IWAI - The Shell Guide to the River Shannon

Fauna of the River

Daphne Levinge

The Shannon system contains almost every environment to be found in Ireland except those habitats exclusively marine and consequently offers a good cross-section of the fauna of the country.

Because they move around and are not necessarily restricted to one habitat, most of our larger animals can be found throughout the Shannon system; the smaller invertebrates (e.g. insects, snails and crustaceans) which are not so mobile and tend to be dependent on certain vegetation or other physical conditions may only be found in specific areas. The identification of these smaller animals is a task for the specialist. In fact, the Shannon has not yet been comprehensively explored and frequently new and interesting species are discovered when new areas are studied in detail.

It is vital that this diversity of fauna and flora and the quality of the Shannon environment be maintained. Sadly, many habitats are under threat from man’s activities. The large-scale arterial drainage of the Shannon is a controversial subject. Water quality is deteriorating through increased fertiliser usage and farm effluents; sewage is still being discharged untreated from towns and villages; the working of peat bogs often produces an accumulation of silt from inflowing tributaries. In addition, poorly sited developments resulting from inadequate planning and development controls can despoil the landscape and destroy previously undisturbed habitats.

Notes and a checklist of the larger animals and butterflies likely to be encountered by the Shannon visitor are included in the appendix. A pair of binoculars and a quiet walk or row in a dinghy at dawn or dusk will often be rewarded with sightings of our larger animals. Butterflies and other insects prefer bright, sunny days. It is not possible to be comprehensive in the check- list of other smaller fauna because of the range and diversity of species whose identification is often difficult.