Tag Archives: Spain

Turdus sp. ‘Gymnesian Islands’

Gymnesian Thrush (Turdus sp.)

This form is known from fossil remains that were found on the island of Mallorca, Spain and that are of Late Paleistocene/Early Holocene age.

They appear to be at least 10% larger than corresponding compariative material of the largest known Turdus spp. and may be identical with another large thrush species that was described in 2004 as Meridiocichla salotti Louchart. [1]

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References:

[1] Antoine Louchart: An extinct large thrush (Aves: Turdidae) from the late Quaternary of Mediterranean Europe. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie 233(2): 257-296. 2004

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edited: 02.01.2023

Coilostele acus (Pfeiffer)

(Coilostele acus)

This species was described in 1854, the type material, however, was apparently lost during World War II, thus the taxonomic validity of this taxon is unclear.:

“Taxonomic issues arose concerning two species when they were submitted to experts, although they had never been reported as nonvalid species in the scientific literature; because their taxonomic status is unclear (the biological species designated by their names are unknown), they were classified as impossible to assess. However, due to this taxonomic uncertainty, no data are available apart from their original 19th-century descriptions, and the model evaluates them as extinct. These taxa are Coilostele acus and Perrottetia piriformis.” [1]

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It is quite unlikely that this taxon is indeed extinct, it is most likely synonymous with some of the other species described in that genus. [2]

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References:

[1] Claire Régnier; Guillaume Achaz; Amaury Lambert; Robert H. Cowie; Philippe Bouchet; Benoît Fontaine: Mass extinction in poorly known taxa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 1-6. 2015
[2] A. Martínez-Ortí; M. Prieto; F. Uribe: Addendum to the type catalogue of the malacological collection in the Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. Arxius de Miscel.lània Zoològica 16.2018

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edited: 09.11.2021

Felicola isidoroi Perez & Palma

Iberian Lynx Louse (Felicola isidoroi)

The Iberian Lynx Louse was described in 2001; it is known from a single male specimen.

The species’ disappearance is an example of a conservation-induced extinction: it died out when the last survivors of its host species, the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus (Temminck)), themselves being at that time highly in imminent danger of extinction, were taken into captivity and de-loused.

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The Iberian Lynx itself has made a decent comeback with the population now being at 1668 individuals in May of 2023.

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References:

[1] Jesus M. Perez; Ricardo Palma: A new species of Felicola (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae) from the endangered Iberian lynx: another reason to ensure its survival. Biodiversity and Conservation 10(6): 929-937. 2001

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edited: 15.01.2024

Neohoratia coronadoi (Bourguignat)

Crowned Neohoratia Snail (Neohoratia coronadoi)

The Crowned Neohoratia Snail was described in 1870; I could not find out much about it except for a brief account of its former type locality.:

“in Madrid’s surroundings or, at least, in some springs or streams of the New Castille Province” [1]

The species is now considered most likely extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Beatriz Arconada; Maria-Angeles Ramos: Revision of the genus Islamia Radoman, 1973 (Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda, Hydrobiidae), on the Iberian Peninsula and description of two new genera and three new species. Malacologia 48(1-2): 77-132. 2006

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Depiction from: ‘Jules René Bourguignat: Mollusques nouveaux, litigieux, ou peu connus. Fasc. 1. Paris: cneohoratiahez F. Savy 1865’

(not in copyright)

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edited: 27.04.2022

Hemicycla montefortiana Beck & Rähle

Monteforte Land Snail (Hemicycla montefortiana)

This species was described in 2006, its (sub)fossil shells were found in fossil beds in the Barranco de Monforte on the island of La Gomera, Canary Islands.

The shells reach sizes of about 4,6 cm in diameter, they are very similar to those of another extinct member of this genus, Mousson’s Land Snail (Hemicycla moussoniana (Wollaston)) but are larger. [1]

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The fossil beds of La Gomera have been dated to Late Pleistocene to Holocene age, thus the Monteforte Land Snail may very well have survived into the Holocene.

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References:

[1] T. Beck; W. Rähle: Description of a newly discovered extinct repreentative of the genus Hemicycla Swainson, 1840 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Helicidae) from La Gomera, Canary Islands. Basteria 70: 53-56. 2006

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edited: 05.12.2018

Xerotricha garachicoensis (Wollaston)

Garachico Snail (Xerotricha garachicoensis)

The Garachico Snail was described in 1878; it is only known only from some specimens that were collected in 1861 from around Garachico, a city in northern Tenerife, Canary Islands.

“In its general size and hue, as well as in the proportion of its umbilicus, the P. garachicoensis has also, at first sight, a little in common with the P. Bertholdiana, Pfeiff., from the Cape Verdes. It is, however, more flattened and discoidal than that species (or less lenticular), its surface is more strongly and roughly sculptured, and, although the spire is much depressed, its volutions are nevertheless more tumid, – the basal one moreover being quite free from the slightest trace of a keel.” [1]

The habitat in the original locality has drastically changed since the 19th century and the species has not been recorded since its description and might well be extinct.

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References:

[1] T. Vernon Wollaston: Testacea Atlantica: or the Land and Freshwater Shells of the Azores, Madeiras, Salvages, Canaries, Cape Verdes, and Saint Helena. London: L. Reeve & Co. 1878
[2] David T. Holyoak; Geraldine A. Holyoak; Yurena Yanes; Maria R. Alonso; Miguel Ibáñez: Taxonomic revision, habitats and biogeography of the land snail family Discidae (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) in the Canary Islands. Journal of Conchology 40(6): 583-603. 2011

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edited: 12.05.2022

Hemicycla hedybia (Mabille)

Hedybia Land Snail (Hemicycla hedybia)

The Hedybia Land Snail was described in the year 1882, it is resp. was endemic to the Canary Islands, that is all that’s known, since the author (J. Mabille) did not mention any further data about the locality.  

The species may quite well still exist.

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Depiction from: ‘George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second Series: Pulmonata Vol. 4, Helicidae Vol. 2. 1888’  

(public domain)

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edited: 17.10.2020

Rallus eivissensis McMinn, Palmer & Alcover

Ibiza Rail (Rallus eivissensis)

The Ibiza Rail was described in 2005 based on subfossil bones that had been recovered from the deposits of a cave at Es Pouàs on the island of Ibiza in the Spanish Balearic Islands, Spain.

The species was closely realated to, and perhaps derived from the Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus L.) but was slightly smaller and stouter-built, yet, unusual for a insular endemic rail, it was not flightless.

The Ibiza Rail disappeared around 5300 to about 4300 years B.P., at around the time when the first humans arrived at the Balearic Islands.

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References:

[1] M. McMinn; M. Palmer; Josep Antoni Alcover: A new species of rail (Aves: Rallidae) from the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene of Ibiza (Pityusic Islands, western Mediterranean). Ibis 147(4): 706-716. 2005

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edited: 11.09.2019

Hemicycla maugeana (Shuttleworth)

Valverde Land Snail (Hemicycla maugeana)

The quite variable Valverde Land Snail, described in 1852, was endemic to the island of El Hierro, Canary Islands, where it apparently was restricted exclusively to the lowland regions in the southern part of the island.

The species was not found during recent searches (around 2010) and may be extinct. 

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Depiction from: ‘George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second Series: Pulmonata Vol. 4, Helicidae Vol. 2. 1888’  

(public domain)

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edited: 04.12.2018

Kunkeliella psilotoclada (Svent.) Stearn

Masca Brush Bush (Kunkeliella psilotoclada)  

The Mazca Brush Bush, known regionally as Escobilla or Escobilla de Masca, reached a height of about 1 m, it is, or rather was a broom-like semi-parasitic shrub with very small scale-like, stiff and pointed leaves.

The species is now considered extinct, as the last two specimens were found in 1983. The main reasons for its extinction are found in the uncontrolled grazing by introduced goats and rabbits. 

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The other three species of the genus, the Gran Canaria Brush Bush (Kunkeliella canariensis Stearn) from the island of Gran Canaria as well as the Rue Brush Bush (Kunkeliella retamoides Santos) and the Fleshy Brush Bush (Kunkeliella subsucculenta Kämmer), both from Tenerife, are also extremely threatened. 

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References: 

[1] Peter und Ingrid Schönfelder: Die Kosmos Kanarenflora. Franckh-Kosmos-Verlag Stuttgart 1997
[2] Thomas Abeli; Giulia Albani Rocchetti; Zoltan Barina; Ioannis Bazos; David Draper; Patrick Grillas; José María Iriondo; Emilio Laguna; Juan Carlos Moreno-Saiz; Fabrizio Bartolucci: Seventeen ‘extinct’ plant species back to conservation attention in Europe. Nature Plants 7: 282-286. 2021

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edited: 13.11.2021

Hemicycla gomerensis (Morelet)

La Gomera Land Snail (Hemicycla gomerensis)

This species was described in 1864, it is or was endemic the the island of La Gomera, Canary Islands.

The shell reaches a size of about 2,1 cm in diameter.

“In proportion to its size the shell is extremely thin and fragile, being more than usually sub-diaphanous when held up to the light; and its colour is a deep castaneous-brwon, but rather paler (or more olivaceous) beneath, with extremely indistinct indications of three obsolete darker bands, – one of which is just below the dorsal line, another immediately above it, and the third a little behind the suture (the space between this last one and the suture being sometimes, apparently, though not in the specimens now before me, of a more lively ochreous yellow).” [1]

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The La Gomera Snail is listed in the Red List of the IUCN as ‘data deficient’, but may be already extinct.

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References:

[1] T. Vernon Wollaston: Testacea Atlantica: or the Land and Freshwater Shells of the Azores, Madeiras, Salvages, Canaries, Cape Verdes, and Saint Helena. London: L. Reeve & Co. 1878

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Depiction from: ‘George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second Series: Pulmonata Vol. 4, Helicidae Vol. 2. 1888’

(public domain)

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edited: 05.12.2018

Hemicycla guanartemes (Grasset)

Guanarteme Land Snail (Hemicycla guanartemes)

This species was described in 1857, it is/was endemic to the island of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.

The shell reaches/reached a size of about 2 cm in diameter.

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The Guanarteme Land Snail appears to have been quite common formerly.:

“The present Helix was taken in Gran Canary both by Grasset and Fritsch, and subsequently in considerable abundance by Mr. Lowe and myself. We found it principally in and around the little town of Teror (on one occasion even within the house of Don Pedro Manrique), but likewise in the region of El Monte, – particularly in the hollows of old trees at the Laurealos, ….” [1]

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The species is listed (as Hemicycla guamartemes) in the Red List of the IUCN as ‘data deficient’, but, since it apparently was not found during recent searches, may be already extinct.

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References:

[1] T. Vernon Wollaston: Testacea Atlantica: or the Land and Freshwater Shells of the Azores, Madeiras, Salvages, Canaries, Cape Verdes, and Saint Helena. London: L. Reeve & Co. 1878

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Depiction from: ‘George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second Series: Pulmonata Vol. 4, Helicidae Vol. 2. 1888’ 

(public domain)

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edited: 05.12.2018

Emberiza alcoveri Rando, Lopez & Segui

Long-legged Bunting (Emberiza alcoveri)

This species was described based on subfossil remains that had been found on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands.

The Long-legged Bunting had very long legs and short wings, which indicate that the species may even have been flightless, if so it would have been one of only a very, very few passerines that lost their flight abilities.

The species disappeared shortly after the Canary Islands were settled by the Guanches at around 1000 BCE.

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edited: 17.04.2019

Leiostyla castanea (Shuttleworth)

Chestnut-colored Helmet Snail (Leiostyla castanea)  

The Chestnut-colored Helmet Snail was described in the year 1852, it appears to be or have been endemic to the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands.  

The species was known to occur in damp places near Garachico, a town on the northern coast of Tenerife.  

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See Thomas Vernon Wollaston in the year 1878 (Testacea Atlantica).:  

“Mr. Lowe’s examples of this very distinct Pupa were taken, during April of 1861, above Garachico, in the north of Teneriffe, – namely adhering to wet rocks and sodden leaves, in the drip of a small waterfall ….” [1]  

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The Chestnut-colored Helmet Snail was never recorded again since 1878 and appears to be extinct.  

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References:  

[1] T. Vernon Wollaston: Testacea Atlantica: or the Land and Freshwater Shells of the Azores, Madeiras, Salvages, Canaries, Cape Verdes, and Saint Helena. London: L. Reeve & Co. 1878  

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Depiction from: ‘George W. Tryon; Henry A. Pilsbry; a.o.: Manual of Conchology. Second Series: Pulmonata Vol. 27, Pupillidae (Orculinae, Pagodulinae, Acanthinulinae, etc.). 1922-1926’  

(public domain)

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edited: 17.01.2011