Cuba: Pioneering study of freshwater molluscs finds 43% not included in PAs
Among biologists, Cuba is famous for its diversity of molluscs with some 3,000 species, including the fact that over 90 percent of its land snails live no-were else. Given this, it's not surprising that Cuba is known as the 'paradise of malacologists' (scientists who study molluscs). However, one type of mollusc has been largely ignored in Cuba: freshwater. A new study in Tropical Conservation Science hopes to remedy that.
According to the study there are 42 known species of freshwater molluscs. Although the percentage of endemic freshwater molluscs (occurring only in Cuba) is not nearly as high as its land snails, it is still considerable. Ten species are only found in Cuba, or nearly a quarter. Yet the study found that a number of these molluscs are in need of protection.
"With the exception of some highly charismatic species of land snails, such as those of the genus Polymita and Liguus, no other species of molluscs are taken into consideration when selecting a protected area or delimiting its borders," the authors write.
Currently, 24 of Cuba's freshwater molluscs are found in the nation's over 200 protected areas, leaving 18 unprotected. Three of these are only found in Cuba: Nanivitrea alcaldei, Nanivitrea helicoides, and Pachychilus nigratus. In addition, there are already concerns that the Nanivitrea species may have gone extinct.