Species

BackPlutonia behnii (R.T. Lowe, 1852)

Plutonia behnii (R.T. Lowe, 1852)

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum:
  • Class: Mollusca
  • Order: Gastropoda
  • Family: Vitrinidae
LC Least Concern
IUCN Red List Status:

Countries of Occurrence:
Portugal - Madeira

Archipelago(s):
Madeira

Assessor/s:
Seddon, M.B.

Reviewer/s:
Groh, K., Cameron, R., Cuttelod, A. & Neubert, E.

Contributor/s:

Facilitators / Compilers/s:


Assessment Rationale:

This species is assessed as least Concern (LC). It has a restricted extent of occurrence of less than 200 kmwhich meets the threshold Endangered B1, however it is known at more than 13 localities and the range is not fragmented. It should be reviewed on a regular basis as the habitat may be susceptible to decline in quality with changing rainfall patterns, as the species require high humidity in the forests.

Geographic Range:

This species is endemic to the Madeiran islands, where is is known to restricted to the northern and central parts of Madeira, mainly along coast and laurisilva forests at intermediate elevations.

Regions:
Portugal - Madeira
Extent of Occurrence (EOO):
200 (km2)
Area of Occupancy (AOO):
(km2)
Elevation Lower Limit:
(m)
Elevation Upper Limit:
(m)
Biogeographic Realms:
Palearctic
Presence:
Extant
Origin:
Endemic Madeira
Seasonality:
Resident

Population:

This species is thought to be stable.

Habitat and Ecology

This species is found from coastal up to intermediate elevations, on ground or on ledges of shaded crags, usually on leaves, mosses or trunks of trees in areas of high humidity.

Major Threat(s):

The habitat quality is not declining at present throughout these regions, although there are localised decline due to changing forest type, outside the protected areas.

Conservation Actions

There are no conservation actions for this species. Proposed conservation actions would include further surveys to determine whether the species is till stable, and a habitat management plan will be required for the areas under fire damage which includes this species as the species still has a restricted range. Habitat monitoring would benefit this species, as it is close to meeting the threatened species criteria, and as a semi-slug species it is more vulnerable to changes in microc-climate, especially humidity. The species is found in Natura 2000 and UNESCO sites for "Laurisilva of Madeira', a Special Protected Area in the interior of Madeira.