CR

Mosaic Chrysalis-snail

Leiostyla tesselata

DecliningDDEUDDEU

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Leiostyla tesselata faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited range in Madeira. The species is particularly vulnerable to invasive plant species that alter the native vegetation structure of its forest habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect the humid microclimates essential for this terrestrial gastropod's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic land snail inhabits the native laurel forests (laurisilva) of Madeira, requiring humid microhabitats with dense vegetation cover. It is typically found in leaf litter and among moss-covered rocks in shaded forest areas at mid-elevations.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in LAURIIDAE

VU

Vermiculous Chrysalis-snail

Leiostyla vermiculosa

Unknown
EN

Rough Chrysalis-snail

Leiostyla rugulosa

Unknown
Elegans Chrysalis-snailCR

Elegans Chrysalis-snail

Leiostyla elegans

Unknown
EN

Leiostyla filicum

Declining

Threatened in Portugal

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
CR

Coscinodon monchiquensis

Unknown
EN

Double Spleenwort

Asplenium anceps

Declining
VU

Madeira Rustyback Fern

Asplenium lolegnamense

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Mosaic Chrysalis-snail classified as Critically Endangered?
Mosaic Chrysalis-snail is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Leiostyla tesselata faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited range in Madeira. The species is particularly vulnerable to invasive plant species that alter the native vegetation structure of its forest habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect the humid microclimates essential for this terrestrial gastropod's survival.
Where does Mosaic Chrysalis-snail live?
Mosaic Chrysalis-snail occurs in Portugal. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Mosaic Chrysalis-snail?
The main threats to Mosaic Chrysalis-snail are 8.1, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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