The geographic distribution of the family Helicidae in Central Spain

Abstract

The distribution of 19 Helicidae species from an area extending over part of the provinces of Madrid, Guadalajara, Cuenca, Toledo, Soria and Segovia is studied. It includes two climatic and topographic subareas : one mountainous and the other of lowlands. Three of the five species, found only in the first subarea, are endemic to the Iberian Peninsula while the other two are central European. Nine species are only found in the second subarea, five of these being Mediterranean. The other five species are common to both subareas, and they have been collected in high number in many localities; three of these are Mediterranean, one western European and one central European. These results suggest that Central Spain may be considered as having a transitional fauna between the central European and Mediterranean fauna.