Assessment Rationale:

Hogna insularum is known in open habitats across all Madeiran islands (Portugal) at low altitudes. This species has a restricted geographic range with a maximum estimate of extent of occurrence (EOO) of ca 3,500 km² and area of occupancy (AOO) of ca 600 km². However, Hogna insularum is assessed as Least Concern (LC), since the preferred habitat of the species is not experiencing any decline in area and the invasive species present should not affect the spider populations. The population is therefore assumed to be stable. A monitoring of population trends should be conducted to confirm species status.

Geographic Range:

Hogna insularum is known in open habitats across all Madeiran islands (Portugal) at low altitudes. On Madeira Island it only occupies the eastern region. Multiple collection sites have been recorded for the species, mostly recent (Kulczyński 1899, Denis 1962, Denis 1963, Schmidt 1990, Wunderlich 1992, Crespo et al. 2013). It was possible to perform species distribution modelling to predict its potential range with confidence limits (Cardoso et al. 2017).

Population:

No population size estimates exist, but the preferred habitat of the species is not experiencing any decline in area and therefore the population is assumed to be stable.

Habitat and Ecology

Hogna insularum lives on open grassland or shrubland with frequent rock outcrops, which are very common in the eastern part of the archipelago at low altitudes. This species is an active ground hunter feeding mainly on small/medium size arthropods.

Major Threat(s):

There are no known threats to the species.

Conservation Actions

No specific conservation measures are in place for this species, but part of the species range is inside several protected areas including the Ponta de São Lourenco Special Protection Area and Desertas Nature Reserve. Monitoring of population trends should be conducted to confirm species status.