Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 85 (3): 345-349, 2012
SHORT COMUNICATION
Gyriosomus granulipennis Pizarro-Araya & Flores 2004 (Coleoptera:
Tenebrionidae): An extreme case to preserve
The Choros Archipelago includes three islands: Choros, Damas and Gaviota and
it is part of The Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve. These insular ecosystems are within the Chilean transitional coastal (25º-32º
S). Prior researches in the archipelago reported a species of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) endemic to Choros island (29º15’ S, 71º32’
W) described as Gyriosomus granulipennis Pizarro-Araya & Flores. The objective of this paper is to
evaluate the vulnerability of this species in the archipelago through Conservation Priority Index (CPI), Environmental Ministery of Chile
(MMA) and Red List of IUCN. We concluded that G. granulipennis is Endangered by CPI index, and Vulnerable by MMA of
Chile. Additionally, this species can be classiffied with Deficient Data (DD) by IUCN because many of data are impossible or difficult to
obtain for insects and can overestimate or underestimate the risk of extinction of this species. We consider important to monitoring the
continuity of this species and the protection of habitat, for which we propose not allow access the tourists and eradication of European
rabbit.
Key words:
Chile, coastal
desert, conservation, Gyriosomus, Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve.
