Geodiversitas
30 (1) - Pages 233-246The present paper aims at highlighting phylogenetic, taxonomical and biogeographical links between northern and southern Mediterranean coasts on the species complex Tudorella sulcata (Draparnaud, 1805). In the Recent, the terrestrial molluscs from genus Tudorella constitute a group with disjointed area around the western Mediterranean whose origin can be followed in southern Europe since the beginning of the Miocene. Mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (ITS-1) DNA sequencing is realized for samples from France and Algeria with the aim of providing us a tool for molecular taxonomy. A lot of fossil records with diverse age inform us about the possible links between past and current forms in the complex paleogeographical context of the western Mediterranean. The populations from Provence (France) close to the type locality of Tudorella sulcata s.s. belong to the same taxon as those from Kabylia and Constantine area (Algeria) which are more diversified and thus older and clearly natives. The populations from the Edough peninsula (Annaba, Algeria) belong to a distinct unit temporarily named “Tudorella sp.” whose affinities with the Tyrrhenian islands will have to be highlighted. Some perspectives regarding conservation strategies in both territories are expected.
Mollusca, Gasteropoda, molecular taxonomy, genotypic variability, long distance dispersal, continental fossil island, Plio-Quaternary, Neogene, conservation unit