Lantzia

Lantzia is a genus of amphibious pulmonate gastropods in the family Lymnaeidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Lantzia carinata. It is endemic to montane streams on the Indian Ocean island of Réunion.

Lantzia carinata
Conservation status
Critically endangered, possibly extinct  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Superorder:	Hygrophila
Family:	Lymnaeidae
Genus:	Lantzia Jousseaume, 1872
Species:	L. carinata
Binomial name
Lantzia carinata Jousseaume, 1872

Habitat and ecology

Lantzia carinata is a small, limpet-like lymnaeid endemic to mountain streams and waterfalls at an altitude of 1200–1300 meters asl on the island of Réunion, where it clings to mosses and stones- similarly to the Hawaiian Erinna species. Despite a similarity in habitat choice and morphology, this is assumed to be a case of convergence rather than one originating from evolutionary radiation (although this genus has occasionally been synonymized with Erinna).^[2]

Threats

Lantzia carinata, despite being rediscovered in 1992, continues to occur in an extremely limited area, also possessing an extremely vulnerable and specialized habitat within native mosses. Threats posed by declines in habitat quality as a result of invasive species have caused the species to, under IUCN criteria B2ab(iii), be assessed as Critically Endangered. In addition, a lack of recorded occurrences in modern endemic malacofaunal surveys has presented the caveat 'Possibly Extinct' to this species' status.^[2] Along with Madagasikara zazavavindrano and Pisidium betafoense, this species is one of the only three Critically Endangered freshwater mollusk species recorded from the Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands hotspot.^[3]

References

1. Van Damme, D. (2016). "Lantzia carinata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T11302A91286059. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T11302A91286059.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
2. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
3. Máiz-Tomé, L.; Sayer, C.; Darwall, W. R. T. (2018). The status and distribution of freshwater biodiversity in Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands hotspot. doi:10.2305/iucn.ch.2018.ra.1.en. ISBN 9782831718828.