Specific Wildlife Species Shaping a Local Identity

A Remarkable Diversity

:: With 39 referenced species, and among them18 targeted in national or international regulations, it is the very last refuge for all the “sea-river” migratory fishes, including European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), allis shad (Alosa alosa), twaite shad (Alosa agone), eel (Anguilla anguilla), river lemprey (Lampetra fluviatis), marine lamprey (Petromyson marinus), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and sea trout (Salmo trutta trutta).
The Dordogne Bassin also has several habitats of Community interest (Habitats Directive and CORINE Classification), with floating water-plantain (Luronium natans), officinal gratiola (Gratiola officinalis), summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum), pulicaria (Pulicaria vulgaris), and Roman squill (Bellevalia romana) to name just a few.

Otters and Birds

:: Evidence (pictures and faeces) demonstrates that there are otters (lutra lutra) downstream and upstream. Both otters’ populations have started to join, resulting in a genetic mixing beneficial to the survival of the species.

The great diversity of birds is due to the quality of the water and the variety of environments, as well as to the numerous invertebrates, which are an important source of feeding. Short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus), osprey (Pandionhaliaetus), kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), eagle owl (Bubo bubo), white-throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus), black stork (Ciconia nigra), sand martin (Riparia riparia), and little ringed plover (Charadrius dubuis) live around the River and its core area between Argentat and Bergerac.

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