CR

Croatian Dace

Telestes polylepis

UnknownCREUCREU

Overview

Telestes polylepis, the Croatian dace, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae, which includes the daces, Eurasian minnows and related species. It is found only in a 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi) area of karst landscape in Ogulinsko polje, northwestern Croatia.

Telestes polylepis faces severe population decline primarily due to water abstraction and dam construction that fragments its riverine habitat. Pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development has degraded water quality in its limited range. The species' restricted distribution in specific river systems makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and extreme weather events.

Threat summary

Habitat

This freshwater fish inhabits clear, fast-flowing rivers and streams with rocky or gravel substrates in the Balkans. It prefers well-oxygenated waters with moderate to strong currents and is typically found in upstream sections of river systems.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorRocky areas· majorCaves and subterranean habitats· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementEx-situ conservationLegislation

Other threatened species in LEUCISCIDAE

VU

Tagus Chub

Squalius pyrenaicus

Declining
EN

Eastern Aegean bleak

Alburnus demiri

Declining
EN

Yliki Roach

Rutilus ylikiensis

Unknown
CR

Barada spring minnow

Pseudophoxinus syriacus

Declining

Threatened in Bosnia & Herzegovina

VU

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Anser erythropus

Declining
Common Fire SalamanderVU

Common Fire Salamander

Salamandra salamandra

Declining
EN

Serbian Spruce

Picea omorika

Declining
Yellow-breasted BuntingCR

Yellow-breasted Bunting

Emberiza aureola

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Croatian Dace classified as Critically Endangered?
Croatian Dace is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Telestes polylepis faces severe population decline primarily due to water abstraction and dam construction that fragments its riverine habitat. Pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development has degraded water quality in its limited range. The species' restricted distribution in specific river systems makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and extreme weather events.
Where does Croatian Dace live?
Croatian Dace occurs in Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Croatia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Croatian Dace?
The main threats to Croatian Dace are 1.1, 3.3, 5.3, and 7.2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.