| Atlantica calathoides | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Family: | Gastrodontidae |
| Genus: | Atlantica |
| Species: | A. calathoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Atlantica calathoides (R. T. Lowe, 1863) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Atlantica calathoides is a species of land snail belonging to the family Gastrodontidae.
(Original description) This species is very closely allied to the Madeiran Atlantica gueriniana (R. T. Lowe, 1852), but is assuredly a genuine species, and not a merely large fossil form of that shell. It is distinguished by its larger size, less discoidal shape, greater convexity beneath, more elevated spire, obsolete keel, deeply impressed suture, and much coarser, more abrupt, and prominent ribs above, resembling, in the latter respect and in the abrupt ending of the ribs at the obsolete keel or angle of the last whorl, Janulus calathus (R. T. Lowe, 1852) (taxon inquirendum) or Janulus bifrons (R. T. Lowe, 1852). [2]
The species was first described by Richard Thomas Lowe in 1863 as Helix calathoides. [3]
In 2008, reserve warden Isamberto Silva and biologist Dinarte Teixeira rediscovered living populations of Atlantica calathoides on the island Deserta Grande. [4] [5] Specimens have since been found on two sites on Deserta Grande Island and Quaternary fossils have been found on the island Bugio. [4]
Atlantica calathoides are found in deep ravines on Deserta Grande Island. [4] They can typically be seen at the base of common bracken or found underneath rocks. [4]
The main cause of population decline is predation by mice and ground beetles. [4] Habitat degradation from goat grazing, droughts and landslides has also threatened the species. [4]
Atlantica calathoides were one of the target species of the LIFE Recover Natura Project which ran from October 2013 to March 2019. [6] It carried out a population study, monitoring scheme and species ecology study. [4] During the project, new populations of Atlantica calathoides were identified and the species' conservation status was evaluated. [7] Artificial shelters to assist in conservation were considered but it was concluded that this would not assist in conservation due to Atlantica calathoides spending extended periods of time underground. [8]
In recent decades, there has been a continued control programme for goat populations which should assist with habitat restoration. [4] Authorities in the area introduced the programme in the 1990s and have also eradicated other introduced species such as rabbits. [9]
The Desertas Islands are a small archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the larger Portuguese Madeira Archipelago.
Helicidae is a large, diverse family of western Palaearctic, medium to large-sized, air-breathing land snails, sometimes called the "typical snails." It includes some of the largest European land snails, several species are common in anthropogenic habitats, and some became invasive on other continents. A number of species in this family are valued as food items, including Cornu aspersum the brown or garden snail, and Helix pomatia. The biologies of these two species in particular have been thoroughly studied and documented.
Atlantica gueriniana is a species of small air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk presently in the family Gastrodontidae, but formerly in Discidae, the disk snails.
Plebecula anaglyptica is a species of land snail in the family Geomitridae.
Caseolus abjectus is a species of land snail in the family Geomitridae, the hairy snails and their allies. It is endemic to Madeira, where it occurs on three islands in the archipelago.
Leiostyla is a genus of small air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Lauriidae.
Lemniscia galeata is a species of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Geomitridae, the hairy snails and their allies.
Disculella spirulina is a species of gastropod in the Geomitridae family.
Spirorbula squalida is a species of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Geomitridae, the hairy snails and their allies.
Gastrodontidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Gastrodontoidea.
Vallonia pulchella, common name the lovely vallonia, is a species of very small air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Valloniidae.
Vitrea contracta, the milky crystal snail, is a species of small, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Pristilomatidae.
Geomitra grabhami is a species of air-breathing land snail, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Geomitridae.
Janulus is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Gastrodontidae.
Atlantica is a genus of snails in the family Gastrodontidae.
Craspedaria coronula is a species of air-breathing land snail in the genus Geomitridae.
Canaridiscus is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Discidae, the disk snails.
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