Islamia sp.04

Stygobiont. Karst springs of Padirac river-cave, at Montvalent, Lot.

Five spots, in Padirac system, gave some specimens of Islamia: at the bottom of the Grande Arcade gallery (PAD010), Allées Cavalières (PAD001), De Joly tributary (PAD004 & PAD006), La Finou karst spring (PAD008). Cf. Bichain, Boudoscq & Prié: Les mollusques souterrains du réseau karstique de Padirac (Lot, France), Karstologia N° 43 - 1/2004.

Above: a specimen collected at 29-30m deep, in rough sand and gravel, at the base of the first siphon of Saint-Georges, Montvalent. Altitude ≈ 230m. 1,2mm.

Two morphs are detected in Padirac system: the first is rather flat, living in the subterranean rivers of the cavern; the second is more globose, and is sampled in the karst springs of Montvalent (Bichain & Prié, 2005). This last morph could be attributed to the species Islamia moquiniana (Dupuy, 1851). Same spot, 1mm.

Saint-Georges karst spring is often used as a training diving spot. Therefore, it is not very difficult to obtain some sediments, thanks to the helpful divers who can be met there.

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