An Annotated Checklist of the Marine Molluscs of the South Adriatic Sea ( Montenegro) and a Comparison with Those of Neighbouring Areas

Published literature on the molluscs of Montenegro (South Adriatic Sea) is still very scarce. As a baseline for future studies that will enhance the knowledge of this fauna, we have compiled a checklist combining the existing published data with original data from a recent research. Examination of sampled material and a review of the relevant literature revealed the presence of 354 mollusc species. Twelve species have been recorded for the first time in Montenegrin waters, 7 species are of non-native origin while 14 taxa are recognized as endangered and threatened, according to the IUCN Red List and the Barcelona/Berne Conventions. A comparison of our results with those of the neighbouring seas indicates that mollusc fauna is insufficiently studied, but we should bear in mind that the number of recorded species in relation to the size of the researched area points to a rich malacofauna zone.