Iberus gualtieranus

Iberus gualtieranus is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae, the typical snails.

Iberus gualtieranus
Iberus gualtieranus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Helicidae
Genus: Iberus
Species:
I. gualtieranus
Binomial name
Iberus gualtieranus
Synonyms
  • Helix gualtierana Linnaeus, 1758
  • Helix gualtieranus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Iberus qualtieranus (Linnaeus, 1758) [orthographic error]

Iberus gualtieranus is the type species of the genus Iberus.[2]

This species is endemic to the southeastern Iberian Peninsula, Spain.[1][3]

Subspecies

Sometimes up to seven subspecies are recognized:[4]

  • Iberus gualtieranus alonensis
  • Iberus gualtieranus campesinus
  • Iberus gualtieranus carthaginiensis
  • Iberus gualtieranus gualterianus
  • Iberus gualtieranus mariae
  • Iberus gualtieranus posthumus
  • Iberus gualtieranus rhodopeplus

However, other studies consider Iberus alonensis, Iberus campesinus, and Iberus carthaginiensis as full species, explicitly recognizing only the following subspecies (Iberus gualtieranus sensu stricto):[3]

  • Iberus gualtieranus gualterianus
  • Iberus gualtieranus mariae
  • Iberus gualtieranus ornatissimus

The latter is the classification followed by IUCN.[1]

Shell description

The shell is keeled and flattened, with marked ornamentation of spiral and radial costulae. In contrast, Iberus alonensis and Iberus campesinus have more rounded shells.[3]

Iberus gualtieranus gualterianus

Habitat

Iberus gualtieranus occurs in limestone mountain areas of rocky substrate and sun exposure sub-desert environments with sparse vegetation. It sometimes also occurs in areas with more vegetation cover. It is primarily active in spring and specially in autumn, when it is not too cold nor too hot and dry.[1]

Conservation

Iberus gualtieranus is threatened by fires and by road construction that fragments its habitat. It is also collected for human consumption and has a high market value, encouraging collection despite its rarity.[1]

References
  1. Arrébola, J. (2011). "Iberus gualtieranus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T184948A8338429. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T184948A8338429.en. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  2. "Genus summary for Iberus ". AnimalBase, last modified 19 February 2008, accessed 26 June 2011.
  3. Elejalde, Miren Arantzazu; Madeira, María José; Muñoz, Benito; Arrébola, Jose Ramón; Gómez-Moliner, Benjamín J. (2008). "Mitochondrial DNA diversity and taxa delineation in the land snails of the Iberus gualtieranus (Pulmonata, Helicidae) complex". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 154 (4): 722–737. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00427.x.
  4. "Iberus gualtieranus (Linnaeus, 1758)". Fauna Europaea. Fauna Europaea Secretariat, Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
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