Results of three recent surveys of the land snails of the Deserta islands,
Madeiran archipelago are given, including a newly described fossil fauna on
the largest island, Deserta Grande. Age estimates on shells from the sedim
ents suggest deposition between 60,000 and 90,000 yr BP. Results are compar
ed with 19th century records, and with similar undated fossil material from
the island of Bugio, known since the 19th century. A revised annotated che
ck-list of records is provided. The Pleistocene faunas include species now
extinct on the islands, indicative of wetter and bet tw vegetated condition
s than now. The two largest islands have suffered considerable environmenta
l degradation since their discovery, and show apparent rates of extinction
oner the last 150 yr much greater than in the larger islands of the archipe
lago, Madeira and Porto Santo. The Desertan land snail fauna is much closer
to that of Madeira than that of Porto Santo, reflecting an earlier probabl
e land connection.