First catalog of invertebrates inhabitants of the Mediterranean small islands near the Almería coast (Almería, Spain) (Eumetazoa, Arthropoda and Mollusca)

Abstract

First faunistic results of a collaborative study about the terrestrial invertebrates present in three small islands near the coast of the province of Almeria (Spain) are presented. A total of 385 individuals were captured (373 arthropods and 12 mollusks). From these samplings 118 different species have been identified and three others are under study. Our results provide new insight into the invertebrate diversity of these small islands. Of special interest is the finding of several rare species which could represents new taxa for science, namely a chloropid in the genus Conioscinella and a braconid of the subfamily Microgastrinae. Several new reports are also relevant, specially the first European record of the phoretic mite Hypoaspis phyllognathi. With respect to Andalusia, we provide the first record of the encirtid Ericydnus aeneus. Referring to Almería province, we report for the first time the chilopod Algerophilus hispanicus, the springtails Hemisotoma pontica, Xenylla mediterranea and Anurida maritima, and the staflinids Aleochara bipustulata and Atheta pallidicornis. Taxa with morphological differences have been found with respect to their counterparts in the continental zone, and other rare species in the peninsular area, such as Tetragnatha intermedia or Cryptocephalus espanoli. Other records of interest about the dipteran fauna of these small islands, already published previously, are included as a comprehensive summary of the invertebrate fauna of the studied area. By islands, San Andrés and Terreros have presented the greatest variety in taxa, 61 and 60 respectively, while on Isla Negra, only 22 have been recorded. Se presentan los primeros resultados faunísticos del estudio colaborativo sobre los invertebrados terrestres presentes en tres pequeñas islas (isla de San Andrés, isla de Terreros e isla Negra) cercanas a la costa de la provincia de Almería (España). De un total de 385 individuos capturados (373 artrópodos y 12 moluscos, se han identificado entre 118 \ 121 taxones diferentes, destacando la localización de varias especies raras que podrían representar nuevos taxones para la ciencia, un clorópido del género Conioscinella y un bracónido de la subfamilia Microgastrinae. Resultan de interés varios registros nuevos, como la primera cita europea del ácaro forético Hypoaspis phyllognathi. Respecto a Andalucía, aportamos el primer registro del encírtido Ericydnus aeneus, y referente a la provincia de Almería, el quilópodo Algerophilus hispanicus, los colémbolos Hemisotoma pontica, Xenylla mediterranea y Anurida maritima, y los estaflínidos Aleochara bipustulata y Atheta pallidicornis. Se han encontrado taxones con diferencias morfológicas respecto a sus homólogos de la zona continental, y otras especies raras en el ámbito peninsular, como Tetragnatha intermedia o Cryptocephalus espanoli. Se incluyen otros registros de interés sobre la fauna de dípteros de estas pequeñas islas, ya publicados con anterioridad, a modo de resumen integral de la fauna invertebrada del área estudiada. Por islas, San Andrés y Terreros han presentado la mayor variedad en taxones, 61 y 60 respectivamente, mientras que, en isla Negra, solo se han registrado 22