Animal Biodiversity and Conservation. Volume 47.2 (2024) Pages: 197-208

A new cryptic rock-dwelling species of the genus Iberus Montfort, 1810 (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Helicidae) from southern Iberian Peninsula

Liétor, J., Jowers, M. J., Jódar, P. A., Galán-Luque, I., Tudela, A. R.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32800/abc.2024.47.0197

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Abstract

Since the description in 1957 of Iberus ortizi, a land snail endemic to the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula, there has been limited information about its distribution. It has traditionally been assumed that all populations of rock-dwelling Iberus snails inhabiting the Subbetic mountain ranges of Córdoba belonged to I. ortizi. In this study, intensive sampling throughout the entire potential area of I. ortizi allowed the identification of a new species (named I. rutensis sp. nov.) with conchological features somewhat intermediate between I. ortizi and I. loxanus. This new species occupies a limited area, divided into two populations. The first of these is located south of the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park and the second is located in the central-eastern part of the massif. Here we present a comprehensive description of the species following an integrative taxonomic approach combining geographical distribution, conchological analysis (including a morphometric study) and phylogenetic position and relationships. We also provide new localities for the cryptic species I. ortizi and I. marmoratus marmoratus, extending their known distributions to the provinces of Jaén and Córdoba, respectively.

Keywords

Iberus rutensis, I. ortizi, I. marmoratus, I. loxanus, Integrative taxonomy, Andalucía, Córdoba

Cite

Liétor, J., Jowers, M. J., Jódar, P. A., Galán-Luque, I., Tudela, A. R., 2024. A new cryptic rock-dwelling species of the genus Iberus Montfort, 1810 (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Helicidae) from southern Iberian Peninsula . Animal Biodiversity and Conservation, 47: 197-208, DOI: https://doi.org/10.32800/abc.2024.47.0197