Graecophaedusa sperrlei Rähle, 1982: the first European species of subterranean Phaedusinae (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora: Clausiliidae) found alive

Abstract

Following the end of the Pliocene period, the cooling and drying climate of Europe strongly reduced its once rich fauna of the clausiliid subfamily Phaedusinae. All of the known 17 extant species in 5 genera occur in the south-eastern part of the continent and, except for 2, they are confined to subterranean habitats in near-coastal regions of Greece and southern Albania. Of these species only empty shells have been known and, therefore, their status as extant has been questioned. The recent discovery of a live population of Graecophaedusa sperrlei provides valuable information on the microhabitat requirements of this species. Collected specimens made possible a detailed study of the shell and also of the taxonomically important anatomical structures.