Canariella (Majorata) Alonso & Ibáñez, 2006

Alonso, María R., Ponte-Lira, Carmen E., Castillo, Carolina, Yanes, Yurena, Groh, Klaus & Ibáñez, Miguel, 2006, A new Canariella species (Gastropoda: Helicoidea: Hygromiidae) of the new subgenus Majorata, both endemic to the Jandía Peninsula (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands), Zootaxa 1316, pp. 45-56 : 53-54

Canariella (Majorata) Alonso & Ibáñez new subgenus

Type species: Helix eutropis L. Pfeiffer 1861 .

Etymology. The name of the subgenus derives from the ancient name “majoreros” given to the inhabitants of the island of Fuerteventura.

Diagnosis: Canariella without hairs on the shell. All five epiphallar, longitudinal folds extend into the penial cavity and merge at their distal ends, giving rise to a large, grooved, spoon­like penial papilla. Penial papilla partially covers the main structure of distal penis (pseudopapilla or pilaster, respectively). Vagina with two­three digitiform vaginal glands, short and broad.

Remarks. Until now five Canariella subgenera are known, all with hairy shell, their main genital system distinguishing character states are shown in the appendix. Majorata subgen. nov. differs in the absence of hairs on the shell and in the origin of the penial papilla from all the epiphallar folds.

Conservation

The distribution of Majorata is a protected area because it belongs to the Jandía Natural Park, one of the sites of interest for biodiversity and nature protection to be designated a Special Area of Conservation: the ES7010033 Site, compiled within the framework of Natura 2000, EU Habitats and Birds Directives (CEC 2002). This park harbours several other living species endemic to Jandía (plants and arthropods) in addition to several extinct ones, such as the snail Ferussacia valida (Mousson, 1872) .

However, unfortunately, all these living species are threatened by the very abundant livestock present (goats, an also sheep) grazing freely and destroying the habitat in the entire peninsula, but mostly in the mountains, even on the Jandía cliffs. Tourism also has a significant impact on the entire zone. Consequently, the species endemic to Jandía are currently under threat and some are in danger of extinction.

The two Majorata species have a limited distribution ( Fig. 1 ). It is very small for C. jandiaensis (about 1 km 2) whereas that of C. eutropis is a little larger (up to 10 km 2, between 350 and 807 m altitude) although decreasing. In the past the C. eutropis area was larger, as is shown by the fossil records, from approximately 30,000 years ago (aminozone 4: Ortiz et al. 2006); this species probably inhabited almost the whole southwestern area of the Jandía Peninsula. C. jandiaensis is more threatened by its very small distribution area, which could still diminish for the destruction of the habitat above mentioned. Thus, we propose for C. jandiaensis the "Critically Endangered" category, in accordance with IUCN (2001) CR B2ab(iii) criteria. The species should be included in the Habitats Directive Annexes II and IV of the European Union. C. eutropis is also threatened and we therefore propose in this case the "Endangered" category, in accord with IUCN (2001) EN B2ab(iii) criteria.

The main measure necessary for the conservation of both species as well as that of the other endemic species from the Jandía mountains is appropriate habitat protection, mainly by strict livestock control.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution of Canariella jandiaensis sp. nov. and C. eutropis. Symbols represent 1 x 1 km UTM squares.