ISSN 2755-3531
Three species of Theba (Gastropoda: Helicidae) from a Pleistocene dune in SW Morocco
Rainer Hutterer, Carola Greve & Martin Haase
Abstract. Marine and terrestrial molluscs are recorded from a coastal dune deposit in SW Morocco. The geological setting and the faunal content of the site suggest an Upper Pleistocene age. Most abundant were shells of the genus Theba which fell into three groups by means of qualitative, metric, and landmark analyses. Theba subdentata, a small form of T. chudeaui, and a new species T. tantanenis sp. nov. document the former co- existence of three species of Theba in a now desert-like part of the NW African coast.
Key words. Helicidae, taxonomy, Morocco, Pleistocene
New taxon. Theba tantanensis Hutterer, Greve & Haase, 2010
Date of publication. February 2010
P.G. Oliver, F. Nolf & J. Verstraeten
Abstract. The genus Solecurtus in British and Irish waters is represented by two species S. scopula (Turton 1822) and S. candidus (Brocchi 1814). Solecurtus candidus (Brocchi) is conspecific with S. scopula sensu auct. when applied to Mediterranean and Lusitanian shells, and the synonymy presented in current checklists is revised. Solecurtus multistriatus (Scacchi 1835), S. albus de Blainville 1827, S. gallicus (Chenu 1843) and Adasius loscombeus Leach 1852 are all considered junior synonyms of S. scopula (Turton). Solecurtus scopula sensu auct. and the unavailable name S. candidus (Renier 1804) are replaced by S. candidus (Brocchi 1814), for which a lectotype is designated. Diagnoses and revised distributions are given; S. scopula ranges through the Mediterranean and European Atlantic north to Shetland; S. candidus ranges through the Mediterranean and European Atlantic north to the Celtic Sea.
Key words. Solecurtus, Mediterranean, northeast Atlantic, taxonomy, nomenclature, S. scopula, S. candidus
Date of publication. February 2010
Yurena Yanes, Javi er Martín, Juan D. Delgado, María R. Alonso & Miguel Ibáñez
Abstract. Some snails disguise the shell with a covering of soil or other material. Among species in the Canarian enid genus Napaeus, some rock-dwelling species cover the shell with lichens; in one of these, N. barquini, the process is known to be active. In some ground-dwelling species the muddy covering may be acquired passively, as for example in N. variatus. Napaeus badiosus is a snail with an almost smooth shell which is not disguised in the field. It normally rests out of sight of predators. Four specimens of N. badiosus were transferred to a glass terrarium with a layer of loose, humid soil without stones and vegetation. The snails acquired a soil layer with prominent protuberances that covered the whole shell, reducing the risk of attack by visual predators. The appearance of the disguised N. badiosus shell is compared with those of N. barquini and of N. variatus. The disguise of N. badiosus is similar to that of N. barquini. This active disguise thus appears to be facultative, adopted when hiding places are not available. Mechanisms of disguise are briefly discussed; the behaviour of other disguised species should be investigated.
Key words. Active disguise, predation, land snail, Napaeus, Canary Islands
Date of publication. February 2010
A new genus and species of camaenid from the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil (Pulmonata , Helicoidea)
Luiz Ricardo L. Simone
Abstract. Olympus nimbus, new genus and species, is described for the Amazon Rainforest, collected at Neblina Peak, Amazonas, Brazil. The taxon is clearly related to the camaenid genus Solaropsis because of conchological and anatomical attributes. However, the new taxon differs from its allies mainly in its smaller size (about 15 mm), its tall spire (almost as tall as wide), its narrow umbilicus, in lacking a bursa copulatrix diverticulum and a clear penial epiphallus, and by its complex internal penial organization. This paper also discusses the state of current knowledge of the South American Camaenidae.
Key words. Olympus nimbus, new genus, new species, Camaenidae, rainforest, Brazil
New taxa. Olympus Simone, 2010; Olympus nimbus Simone, 2010
Date of publication. February 2010
Rediscovery of the holotype of Pterocera kochi Freyer 1855 (Gastropoda: Strombidae)
Paolo G. Albano & Willy De Mattia
Abstract. In a recent revision of the shell collection of the Natural History Museum in Trieste, Italy, the holotype of Pterocera kochii Freyer 1855 was found. The original description was published on a difficult to obtain Austrian magazine and is here fully quoted and translated to English. A discussion on the type specimen is given and the first photographs of the specimen provided. The recognition of the holotype is based on morphological characters of the aperture and of the digitations, on handwritten annotations on the shell and on the history of the reassessments of the collections in the Museum. Pterocera kochi is considered a junior synonym of Lambis chiragra chiragra (Linné 1758) today.
Key words. Pterocera kochii, Lambis chiragra, holotype, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Trieste, Taxonomy
Date of publication. February 2010
Manuel Caballer, Jesús Ortea & Juan Carlos Canteras
Abstract. The recovery of the name Eubranchus capellinii (Trinchese 1879) is proposed by providing new data on the species. This species is compared with Eubranchus doriae (Trinchese 1873) with which it has previously been considered synonymous. Eubranchus capellinii is also compared with two other similar species of Eubranchus from the Atlantic, Eubranchus arci Ortea 1980 and Eubranchus telesforoi Ortea, Caballer & Bacallado 2002, with respect to external features, colouration, radula and jaws.
Key words. Eubranchus capellinii, Eubranchus doriae, valid name, Iberian Peninsula
Date of publication. February 2010
The Bithyniidae of Greece (Gastropoda: Bithyniidae)
Peter Glöer, Andrzej Falnioski & Vladimir Pešić
Abstract. Newly studied material of A. Falniowski’s collection of Bithyniidae from Greece and samples collected by V. Pešić revealed three new species: Pseudobithynia ambrakis n. sp., P. euboeensis n. sp., and P. zogari n. sp., and in addition we could redescribe Bithynia hellenica Kobelt 1892. In total, 16 taxa of the Bithyniidae are now known from Greece, and the species here described gave us new insight as to their distribution pattern.
Key words. Pseudobithynia ambrakis n. sp., P. euboeensis n. sp., and P. zogari n. sp., dispersal, species richness gradient, reproductive strategies
New taxa. Pseudobithynia ambrakis Glöer, Falnioski & Pešić, 2010; Pseudobithynia euboeensis Glöer, Falnioski & Pešić, 2010; Pseudobithynia zogari Glöer, Falnioski & Pešić, 2010
Date of publication. February 2010
V. Spadini & G. Manganelli
Abstract. Shells of a species of Perrona, a genus never reported before from the Pliocene of Italy, were collected in the Early Pliocene of southern Tuscany over the last twenty years. These shells recall those of P. villarrasensis Vera-Peláez & Lozano-Francisco 2001, from the Early Pliocene of southern Spain, by virtue of shape, size and development of parietal callus. However the poor condition of available material and the lack of a reliable taxonomic framework for this group of Euro-Mediterranean fossil clavatulids make it difficult to propose a realistic determination. The finding of a species of Perrona in the Pliocene of Italy is very interesting. During the Miocene species of Perrona were common and widespread in the Euro-Mediterranean area, but in the Early Pliocene only four species survived in southern Spain and records from the eastern Mediterranean are limited to one from Tunisia and the present from southern Tuscany.
Key words. Clavatulidae, Perrona, Mediterranean, Pliocene, distribution, biogeography
Date of publication. February 2010
Report on the genus Tritonoturris s. l., (Gastropoda: Conoidea) from the south China Sea
Baoquan Li, Xinzheng Li & Richard N. Kilburn
Abstract. Three species of the genus Tritonoturris Dall 1924, s. l. (Conidae, subfamily Raphitominae) are reported from the South China Sea. These are Tritonoturris scalaris (Hinds 1843), new synonym Tritonoturris concinnus B. Li & X. Li; T. oxyclathrus (Martens 1880) (the first record since its description); T. macandrewi (E. A. Smith 1882). The holotype of Defrancia secta Sowerby 1870, is figured here for the first time. Pleurotoma oxyclathrus, Defrancia secta and Clavatula scalaris are referred to Tritonoturris for the first time.
Key words. Tritonoturris s. l., Conoidea, Raphitominae, new synonymy, China
Date of publication. February 2010
Zoltán Fehér, Tamás Deli & Péter Sólymos
Abstract. Granaria frumentum occurring in the eastern part of the species’ range (i.e. in Dalmatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and Greece) has been revised. Five morphotypes were recognized in the study area, namely G. f. frumentum (Draparnaud 1801), G. f. hungarica (M. Kimakowicz 1890), G. f. illyrica (Rossmässler 1835), G. f. atracta (Pilsbry 1918) and G. f. subaii ssp. n. In our view, morphological differences and the more or less distinct ranges justify treating these morphotypes as distinct taxa, but due to the occurrence of transitional populations, they should only be distinguished at the subspecific level.
Key words. Granaria frumentum, taxonomy, the Balkans, Albania
New taxon. Granaria frumentum subaii Fehér, Deli & Sólymos, 2010
Date of publication. February 2010
A review of slugs and semi-slugs of Tunisia (Testacellidae, Milacidae and Limacidae)
I. Abbes, F. Liberto, J. Castillejo & S. Nouira
Abstract. The aim of this work is to provide a first comprehensive survey of slugs and semi-slugs of Tunisia. The work is based on a critical analysis of the literature and on anatomical investigations of new material collected in 2005–2007. As such seven species are discussed (Testacella fischeriana, Milax gagates, M. nigricans, M. gasulli, Lehmannia melitensis, L. marginata and Limacus flavus). Both Milax gagates (Bourguignat 1801) and Milax gasulli Altena 1974 are confirmed for Tunisia and a detailed description is provided for them. Milax nigricans (Philippi 1836), Limacus flavus (Linnaeus 1758) and Lehmannia melitensis (Lessona and Pollonera 1882) are reported for the first time for Tunisia. The taxonomic status of Agriolimax (Malacolimax) kervillei Germain 1907, and of the Tunisian species of Testacella are also discussed.
Key words. Slugs, Testacellidae, Milacidae, Limacidae, Tunisia
Date of publication. February 2010
Nicole H. Cernohorsky, Michal Horsák & Robert A.D. Cameron
Abstract. This paper considers the numbers of species and individuals of terrestrial snails in small plots (quadrats) of different sizes (0.0625 m2, 0.25 m2, 0.56 m2) in three types of treeless fen sites differing in mineral content; a good proxy for calcium content. It compares the results of considering only live individuals or of combining these with empty shells, a common practice in land snail faunistic studies. As expected, the numbers of both species and individuals increased with increasing mineral content and with sampling area, whether all shells or only live specimens were considered. In two of the three sizes of plots and all fen (mineral level) types there was a clear increase of species when empty shells were included. However, the pattern of the increase varied among the fen types. The greatest increase was observed at the smallest plot size in mineral-rich fens; the difference was less in the larger plots. By contrast, in calcium-poor sites the increase was lower and the numbers of species did not change at the largest plot-size. This differential preservation affects interpretation. In very calcium-rich sites, empty shells contribute significantly to a summary of the fauna in the plot over several years, and can improve the inventory efficiency of sampling, provided that very old or subfossil shells of species no longer living in the site can be excluded. However, when comparisons are made among sites with different soil chemistry, estimates of densities and relative abundances will be distorted, because shells decay at different rates among them. Hence, in any studies concerned with densities or spatial heterogeneity within sites it is necessary to distinguish between live individuals and empty shells.
Key words. Fens, sampling quadrats, densities, species estimates
Date of publication. February 2010
Re-discovery of Omphiscola glabra (O.F. Müller) (Lymnaeidae) in Ireland [Short Communication]
Roy Anderson & Stephen McCormack
Date of publication. February 2010
Activities of four species of land snails at low temperatures [Short Communication]
Aydin Örstan
Date of publication. February 2010
First Live Record for Truncatella subcylindrical (L. 1767) from the Channel Islands [Short Communication]
Jan Light & Paul Chambers
Date of publication. February 2010