Invertebrate fauna

Existing data on invertebrates mainly refer to Lake Prespa species, while data on terrestrial species, especially insects such as butterflies, hardflies, finches, and others, are scarce or absent. The rich fauna of Lake Prespa is characterized by the presence of a large number of local endemics – species that are present only in the lake, including the part located within the borders of NP Ezerani. Of the sponges (type Porifera) in Lake Prespa, three species are known, one of which is endemic – Prespa sponge (Spongilla prespensis). Because this species requires a rocky and gravelly bottom, in NP Ezerani this species has a limited distribution. From the flatworms (type Plathelminthes) are present the endemic species Dendrocoelum prespense (order Tricladida, subtype Turbellaria) and Dendrocoelum adenodactylosum (which is also registered in Lake Ohrid). Among the mollusks (type Mollusca) there are 10 endemic water snails and the endemic shell Pisidium maassani. Of the ringworms (type Annelida), the species Potamothrix prespensis (class Oligochaeta) is endemic to Lake Prespa, while the species Psammoryctides ochridanus, Spirosperma tenuis and Stylodrilus leucocephalus are also found in Lake Ohrid.

Arthropods are the largest and most studied group of invertebrates in Lake Prespa. From the lower crabs in Lake Prespa, the endemic shrimp Ochridacyclops arndti prespensis (order Cyclopoida, subclass Copepoda, present in Lake Ohrid), as well as the shrimp Candona marginatoides and Candona paionica minor (class Ostracoda) can be found. This group also includes the shrimp Paralymnocythere karamani and Leptocythere prespensis, which inhabit Lake Ohrid. In the class of higher crabs is found the endemic shrimp Gammarus triacanthus prepsensis (order Amphipoda, class Malacostraca).

The Habitats Directive includes 3 species in the list in Annex IV, and the following species are listed in Annex II: the large copper (Lycaena dispar) and the fairy ponies Coenagrion ornatum and Leucorrhinia pectoralis.

Fauna of vertebrates

Fish of Prepa

Currently, there are nineteen species of fish in the Prespa lakes. Out of them, eleven are indigenous, eight are alien. (In the second half of the 20th century, there were five additional alien species that were recorded, but they can no longer be found in the lakes).

The most abundant fish species in the Prespa lakes belong to the carp family (Cyprinidae). Other native species that can be found are:

Salmonidae – trout (1)

Cobitidae – loaches (1)

Anguillidae – eels (1)

Alien species introduced into the lakes include the following:

Siluridae – wels (1)

Poecilidae – live bearing (1)

Centrachidae – perches (1)

he scientific species names are used according Kot- telat & Freyhoff (2007).

Herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles)

Within NP Ezerani, the presence of a total of 23 species (9 amphibians and 14 reptiles) was determined, which represents almost 50% of the Macedonian herpetofauna. Of the amphibians (class Amphibia), the Macedonian murmur (Triturus macedonicus), the Balkan murmur (Lissotriton vulgaris) and the yellow moth (Bombina variegata scabra) are Balkan endemics. Among the reptiles (class Reptilia) Balkan endemics are the mountain turtle (Eurotestudo hermanni boettgeri), the steppe lizard (Podarcis tauricus), the Macedonian lizard (Podarcis erhardii) and the large green lizard (Laserta trilineata). The Habitats Directive includes 6 species of amphibians from Annex IV, while the Macedonian murmur and yellow mackerel are also listed in Annex II. Of the reptiles, 12 species are included in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive, while the mountain tortoise (Eurotestudo hermanni boettgeri), the marsh tortoise (Emys orbicularis) and the lotus (Elaphe quaturolineata) are also listed in Annex II.

The birds in Prespa

There are 216 species of birds (class Aves) are registered in the Macedonian part of Lake Prespa, which represents 42% of the total number of birds registered in Europe. For about 100 species there are specific data for presence in NP Ezerani. Among them, there are 4 species that have the status of globally affected species (EN, VU), including the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus). A large number of birds in Prespa are listed in the EU Birds Directive: 68 species in Annex I, while 3 are included in Annex II.

Mammals in NP Ezerani

Within NP Ezerani, the presence of 31 species of mammals (Mammalia class) has been confirmed or assumed, which represents 38% of the total number of mammals registered in R.N. Macedonia. The Balkan mole (Talpa stankovici) is a Balkan endemic and is found not only in Macedonia but also in Greece, Serbia and Montenegro. The Macedonian mouse (Mus macedonicus) also has limited distribution and is found in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, the Middle East, the Caucasus and Minor Asia.

A total of 5 species of mammals from NP Ezerani are protected by the Law of Nature Protection, of which the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) and the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) have the status of strictly protected wild species. The Directive of the Conservation of Natural Habitats of wild fauna and flora of the European Union (DNH) provides protection for a total of 12 species of mammals found in NP Ezerani. For 8 of them the key habitats are declared as protected areas from the ecological network Natura 2000 (species from Annex II): Blasiu’s Horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus blasii), Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus euryale), Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros), Lesser mouse-eared bat (Myotis blythii), Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus schreibersii), Brown Bear and Eurasian Otter.