Nouvelles populations de Grande Mulette Margaritifera auricularia (Spengler, 1793) (Bivalvia : Margaritiferidae) découvertes dans le sud-ouest de la France

The giant pearl mussel Margaritifera auricularia (Spengler 1793) is a critically endangered species. The European action plan recommended the survey of south-west France as a priority. A first survey was conducted in 2010 by Biotope consultancy with the help of the ONEMA (Office National de l’Eau et des Milieux Aquatiques) staff, with financial support of the Adour-Garonne Water Agency. This survey allowed discovering five new populations, raising to nine the number of worldwide known locations (sensu IUCN). Three of these populations are ageing or insufficiently studied, but the Dronne and the Luy populations are important and seem to have recruited recently.