Uruguay
Veronicellid phylogeny
17-08-2010 11:39
Veronicellidae are
large, tropical slugs, which are widespread in the
Neotropics. In South America 16 genera are known to
occur, and many species are recorded as agricultural
pests or intermediate hosts for nematodes, causing
public health risks.
In the southern part of the continent, six species of the genus Phyllocaulis occur. Recently, a phylogenetic study explored the relationships between these species (Gomes et al, 2010).
Most of the species have a sympatric occurrence in part of their distributional range.
The results showed that the different species of Phyllocaulis are in mutually exclusive and well-supported clades. Interestingly, a study of the divergent times showed that the vicariant species P. gayi (Chile) and P. soleiformis (Argentina) had their common ancestor during Pleistocene times (~ 0.6 Ma). Since this timing is after the final upheaval of the Andes, the distribution is explained by cross-Andean dispersal and subsequent speciation.
Reference:
Gomes, S.R., Britto da Silva, F., Mendes, I.L., Thomé, J.W., Bonatto, S.L., 2010. Molecular phylogeny of the South American land slug Phyllocaulis (Mollusca, Soleolifera, Veronicellidae). - Zoologica Scripta 39: 177-186.
In the southern part of the continent, six species of the genus Phyllocaulis occur. Recently, a phylogenetic study explored the relationships between these species (Gomes et al, 2010).
Most of the species have a sympatric occurrence in part of their distributional range.
The results showed that the different species of Phyllocaulis are in mutually exclusive and well-supported clades. Interestingly, a study of the divergent times showed that the vicariant species P. gayi (Chile) and P. soleiformis (Argentina) had their common ancestor during Pleistocene times (~ 0.6 Ma). Since this timing is after the final upheaval of the Andes, the distribution is explained by cross-Andean dispersal and subsequent speciation.
Reference:
Gomes, S.R., Britto da Silva, F., Mendes, I.L., Thomé, J.W., Bonatto, S.L., 2010. Molecular phylogeny of the South American land slug Phyllocaulis (Mollusca, Soleolifera, Veronicellidae). - Zoologica Scripta 39: 177-186.
Tentacle 18
30-01-2010 09:18
The yearly newsletter
Tentacle has been published, now for the first time
on internet only. Another e-journal to mark the
transition to the paperless world.
The new issue 18 has several articles that are interesting to Neotropical snail lovers.
Ignacio Agudo has an interesting wrap-up of 13 years inventory work in Brazil, Santa Catarina state. He has an impressive list of freshwater and terrestrial molluscs needing conservation attention. In total, 37 taxa out of the 116 recorded for this state are considered either vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered according to IUCN Red List criteria. Amoung the latter category are Drymaeus papyrifactus, Anthinus turnix, and Bahiensis punctatissimus.
Agudo & Lenhard give a concise overview of the introduced molluscs in Brazil. Their list has 28 terrestrial gastropods, 12 freshwater and 5 marine taxa. They also discuss seven species of which the introduction is unresolved (some authors consider them native) and 16 taxa that have potential to invade Brazil.
Conservation issues in eastern Cuba are the subject of two other papers.
Maceira & Batista discuss the problems in El Gigante Ecological Reserve. An inventory of this 10.5 km2 large reserve lists 10 species (80% endemism) of land snails. Human activities resulting in destruction and fragmentation of the habitats and introduction of wide-spread species, like Deroceras reticulatum and Succinea angustior, threatens the malacofauna.
In a second paper Maceira, Pascual & Reyes report on the species found in a second reserve, Silla de Romano. In this 2141 ha area, 25 species (76% endemic) were found during an inventory in October 2008. Here too, destruction of habitats and fragmention threatens the snail population. Wild pigs are predating on some species as food.
Clavijo et al. describe the conservation priorities for Uruguayan land and freshwater molluscs. However, land snails are only briefly mentioned in a Table and the emphasis in this paper is totally on freshwater snails. According to these authors, 46 species of terrestrial Gastropoda (63% of total) are in need of conservation action.
Finally, Régnier shows that records of extinct molluscs in the Red List are biased. A critical revision of the list revealed that the 279 species already listed, 288 species must be added. Of this new total of 566 taxa, 422 are terrestrial.
References:
Agudo-Padrón, A.I., 2010. The mollusc fauna of Santa Catarina State, southern Brasil: knowledge gained from 13 years of research. - Tentacle 18: 32-37.
Agudo-Padrón, A.I. & Lenhard, P., 2010. Introduced and invasive molluscs in Brasil: a brief overview. - Tentacle 18: 37-41.
Clavijo, C., Carranza, A., Scarabino, F. & Soutullo, A., 2010. Conservation priorities for Uruguayan land and freshwater molluscs. - Tentacle 18: 14-16.
Maceira Filgueira, D. & Batista, Y., 2010. Land molluscs conservation problems in El Gigante Ecological Reserve, eastern Cuba. - Tentacle 18: 20-22.
Maceira Filgueira, D., Pascual Pérez, R. & Reyes Brea, J., 2010. Land molluscs of the Silla de Romano Protected Area, north coast of Cuba, and their conservation problems. - Tentacle 18: 22-25.
Régnier, C., 2010. Many unnoticed extinctions: do molluscs really account for half the toll? - Tentacle 18: 2-3.
The new issue 18 has several articles that are interesting to Neotropical snail lovers.
Ignacio Agudo has an interesting wrap-up of 13 years inventory work in Brazil, Santa Catarina state. He has an impressive list of freshwater and terrestrial molluscs needing conservation attention. In total, 37 taxa out of the 116 recorded for this state are considered either vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered according to IUCN Red List criteria. Amoung the latter category are Drymaeus papyrifactus, Anthinus turnix, and Bahiensis punctatissimus.
Agudo & Lenhard give a concise overview of the introduced molluscs in Brazil. Their list has 28 terrestrial gastropods, 12 freshwater and 5 marine taxa. They also discuss seven species of which the introduction is unresolved (some authors consider them native) and 16 taxa that have potential to invade Brazil.
Conservation issues in eastern Cuba are the subject of two other papers.
Maceira & Batista discuss the problems in El Gigante Ecological Reserve. An inventory of this 10.5 km2 large reserve lists 10 species (80% endemism) of land snails. Human activities resulting in destruction and fragmentation of the habitats and introduction of wide-spread species, like Deroceras reticulatum and Succinea angustior, threatens the malacofauna.
In a second paper Maceira, Pascual & Reyes report on the species found in a second reserve, Silla de Romano. In this 2141 ha area, 25 species (76% endemic) were found during an inventory in October 2008. Here too, destruction of habitats and fragmention threatens the snail population. Wild pigs are predating on some species as food.
Clavijo et al. describe the conservation priorities for Uruguayan land and freshwater molluscs. However, land snails are only briefly mentioned in a Table and the emphasis in this paper is totally on freshwater snails. According to these authors, 46 species of terrestrial Gastropoda (63% of total) are in need of conservation action.
Finally, Régnier shows that records of extinct molluscs in the Red List are biased. A critical revision of the list revealed that the 279 species already listed, 288 species must be added. Of this new total of 566 taxa, 422 are terrestrial.
References:
Agudo-Padrón, A.I., 2010. The mollusc fauna of Santa Catarina State, southern Brasil: knowledge gained from 13 years of research. - Tentacle 18: 32-37.
Agudo-Padrón, A.I. & Lenhard, P., 2010. Introduced and invasive molluscs in Brasil: a brief overview. - Tentacle 18: 37-41.
Clavijo, C., Carranza, A., Scarabino, F. & Soutullo, A., 2010. Conservation priorities for Uruguayan land and freshwater molluscs. - Tentacle 18: 14-16.
Maceira Filgueira, D. & Batista, Y., 2010. Land molluscs conservation problems in El Gigante Ecological Reserve, eastern Cuba. - Tentacle 18: 20-22.
Maceira Filgueira, D., Pascual Pérez, R. & Reyes Brea, J., 2010. Land molluscs of the Silla de Romano Protected Area, north coast of Cuba, and their conservation problems. - Tentacle 18: 22-25.
Régnier, C., 2010. Many unnoticed extinctions: do molluscs really account for half the toll? - Tentacle 18: 2-3.