MAIISG

Assessment Rationale:

The range of this species across the Azores is uncertain due to taxonomic concerns. Until the pending taxonomic review is complete this species is considered to be Data Deficient (DD), as the extent of this species distribution could affect its category.

Geographic Range:

This species occurs in all the islands of the Azores, except Corvo.

Population:

Morelet (1860) states that this species is common under leafs and stones on all islands. Backhuys (1975) referred the high variability of the taxon but was cautious about extending its range to all islands, for he left out the islands of Santa Maria, Graciosa and Corvo. It will be provisionally mapped here in the first islands, pending the results of the revision under way; the specimens from Corvo seem quite different and will not be included here.

Habitat and Ecology

Leiostyla fuscidula lives in forested habitats, where it can be found under dead leafs, as well as under heaps of rocks and stone walls, from xeric, littoral habitats, e.g. Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo (Martins 1995), to the endemic forest, e.g. Cabeço da Bola, Pico island (Martins et al. 2006). It is common under rocks, mainly at lower altitudes; in forests it can also be found on the underside of the leafs of live Hedychium gardneranum, but more commonly hiding in the curled, dry leafs of that same plant.

Major Threat(s):

Due to its wide range of habitats, no threats are foreseen.

Conservation Actions

The species is under taxonomic review, and research is needed regarding its true distribution across the islands due to taxonomic uncertainty.