British Red Data Books: 3 Invertebrates Other Than Insects

This compact 253 page book, which is produced in A5 format, continues from two earlier Red Data Books. The first of these, now in the second edition, dealt with vascular plants and this was followed in 1987 by a volume dealing with British insects.

The book starts with a foreword by Sir William Wilkinson, former chairman of The Nature Conservancy Council. Then, following a brief introduction, there are sections on the selection of species for the book, British and international legislative protection for non- insect invertebrates and explanations of the threat definitions and criteria for included taxa. The bulk of the book comprises data sheets, each dealing with an individual species. Throughout the text are 18 black and white photographs illustrating a variety of habitats.

Species included in the Red Data Book are those that are considered to be under threat, either as a result of evidence from biological recording for well documented groups like Mollusca, or in habitat terms for invertebrate groups where recording schemes are, as yet incomplete. The book covers a total of 144 species from 8 phyla including 33 species of brackish, freshwater and terrestrial Mollusca. The status of each species is linked to one of six categories of threat. These include (1) extinct in Britain (applying to no molluscan taxa); (2) endangered-R. D.B.I (including Vertigo angustior and Segmentina nitida); (3) vulnerable-R.D.B.2 (e.g. Gyraulus acronicus and Lymnaea glabra); (4) rare-R.D.B.3 (e.g. Vertigo moulinsiana and Helicodonta obvoluta); (5) insufficiently known R.D.B.K. (e.g. Tandonia rustica and Caecum armoricum) and (6) endemic- R.D.B. 5 (no Mollusca fall into this category although Leiostyla anglica and Ashfordia granulata are "nearly" there!) Species that have been given Red Data Book status but subsequently prove to be out of danger are classified as R.D.B.5.

Each species is described on a data sheet which is divided into eight sections covering identification, distribution, habitat, ecology, status, threats, conservation and sheet author. Most of the molluscan sheets are written by Dr. M. P. Kerney with a smaller number of brackish species dealt with by Mr. D. R. Seaward.

This book is of considerable importance in drawing attention to a section of our fauna that has, perhaps for too long, not been given the recognition, appreciation or environmental consideration that it deserves. It promotes awareness of the very special needs of the taxa considered, as well as illustrating the fragile and vulnerable nature of many of the habitats upon whose existence, their future as members of our native fauna depends. This clear, tightly written book can be thoroughly recommended to all those with either a specific interest in the groups considered, or a wider concern for the continued well being of the diversity of habitats that these threatened species depend upon.