The taming of Smeagol? A new population and an assessment of the known population of the critically endangered pulmonate gastropod Smeagol hilaris (Heterobranchia, Otinidae)

Matt J. Nimbs*, Tom R. Davis, Sebastian P. Holmes, Lachlan Hill, Samara Wehmeyer, Amanda Prior, Jane E. Williamson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
43 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The genus Smeagol consists of five named species of air-breathing marine slugs (restricted to southern Australia and New Zealand) and three undescribed taxa from southern Japan. Only one species, S. hilaris, is known to be from New South Wales (NSW), and it previously had a known distribution limited to one site, Merry Beach on the south coast. This diminutive invertebrate is classified as critically endangered in NSW due to its extremely restricted distribution and concern about its historically declining numbers. Accordingly, the aims of this study were to survey the known population of S. hilaris at Merry Beach and to explore other potentially suitable sites, using a visual census method, to determine if further populations or species exist in NSW. The resulting quantitative surveys of the known population and a new population at Storm Bay, Kiama, NSW, are reported here. DNA barcoding of a ~650 bp segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene for several individuals from each population confirmed the conspecificity among the two populations. The population at Merry Beach was found to remain viable, while the discovery of the new population of S. hilaris represents a doubling of the known global populations of this species. Details of the highly-specialised niche habitat occupied by Smeagol in New South Wales and recommendations for ongoing management are documented.

Original languageEnglish
Article number86
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalDiversity
Volume15
Issue number1
Early online date9 Jan 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2023

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2023. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

  • threatened species
  • visual census
  • conservation management
  • boulder beach fauna
  • Smeagolinae
  • gravel maggots

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The taming of Smeagol? A new population and an assessment of the known population of the critically endangered pulmonate gastropod Smeagol hilaris (Heterobranchia, Otinidae)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this