MAIISG

Assessment Rationale:

This species is protected by listing on the Council of Europe Berne Convention Appendix 2, and later on the EUHSD Annex II/IV. It was originally listed by IUCN 1990 as Rare, and upgraded to Endangered for the 1996 list. 
Seddon (2008) proposed a listing as IUCN status Endangered B2ab(iii) (Version 3.1). The small area of habitat (area of occupancy) suggests that the species is extremely vulnerable to further habitat change as there is Opuntia scrub on the fringes which may become a problem unless controlled. Other problems include tipping and dumping from roads on the coast. As such the species still qualifies as IUCN status Endangered B2ab(iii), on the basis of two known sites, small area of occupancy and declining habitat quality.

Geographic Range:

This species is endemic to the main island of Madeira, known only in the vicinity of Canico to Gaula on the coast of southeast Madeira (Seddon 2008). Nobre (1931, p. 114) lists a number of sites including Ribeiro do Porto Novo and Canico to Gaula.  It was not found by Cook et al. (1990) during their surveys at the extreme eastern end of Madeira. Seddon and others have recently live-collected the species in a small valley within the vicinity of Canico (Seddon, pers. comm., 2010). Groh and Hemmen (1986) illustrate material from Faja do Mar, in west Madeira (Seddon 2008).

Population:

There is no information on population trends, although the species is rare and very localised, and hence usually only found in targeted surveys. It is thought to be declining.

Habitat and Ecology

Information resulting from recent surveys (1991-1999) show that this species still occurs on north-east facing scree slopes near Porto Novo, with ground cover of shrubs including Euphorbia piscatoria, Aeonium glutinosum. These slopes are somewhat disturbed by human activity, with evidence of dumping (now restricted).

Major Threat(s):

The species lives on slopes that are somewhat disturbed by human activity: tourist developments, extension of airport access roads, illegal dumping (now restricted) and introduced vegetation (Opuntia).

 

Conservation Actions

This species is listed on the EU Habitats and Species Directive Annex II and the Council of Europe Bern Convention Appendix 2. This listing on the EU Species and Habitats Directive requiring designation of a protected area (pSAC). Further work is urgently needed on habitat and population monitoring for this species, as the areas where the species is now found are now extremely disturbed habitats.