Zarateana arganica

Zarateana arganica is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Geomitridae.[3]

Zarateana arganica
Apertural view of the shell of Zarateana arganica

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group Sigmurethra
Superfamily:
Helicoidea
Family:
Geomitridae
Subfamily:
Helicellinae
Genus:
Zarateana
Species:
Z. arganica
Binomial name
Zarateana arganica
(Servain, 1880)[2]
Synonyms
  • Helix arganica Servain, 1880
  • Candidula arganica (Servain, 1880)

Distribution

This species is endemic to mainland Spain, being found in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. This species ranges from northwest Huesca to north Burgos, its range coinciding with the transition area from the Cantabrian temperate broadleaf and mixed forest, a part of "Green Spain", to the Mediterranean faunal zones.[1]

Description

The shell of Zarateana arganica is greyish white in color. There are brown color bands on the shell which resemble horn. The shell is lustrous and has fine striae. Fresh shells have short structures resembling hairs.[4]

There are whorls which are, to some extent, convex in shape. The last whorl is not much broader than precedent whorls.[4]

The main opening of the shell or the aperture is sometimes quadrangular in shape. There is a sharp lip inside the aperture which is white in color. The umbilicus is clearly visible, open and wide.[4]

The width of the shell is 4.5-5.5 mm. The height of the shell is 2.5–3 mm.[4]

Zarateana arganica Berrostegieta, Álava (Spain). Scale bar 0.5 cm.

Habitat

Z. arganica is a terrestrial mollusc. It lives in open places which receive a lot of sunlight, primarily in meadows or grasslands. However, it is also found in riverbanks and forests.[1]

Interaction with humans and threats

Zarateana arganica is not used by humans for food or any other activity. Hence no trading activity is associated with this species.[1]

Urban planning and activities associated with the primary sector of the economy such as agriculture and forestry pose the main risks to this species. The sub-populations of the species also face threat from fire. In the IUCN Red List, Z. arganica is listed as "Least Concern". According to the IUCN, "Although this species has a restricted range, it does not meet either population decline or range decline criteria."[1]

No population study was done on Z. arganica. However, according to the IUCN Red List, the population trend is considered to be stable.[1]

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References
  1. Gomez, B. (2013). "Candidula arganica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013. Retrieved 2014-12-12.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. (in French) Servain G. (1880). Étude sur les mollusques recueillis en Espagne et en Portugal. pp. [1-3], 1-172. St. Germain. (Bardin). page 85-86.
  3. Chueca, Luis J.; Gómez-Moliner, Benjamín J.; Madeira, María José; Pfenninger, Markus (January 2018). "Molecular phylogeny of Candidula (Geomitridae) land snails inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear markers reveals the polyphyly of the genus". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 118: 357–368. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.10.022. PMID 29107619.
  4. "Species summary for Candidula arganica". AnimalBase, last modified 4 January 2014, accessed 12 December 2014.

http://luisjavierchueca.com/research-3/candidula-s-l/

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