Cochlorina is a genus of tropical arboreal land snails endemic to Brazil, comprising eight poorly studied species. The present study is aimed to redescribe all species of the genus, through detailed morphological investigations. Based on new morphological data, Cochlorina lateritia is here proposed as a junior synonym of C. navicula, three new species are proposed: Cochlorina andradeae sp. nov., Cochlorina mainesae sp. nov., Cochlorina parkis sp. nov, and Navicula is proposed as a separate genus to Cochlorina. A dichotomous key for Cochlorina and Navicula species is presented. The importance of the anatomy of the mantle folds as an indicator of fecal pellets shaping is discussed.
Planorbella duryi (Wetherby, 1879) is a North American planorbid, commonly found in the aquarium trade as an ornamental aquatic snail, or even as a pest due to its prolific reproduction. This species has been introduced to other regions through human activities. Tt has been present in Europe for several decades, primarily in indoor, managed environments; occurrences beyond these settings are associated with milder climates or thermal waters. Its presence in Serbia was first recorded in 2022, in pools within the tropical greenhouse in Belgrade. In this article, we present the first records of P. duryi in 7 thermal waterways in eastern, western and northern Serbia, near the cities of Ni & scaron;, Knja & zcaron;evac, Pirot, Mionica, and Novi Sad. We provide descriptions of the habitats colonized by P. duryi across Serbia, briefly discuss its morphology and anatomy, and explore its size variation among different localities. We also discuss possible pathways for its introduction into Serbia's thermal waters and suggest that the origin of the Serbian populations is likely through aquarists, given its frequent association with other typical aquarium species. Additionally, we present hypotheses regarding the potential causes of the observed size variations. To date, P. duryi is one of only 2 non-native species of freshwater snails in Serbia that occur in the wild exclusively in thermal waters.
The Madeira Archipelago harbours a rich land snail fauna, with an exceptionally high number of endemic taxa that often have very restricted ranges. We here revise a group of species that are currently considered to belong to Serratorotula Groh & Hem-men, 1986. Members of this small group of Geomitrini are endemic to Porto Santo and some of its satellite islets and have a strongly ornamented shell. Our results indicate that Serratorotula should be restricted to the fossil Serratorotula gerberi (Groh & Hemmen, 1986) from Porto Santo. For the other two species formerly classified in Serratorotula, the new genus Robertcameronia gen. nov. is proposed; R. calensis sp. nov. is described as the third species in the new genus.
Himalocharopa machhapuchhre gen. nov. sp. nov. is a minute punctoid snail from Nepal characterized by a depressed conical-globular shell with tightly coiled, rounded whorls, a protoconch with strong radial ribs and weak irregular, discontinuous spiral wrinkles between them, a teleoconch with strong radial ribs, and a wide and concentric umbilicus. Its phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic relations remain to be clarified.
A new species of the genus Holospira from the Cerro Tordillo of central Sonora, Mexico is described. It is placed in the subgenus Millerspira based primarily on the characters of its reproductive anatomy. The diagnosis of this subgenus is partly expanded herein to include shell characters of the new species.
A non-indigenous pyramidellid is newly reported in Capo Peloro lagoon, north-eastern Sicily, Italy. Its introduction is likely due to mussel or oyster farming activities carried out over several decades in the lagoon. Due to its peculiar shell morphology, it is most like species described from the west coast of North America by Dall and Bartsch in the early 20th century, and type specimens of the most similar species are illustrated for comparison. Based on comparisons with native Mediterranean species and the global fauna, we tentatively attribute the newly recorded species from Capo Peloro lagoon to Menestho (s.l.) cf. enora (Dall & Bartsch, 1909) comb. nov. The systematic placement is tentative pending additional information on this species and a revision of the genus.
Grimpoteuthis umbellata Fischer, 1893, the type species of the genus Grimpoteuthis Robson, 1932, the type genus of the family Grimpoteuthidae O'Shea, 1999, was described from 3 specimens (syntypes), 2 of which were damaged and 1 of which was a juvenile, collected in 1883 off the Azores (North Atlantic) between 1139 and 2235 m depth. Despite the systematic importance of this taxon, this species has remained poorly known. We re-describe the remnants of the extant, very damaged and since-designated lectotype to stabilize the concept of the species and genus, as part of an ongoing review of cirrate taxa. Of accepted North Atlantic congeners, G. umbellata is unique in lacking a radula and posterior salivary glands, and in having 8 lamellae per gill and web nodules positioned between suckers 27 and 31 along the arms. It differs from other adequately described species from the North Atlantic in combinations of various characters and their states. While we demonstrate that G. umbellata is most similar to Grimpoteuthis discoveryi Collins, 2003, we report certain characters and their states that serve to differentiate these 2 species. Further characters and their states are summarised for 6 grimpoteuthid taxa from the northeastern Atlantic to facilitate ongoing taxonomic revision of this and other deep-sea genera of finned octopus.
The morphology of mature larvae (glochidia) of Pseudanodonta complanata is described using scanning electron microscopy. In river basins of Germany and Russia, mature glochidia of P. complanata were recorded from July to late April. Mature glochidia are hooked and large, not less than 280 mu m high and 390 mu m long. A single styliform hook, up to 160 mu m long, at the ventral tip of each glochidial valve is covered by lanceolate microstylets, each up to 20 mu m. The glochidial shell is characterized by the broad and slightly protruded anterior and posterior margins covered with distinct comarginal lines, running parallel to the valve edge. The external sculpture of glochidial shells is a consistent character and comprised of loose-looped folds distributed over the entire surface of the valves.
Remarkable karyotypic variation has been observed in the freshwater snail genus Semisulcospira, which has adaptively radiated in Lake Biwa, Japan. This study arranged the chromosome numbers of Japanese Semisulcospira by revisiting previous observations and reporting the results of additional analyses. Previous chromosomal observations, conducted in 11 studies, and the present investigation of 17 species together covered 22 of the 24 Japanese species. The results of these studies are generally consistent, and intraspecific karyotypic variation was detected in most lacustrine species. Although this variation has been partially attributed to Robertsonian rearrangements, a comparative study of the chromosomal structure is lacking in this genus. The karyotypic variation of Semisulcospira species in Lake Biwa may be related to their diversification in the ancient lake. Thus, further analysis of the chromosomal structure using fluorescent staining techniques is needed.
The original description of Deroceras klemmi Grossu, 1972 was based on material in the Museum of Natural History Vienna (NHMW). Our examination of the types has resolved earlier uncertainties about the anatomy caused by some paratypes being other species and by a mix-up of another paratype with the holotype followed by an undocumented swap of specimens between the NHMW and Grossu's collection to correct this. We describe the anatomy and mating behaviour of D. klemmi, comparing it particularly with D. reticulatum, with which it has been widely confused. Deroceras klemmi always has a single long penial gland, but more diagnostic is the sarcobelum with the shape of a blunt, roughly equilateral triangle, laterally flattened. The configuration of the penes at copulation is particularly similar to that of D. reticulatum, but there are significant differences in mating behaviour, and our observations of a mixed pair suggest reproductive isolation. We compare also the anatomy of Deroceras lothari Giusti, 1973, with which D. klemmi has been incorrectly synonymised; even juveniles are distinguishable by the presence of a proper rectal caecum only in D. klemmi. Mitochondrial COI barcoding sequences confirm a close relationship of D. klemmi, D. reticulatum, D. agreste, and D. turcicum. Reliable evidence of the occurrence of D. klemmi exists only for Slovenia and western Croatia, adjacent parts of Italy and Austria, and as a probable introduction in Hungary. It lives in open habitats from sea level to at least 1500 m, occurring also synanthropically. We designate D. dalmatinum Grossu, 1972 as a junior synonym of D. klemmi.
The Pyramidellidae of the Red Sea remain poorly known, despite the high interest in the biodiversity and biogeographic history of this region. A new odostomiine gastropod species, Odostomia (s.l.) ritae n. sp., from the northern Red Sea, is described and compared with similar species occurring in the Indo-West Pacific. The type specimens of several related species-Zua thalassina Jousseaume, 1890, Odostomia sperabilis Hedley, 1909, Odontostomia dalli Hornung & Mermod, 1925, and Odostomia decouxi Saurin, 1959-are illustrated for comparison. The new species is provisionally placed in the genus Odostomia Fleming, 1813, sensu lato, on the basis that this is the oldest valid name for odostomiines, pending a comprehensive study at a supraspecific level of the Pyramidellidae. Zua thalassina Jousseaume, 1890 (Cochlicopidae) is transferred to the family Pyramidellidae as Odostomia (s.l.) thalassina (Jousseaume, 1890) n. comb. The discovery of such a minute and morphologically distinctive species underscores the taxonomic gaps in this regional fauna and highlights the Red Sea as a complex area with high potential for ongoing future discoveries.
The importance of genital morphology for alpha-and supraspecific taxonomy of pulmonate land snails has been known since the 19th century. Despite that, the genital anatomy of the family Clausiliidae has been considered of low discriminatory importance at the species level, although it has great potential for discriminating genera. No statistical analyses of fundamental aspects of genital morphology of clausiliids, such as measurements, size ranges, mean values, standard deviation, and trait categorization, are yet found in the literature. Moreover, no data on statistical correlations among the various morphological parts (genitalia and shell) have been reported to date. In the present study we investigate the clausiliid genus Montenegrina as a model for such morphometric analyses. Measurements show a high degree of variability and large overlaps among the Montenegrina taxa. Correlation tests show positive correlations among some shell chracters, while correlations among genital characters prove to be generally weaker. Additionally, we compare quantitative (morphometric measurements) and qualitative (categorization of traits) data with principal component analyses (PCA) to test if genitalia and shell morphological features correspond to the phylogeny based on published previously mitochondrial DNA sequences. The morphometric analyses of shell and genital characters show that, although specimens of the same taxon mostly cluster together, many clades overlap in the PCA scatter plots and/or form intermingled clusters in the neighbour-joining (NJ) trees. Finally, we ask if the taxa studied show character displacement. Among the 4 syntopic pairs of taxa that exist in the genus Montenegrina, 3 show a morphological Euclidean distance well above the average for the genus, although the discriminant power is notably weak. Assumptions on how ecological factors should result in differences of shell and/or genital morphology-thus, ecological character displacement (ECD)-remain speculative. Our findings are compatible with both the assumption of reproductive character displacement (RCD) as well as the non-adaptive radiation hypothesis raised by earlier work on this group.
Five specimens of the gastropod Drymaeus palliolum (A. Ferussac, 1821), family Bulimulidae Tryon, 1867, were hand-collected in Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. These specimens were found to be parasitized by dipteran larvae of the genus Lepidodexia Brauer & von Bergenstamm, 1891, family Sarcophagidae Macquart, 1834. Lepidodexia malacophaga (Lopes, 1983) was originally described from a larva parasitizing a gastropod collected in the same park. The effects of the larval activity inside the gastropod body are discussed and compared to previous records. Apart from the exit hole formed by the larvae in the gastropod body wall during the process of fixation in alcohol, no internal tissue damage was detected. This finding suggests that the larvae inside fed on the hemolymph. Furthermore, this report also presents a case of superparasitism.
We report the arrival and spread in a Mediterranean wetland of a previously undetected large naiad, or freshwater mussel. Identification was based on morphological and anatomical traits, as well as on phylogenetic analyses of three gene fragments (2 mitochondrial and 1 nuclear). The new invader is Anodonta cygnea, originating from central Europe and now spreading throughout the Mediterranean region. Its introduction into the Ebro Delta probably occurred in 2012, but misidentification was caused by its unusually wide ecophenotypic plasticity, often being externally quite similar to native congenerics living in the same area, as well as to the also invasive Sinanodonta spp. In its warmer new habitat, A. cygnea exhibits an accelerated growth and a much shorter life span, as well as a reduced winter breeding season. Previously arrived invasive bivalves (Corbicula spp.) may be effectively masking the spread of A. cygnea through habitat modification, as the latter's developmental response in the altered habitat yields extreme phenotypes. This cryptic invasion poses a threat to already endangered native naiads through further habitat alteration and life history disruption. The foreseeable outcome in the Ebro Delta, probably applicable to freshwater molluscan assemblages worldwide, appears to be a dramatic simplification of community structure through accelerated hydrological dynamics, extinction of long-lived specialists and their substitution by weedy, short-lived opportunists facilitating further invasions and ecosystem meltdown.
We review the genus Pseudamnicola in Sicily. On the Sicilian mainland, the genus is represented by 6 species: P. moussonii (Calcara, 1841), P. salinesii (Philippi, 1845), P. sciaccaensis Gloer & Beckmann, 2007, P. reticulatus Delicado, Boulaassafer & Hauffe, 2024, P. sicinalis n. sp., and P. hofae n. sp. For each species, we summarise diagnostic morphological characters, which includes both shell morphology and genital anatomy, as well as information on habitats and distribution. A seventh species has been reported from the island of Marettimo, first as P. moussonii (DELICADo et al. 2015), now as Pseudamnicola sp. (DELICADo et al. 2024). An identification key is also provided. The presence of Pseudamnicola orsinii (Kiister, 1852) in Sicily is investigated and remains questionable. Amnicola vestita Paulucci, 1878, Amnicola siculina Benoit, 1882 (except for Benoit's original locality "fiume Oreto"), Paludinella (Pseudamnicola) carotii repanda Westerlund, 1886 and Pseudamnicola nebrodensis Kobelt, 1892 are regarded as junior synonyms of P. salinesii. This publication also deals with Bythinia (?) [sic] lacunoides Paulucci, 1878, Amnicola arethusae Benoit, 1882, Amnicola cocchii Benoit, 1882 and Amnicola siculina Benoit, 1882 from Benoit's original locality "fiume Oreto", since they can be regarded as not belonging to Pseudamnicola but rather to Mercuria Boeters, 1971. Bithynia lacunoides and A. siculina from the fiume Oreto might be regarded as junior synonyms of Mercuria melitensis (Paladilhe, 1869).
The type material of freshwater mussels, Unionida, present in the collection of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Frankfurt am Main, is listed alphabetically under the respective subfamilies. Where necessary, the status of the individual lots is discussed and corrected. Additional taxonomically important material is also mentioned. The current systematic status of each taxon is given, and all taxa are listed with their current generic affiliation. There are 895 lots of type material present, including paratypes and paralectotypes, with a total of 2506 specimens. Primary types account for 455 lots, and all holo-, lecto-, and neotypes (249) are illustrated. There are 130 taxa represented by syntype lots. As a result of the collection revision, 31 nominal taxa were relegated to synonymy, and type material of a further 6 taxa was reassessed. In addition, 1 lectotype was designated and 1 taxon was revalidated.
