Ischnura fountainei Morton, 1905 is an incorrect original spelling in the sense of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), which had been emended according to Article 31.1.2.

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC°)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC°)

In the European region, the Oasis Bluetail (Ischnura fountaineae) is known from South European Russia and from two Italian islands. In Italy, the only resident presence is on Pantelleria with a population on one lake (Lago di Venere) of less than 1 km² in area, however, the population size is estimated to be several thousand individuals and seems to be stable. There is no information available about the populations in the extreme southern part of European Russia, but those populations are most likely well connected with the populations in the adjacent Asian part of the species' range. Although the number of known threat-defined locations is definitely below 10 in Europe, the population on Pantelleria is large and stable and is probably also well-connected with the many subpopulations in Tunisia. Within Europe, the species occurs in several more populations in southern European Russia, but no further information is available on the population size and threats. The species, therefore, qualifies as Near Threatened under Criterion B2 on the basis of the restricted area of occupancy (AOO) based on known locality records of 20 km², but with no continuing decline in any aspect of the species distribution, population or habitats, and the potential for significant immigration from outside the European region is high. Therefore, this species is downlisted by one Category to Least Concern in Europe (LC).

In the EU 27 region, the species occurs in a single resident population on Pantelleria with an AOO of 4 km². Several threats occur on Pantelleria and the species is considered to occur in a single location, however, the population size is large and seems to be stable, and there is no continuing decline in any aspect of the species' distribution, population or habitats. Therefore, the species qualifies as Near Threatened within EU 27. However, as it is widespread and common in adjacent parts of North Africa, regular immigration into Europe is expected, and this might have been the case with the single individual seen on the island of Linosa. Therefore, the species is also downlisted by one Category and assessed as Least Concern (LC°) for the EU 27.

In the European region, this species is present on some Italian islands (Pantelleria and Linosa) and in the steppe region of European Russia.

On the island of Pantelleria, an Italian volcanic island with a rather warm sulphurous crater lake (Specchio di Venere, Bagno dell'Acqua) situated c.70 km east of Tunisia and approximately 100 km southwest of Sicily and reaching about 89 km² in area (Lohmann 1989, Utzeri and d'Antonio 2005, Corso et al. 2012), the species is restricted to the crater lake at c.2 m above sea level. On Linosa Island, an immature female was found on Monte Rosso in 2010 (Corso et al. 2012). Despite further surveys, the species has not been observed again on Linosa Island, so it is most likely that this specimen originates from nearby Tunisia, where it is not scarce.

The species also occurs in the southern steppe of European Russia. These populations are the most northern ones and continue further south, out of the European region, to Azerbaijan and east to Central Asia (Boudot et al. 2021). We assume that the populations in the largely under-surveyed southern European Russia are more abundant, that they are well connected with the populations in the adjacent Asian part of the species' range and that there is a regular dispersal between them.

Globally, Ischnura fountaineae ranges from North Africa and the Middle East to Central Asia and favours arid environments.

The species is abundant at its location on Pantelleria and seems to be stable (Corso et al. 2012). No information is available on the populations in southern Russia.

The larvae of this species are known to be very tolerant to high salinity and the species favours hot arid areas. This is well exemplified in the Pantelleria subpopulation, which is confined to a hot (50°C) sulphurous crater lake showing gas emissions and surrounded by sulphurous springs and a sparse belt of rushes (Juncus sp.).

Although there are no indciations that the population on Pantelleria is declining, the site is prone to trampling and disturbance by livestock grazing and by recreational activities. Moreover, the cultivated fields immediately adjacent to the lake are regularly and heavily subject to pesticide and fertiliser application (Corso et al. 2012). Climate change and pollution are potential future threats. No information is available about the populations in southern European Russia.

There is no use or trade of this species.

The lake where the species occurs is within the 'Parco Nazionale Isola Di Pantelleria' National Park, the 'Riserva Naturale Orientata Isola Di Pantelleria' Nature Reserve, and the 'Isola di Pantelleria - Area Costiera, Falesie e Bagno dell'Acqua' Special Areas of Conservation (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2022). The Pantelleria lake should be preserved from trampling by livestock and recreational activities. No information is available about the habitat, threats and if conservation measures are necessary in the different localities in southern European Russia.