica is proposed.