jul. 2010
Some progress
28-07-2010 22:12
During the last few
days we did some hard work to double-check all
localities and georeference them. Today we finished
for Plekocheilus
and Dryptus. The result may be shown here,
made with SimpleMappr.
The program (or rather the site) allows also for saving the data as KML file for visualizing in Google Earth.
Continuing with this work for the different species.
The program (or rather the site) allows also for saving the data as KML file for visualizing in Google Earth.
Continuing with this work for the different species.
Temporarily moved
27-07-2010 13:58
This weekend I flew to
Concinnati, Ohia in the USA to meet with Francisco
Borrero. We will work jointly on our the preparation
of some manuscripts, along with some other things.
My temporary workdesk has been set up in Francisco’s house. But we already visited the Cincinnati Museum Center once, to put samples on alcohol that he recently collected in Colombia.
Summarizing posts will follows each few days.
My temporary workdesk has been set up in Francisco’s house. But we already visited the Cincinnati Museum Center once, to put samples on alcohol that he recently collected in Colombia.
Summarizing posts will follows each few days.
New taxa (23): Clausiliidae
23-07-2010 11:54
In the latest issue of
Archiv für Molluskenkunde, Hartmut Nordsieck has a
peper describing new species of Neniinae from Peru.
The material was collected by Jens and Crista Hemmen,
who made several trips in that country during the
past years. Also some additional material collected
by others has been reviewed.
New (sub)species are described from southern (Dept. Cuzco), central (Depts. Huancavelica, Pasco and Junín) and northern (Depts. Amazonas and San Martín) Peru.
The new taxa are listed here with the figure numbers between square brackets:
Columbinia (C.) elegans n.sp. [4], San Martín, Cueva de Diamantos near Naranjos (HT SMF 329319).
Columbinia (C.) elegantula n.sp. [5], San Martín,Cueva de Diamantos near Naranjos (HT SMF 329320).
Columbinia (C.) marcapatensis n.sp. [6], Cuzco, Huayumbe (HT SMF 132683).
Columbinia (Steatonenia) hemmeni n.sp. [7], Pasco, Valle Chacos near Oxapampa (HT 329377).
Parabalea bicolor undaticosta n.subsp. [8], Junín, km 36 road Jauja-Acolla-Tarma (HT SMF 330883).
Parabalea gibbosula grisea n.subsp. [10], Junín, km 23 road San pedro de Cajas-Acobamba (HT SMF 329373).
Parabalea latestriata queroensis n.subsp. [11], Junín, San José de Quero (HT SMF 329331).
Parabalea parcecostata meridionalis n.subsp. [12], Huancavelica, Acostambo (HT SMF 329360).
Peruinia peruana erythrostoma n.sp. [13], Pasco, km 2 road Pozuzo-Santa Rosa (HT SMF 330165).
Pseudogracilinenia pulchricosta n.sp., with P. p. pulchricosta n.subsp. [14], Pasco, 28 km Huancabamba-Pozuzo (HT SMF 330163) and P. p. lamellicosta n.subsp. [15], Pasco, km 11 Huancabamba-Pozuzo (HT SMF 330162).
Symptychiella (S.) bilamellata laevigata n.subsp. [21], San Martín, near Aguas Claras (HT SMF 329326).
Symptychiella (S.) bilamellata costulata n.subsp. [22], San Martín, Cueva Aguas Verde (HT SMF 333559).
Symptychiella (S.) bilamellata gracilicosta n.subsp. [23], San Martín, Cueva Huacharos de la Encanada (HT SMF 330877).
Symptychiella (S.) fratermajor n.sp. [24], San Martín, near Aguas Claras (HT SMF 329324).
Symptychiella (S.) acuminata n.sp. [25], San Martín, path Nueva Cajamarca to Cerro Mirador (HT SMF 330878).
Incaglaia (I.) angrandi variegata n.subsp. [18], Cuzco, near Aguas Calientes (HT SMF 329364).
Incaglaia (I.) angrandi soukupi n.subsp. [19], Cuzco, Chaupimayo (HT IML 1052).
Neniella macrosoma n.sp. [20], Amazonas, km 13 road Balsas-Leimebamba (HT SMF 329317).
Reference:
Nordsieck, H., 2010. New taxa of the subfamilies Neniinae and Garnieriinae (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora: Clausiliidae). - Archiv für Molluskenkunde 139: 45-69.
New (sub)species are described from southern (Dept. Cuzco), central (Depts. Huancavelica, Pasco and Junín) and northern (Depts. Amazonas and San Martín) Peru.
The new taxa are listed here with the figure numbers between square brackets:
Columbinia (C.) elegans n.sp. [4], San Martín, Cueva de Diamantos near Naranjos (HT SMF 329319).
Columbinia (C.) elegantula n.sp. [5], San Martín,Cueva de Diamantos near Naranjos (HT SMF 329320).
Columbinia (C.) marcapatensis n.sp. [6], Cuzco, Huayumbe (HT SMF 132683).
Columbinia (Steatonenia) hemmeni n.sp. [7], Pasco, Valle Chacos near Oxapampa (HT 329377).
Parabalea bicolor undaticosta n.subsp. [8], Junín, km 36 road Jauja-Acolla-Tarma (HT SMF 330883).
Parabalea gibbosula grisea n.subsp. [10], Junín, km 23 road San pedro de Cajas-Acobamba (HT SMF 329373).
Parabalea latestriata queroensis n.subsp. [11], Junín, San José de Quero (HT SMF 329331).
Parabalea parcecostata meridionalis n.subsp. [12], Huancavelica, Acostambo (HT SMF 329360).
Peruinia peruana erythrostoma n.sp. [13], Pasco, km 2 road Pozuzo-Santa Rosa (HT SMF 330165).
Pseudogracilinenia pulchricosta n.sp., with P. p. pulchricosta n.subsp. [14], Pasco, 28 km Huancabamba-Pozuzo (HT SMF 330163) and P. p. lamellicosta n.subsp. [15], Pasco, km 11 Huancabamba-Pozuzo (HT SMF 330162).
Symptychiella (S.) bilamellata laevigata n.subsp. [21], San Martín, near Aguas Claras (HT SMF 329326).
Symptychiella (S.) bilamellata costulata n.subsp. [22], San Martín, Cueva Aguas Verde (HT SMF 333559).
Symptychiella (S.) bilamellata gracilicosta n.subsp. [23], San Martín, Cueva Huacharos de la Encanada (HT SMF 330877).
Symptychiella (S.) fratermajor n.sp. [24], San Martín, near Aguas Claras (HT SMF 329324).
Symptychiella (S.) acuminata n.sp. [25], San Martín, path Nueva Cajamarca to Cerro Mirador (HT SMF 330878).
Incaglaia (I.) angrandi variegata n.subsp. [18], Cuzco, near Aguas Calientes (HT SMF 329364).
Incaglaia (I.) angrandi soukupi n.subsp. [19], Cuzco, Chaupimayo (HT IML 1052).
Neniella macrosoma n.sp. [20], Amazonas, km 13 road Balsas-Leimebamba (HT SMF 329317).
Reference:
Nordsieck, H., 2010. New taxa of the subfamilies Neniinae and Garnieriinae (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora: Clausiliidae). - Archiv für Molluskenkunde 139: 45-69.
Photo of the day (105): Proserpina
22-07-2010 22:31
Earlier I posted some
pictures here,
but this time Adrián González sent me additional
photos from Proserpina
depressa.
These were taken in Pinar del Rio province, near
Punta de la Sierra and La Güira.
Mites and snails
21-07-2010 20:54
“Quite a spectacular
view” was my thought when I first saw these pictures.
They were taken by Adrián González near Viñales, Sito
del Infierno. An appropriate name (‘Devil’s Place’)
if you come to think of it...
This poor Viana regina (Morelet, 1849) was completely covered with red chigger mites (Acarini: Trombuculidae). In their review of this group, Wharton & Fuller (1952) only cite one species from Cuba, Trombicula (Eutrombicula) alfreddugèsi (Oudemans, 1910). This is a wide-spread species in the Nearctic and Neotropics. At the time of their writing, the hosts on which it was known to occur listed mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibia. There may be a record of snails as host in more recent literature; if not, it is a new record now.
The animals are known to cause scrub typhus and dermititis, caused by feeding on digested host tissue and lymph. It the picture below it can be seen that the chiggers not only dwell on the shell, but also on the snail.
Adrián spotted these mites also on Nodalia species (Urocoptidae).
Thanks to Herman Cremers for pointing me to the right group and source of literature.
Reference:
Wharton, G.W. & Fuller, H.S., 1952. A manual of the chiggers. The biology, classification, distribution and importance to man of the larvae of the family Trombiculidae (Acarina). - Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Washington 4: 1-185.
This poor Viana regina (Morelet, 1849) was completely covered with red chigger mites (Acarini: Trombuculidae). In their review of this group, Wharton & Fuller (1952) only cite one species from Cuba, Trombicula (Eutrombicula) alfreddugèsi (Oudemans, 1910). This is a wide-spread species in the Nearctic and Neotropics. At the time of their writing, the hosts on which it was known to occur listed mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibia. There may be a record of snails as host in more recent literature; if not, it is a new record now.
The animals are known to cause scrub typhus and dermititis, caused by feeding on digested host tissue and lymph. It the picture below it can be seen that the chiggers not only dwell on the shell, but also on the snail.
Adrián spotted these mites also on Nodalia species (Urocoptidae).
Thanks to Herman Cremers for pointing me to the right group and source of literature.
Reference:
Wharton, G.W. & Fuller, H.S., 1952. A manual of the chiggers. The biology, classification, distribution and importance to man of the larvae of the family Trombiculidae (Acarina). - Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Washington 4: 1-185.
Deroceras in Argentina
20-07-2010 19:45
In a paper that
appeared some months ago, Martín et al. (2009) give
an overview of the distribution of
Deroceras
reticulatum (Müller, 1774) as alien species in
Argentina. Their overview is based on literature
records and own sampling.
One of their localities is in Prov. Rio Negro, Lago Nahuel Huapi, Isla Victoria. It is mentioned from two other localities in the same region, based on literature records. During a recent visit to Bariloche for the Southern Connection congress, I found the species also south of the lake, near Cerro Otto (41 08’S 71 23’W). It was pictured in this post.
Has the ubiquitous occurrence in this region any link to the frequency of visitors from Europe to this well-known touristic region?
Reference:
Martín, S.M., César, H. & Liberto, R., 2009. Distribution of Deroceras reticulatum (Müller, 1774) (Pulmonata, Stylommatophora) in Argentina with first record of the Reserva de Usos Múltiples Isla Martin Garcia, Rio de la Plata superior. - Brazilian Journal of Biology 69: 1115-1119.
One of their localities is in Prov. Rio Negro, Lago Nahuel Huapi, Isla Victoria. It is mentioned from two other localities in the same region, based on literature records. During a recent visit to Bariloche for the Southern Connection congress, I found the species also south of the lake, near Cerro Otto (41 08’S 71 23’W). It was pictured in this post.
Has the ubiquitous occurrence in this region any link to the frequency of visitors from Europe to this well-known touristic region?
Reference:
Martín, S.M., César, H. & Liberto, R., 2009. Distribution of Deroceras reticulatum (Müller, 1774) (Pulmonata, Stylommatophora) in Argentina with first record of the Reserva de Usos Múltiples Isla Martin Garcia, Rio de la Plata superior. - Brazilian Journal of Biology 69: 1115-1119.
Photo of the day (104): Oleacina
19-07-2010 17:52
Today some pictures
made by Adrián González in Prov. Pinar del Rio, near
Guane, showing Oleacina
cf. straminea
(Deshayes, 1819).
He also found two specimens that were mating.
Maybe a bit voyeuristic, but still interesting to see how these snails do “it”, as data on sexual bahaviour of snails “in the wild” are largely unknown.
He also found two specimens that were mating.
Maybe a bit voyeuristic, but still interesting to see how these snails do “it”, as data on sexual bahaviour of snails “in the wild” are largely unknown.
New phylogenetic insights
16-07-2010 08:19
Today a
new paper
will be published on
the phylogenetics of the Orthalicoidea group. The
classification of this group has been quite
unstable during recent decades, as this table
shows.
It proved to be a challenge to collect enough suitable material of species covering the whole range of the group. Special thanks to Annet Breure, Giovanni Cuno, André Delsaerdt, Jens Hemmen, Valentín Mogollón, Grace Montalván, David Robinson, Constante Schizzi, Jan Schlögl and Corey Whisson, for sending me specimens that allowed DNA studies.
As I was especially interested in the phylogenetic relationships at the deeper levels within the group, the most suitable marker was used, viz. ITS2/28S. Applying various methods the following topology was found.
Two results are worth special mentioning. First the division of what I considered the Bulimulinae in my thesis. Although most genera (Bulimulus, Drymaeus, Bostryx, Naesiotus) group together, it is remarkable that Plekocheilus shows up very basally in the tree and needs to be considered an amphibulimid.
Secondly, the clustering of Plectostylus within a clade of Gondwanan origin corroborates the recent cladistic study of Cuezzo et al. (2010). The inclusion of Discoleus within this group is shown to be correct (unpublished data).
References:
Breure, A.S.H., Groenenberg, D.S.J. & Schilthuizen, M., 2010. New insights in the phylogenetic relations within the Orthalicoidea (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora) based on 28S sequence data. - Basteria 74: 25-31.
Cuezzo, M.G., Valdovinos, C. & Breure, A.S.H., 2010. Discoleus Breure, 1978: Is there a pre-Gondwanan ancient stock of Orthalicidae? (Mollusca, Stylommatophora). Poster, VI Southern Connection congress, 14-19 February 2010, Bariloche, Argentina.
It proved to be a challenge to collect enough suitable material of species covering the whole range of the group. Special thanks to Annet Breure, Giovanni Cuno, André Delsaerdt, Jens Hemmen, Valentín Mogollón, Grace Montalván, David Robinson, Constante Schizzi, Jan Schlögl and Corey Whisson, for sending me specimens that allowed DNA studies.
As I was especially interested in the phylogenetic relationships at the deeper levels within the group, the most suitable marker was used, viz. ITS2/28S. Applying various methods the following topology was found.
Two results are worth special mentioning. First the division of what I considered the Bulimulinae in my thesis. Although most genera (Bulimulus, Drymaeus, Bostryx, Naesiotus) group together, it is remarkable that Plekocheilus shows up very basally in the tree and needs to be considered an amphibulimid.
Secondly, the clustering of Plectostylus within a clade of Gondwanan origin corroborates the recent cladistic study of Cuezzo et al. (2010). The inclusion of Discoleus within this group is shown to be correct (unpublished data).
References:
Breure, A.S.H., Groenenberg, D.S.J. & Schilthuizen, M., 2010. New insights in the phylogenetic relations within the Orthalicoidea (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora) based on 28S sequence data. - Basteria 74: 25-31.
Cuezzo, M.G., Valdovinos, C. & Breure, A.S.H., 2010. Discoleus Breure, 1978: Is there a pre-Gondwanan ancient stock of Orthalicidae? (Mollusca, Stylommatophora). Poster, VI Southern Connection congress, 14-19 February 2010, Bariloche, Argentina.
Unusual carination
15-07-2010 21:59
A while ago, when I
saw Ulf Drechsel’s site
on the
biodiversity
of Paraguay, I was immediately struck by
this picture of an unusually carinated snail.
As Ulf said it was - in his opinion - not an aberrant form, I became interested in having the specimen at hand, to see what this specimen could be. Ulf kindly sent me the shell with the animal. Here are the usual views of the shell.
When I inspected the animal in more detail, it became obvious that the scalarid form was caused by an accident during the juvenile stage of the animal. The following picture will give you a detail of the upper whorls. Note that at approx. 4.5 whorls, the shell has been damaged and then continued to be carinated at the suture.
The animal still has to be dissected and will be sequenced. The protoconch of the specimen is worn and doesn’t allow a definite conclusion about its generic classification.
Finally, the PYBIO site contains an additional picture of, what I think is, the usual form of this species.
Having no shell at hand, my tentative conclusion is that this might be Bulimulus sporadicus (d’Orbigny, 1835).
According to data from Ulf, the scaliform specimen was found in Concepción in Cerrado habitat on limestone.
Many thanks to Ulf for sending the specimen.
As Ulf said it was - in his opinion - not an aberrant form, I became interested in having the specimen at hand, to see what this specimen could be. Ulf kindly sent me the shell with the animal. Here are the usual views of the shell.
When I inspected the animal in more detail, it became obvious that the scalarid form was caused by an accident during the juvenile stage of the animal. The following picture will give you a detail of the upper whorls. Note that at approx. 4.5 whorls, the shell has been damaged and then continued to be carinated at the suture.
The animal still has to be dissected and will be sequenced. The protoconch of the specimen is worn and doesn’t allow a definite conclusion about its generic classification.
Finally, the PYBIO site contains an additional picture of, what I think is, the usual form of this species.
Having no shell at hand, my tentative conclusion is that this might be Bulimulus sporadicus (d’Orbigny, 1835).
According to data from Ulf, the scaliform specimen was found in Concepción in Cerrado habitat on limestone.
Many thanks to Ulf for sending the specimen.
Enjoying a caterpillar
14-07-2010 21:23
During a recent trip to
Cuba, Adrián González made quite a few interesting
observations. Today I share his photographs of
a Zachrysia
guanensis meeting a dead caterpillar.
Snails foraging on the ground can easily meet some decaying animals. And although they are supposed to be herbivores, sometimes they may be (temporarily?) omnivorous. According to Adrián “this Zachrysia was really enjoying the caterpillar”.
Snails foraging on the ground can easily meet some decaying animals. And although they are supposed to be herbivores, sometimes they may be (temporarily?) omnivorous. According to Adrián “this Zachrysia was really enjoying the caterpillar”.
A (temporary?) constriction
13-07-2010 07:15
Due to coincidence
there will be a serious reduction in my research
time. I will have to put stringent priorities on the
things I can do, papers I want to be finished,
projects that have to be postponed and projects
abruptly to be abandoned.
Unfortunately, blogging is one of the things that I will have to temporize. No longer a daily post, but trying to do it as often as possible and hopefully enough to get you maintaining your interest in this blog.
Gorge in río Cañete
At this moment I see it as a restriction, like a gorge in the flow of a river. Hopefully this will be a temporary situation, although I ‘m unsure how long it will last. Making progress, steadily but very, very slowly....
Unfortunately, blogging is one of the things that I will have to temporize. No longer a daily post, but trying to do it as often as possible and hopefully enough to get you maintaining your interest in this blog.
Gorge in río Cañete
At this moment I see it as a restriction, like a gorge in the flow of a river. Hopefully this will be a temporary situation, although I ‘m unsure how long it will last. Making progress, steadily but very, very slowly....
Photo of the day (103): Drymaeus
07-07-2010 21:40
Ever seen a snail
attempting to make a somersault?
These are pictures of Drymaeus (D.) murrinus (Reeve, 1848), made by Alan Pierre Infante. The specimens were found near Bogotá.
Even if the colour of the animal seems of little diagnotstic value, it is nice to see them pictured alive.
These are pictures of Drymaeus (D.) murrinus (Reeve, 1848), made by Alan Pierre Infante. The specimens were found near Bogotá.
Even if the colour of the animal seems of little diagnotstic value, it is nice to see them pictured alive.
Shell collectors as 'endangered species'?
07-07-2010 13:10
Recently I joined the Facebook group Shell collectors are not bio-terrorists, but with some reluctancy.
Shell collection is an interesting hobby for many, an interesting profession in science for several and an entrepreneurial activity for some. As such it should be as unrestricted as possible and I see little harm in collecting dead shells. CITES regulations, or - more precisely - the poor practice by non-expert bureaucrats of intentionally good rules, should not be felt as a hindrance.
However, the situation is completely different if snail material is collected alive. Especially if it is not for scientific purposes. A example may elucidate my reluctance.
Recently, specimens were collected by person A and sent to person B, who was supposed to send it to institution X. However, he split the lot and sent half of the material to person C (on an entirely different continent) for his “private pet programme”. Although snails are perfect as pets as long as they are native, this clearly is a case which violates the expressed intentions of this group. First because there are examples of alien snails kept as pet animals which are potentially a threat for the native fauna (to put it mildly). But also because these snails can be vectors of parasites and become a health risk.
Bulimulus again
05-07-2010 21:58
This weekend Bill Frank
went to visit the new
locality NW Jacksonville, where Harry Lee
collected the “mysterious Bulimulus”.
Quoting from his report:
“Knowing that I was in the right place wasn't real helpful as I was initially unable to find any Bulimulus. Finally, I found one empty shell and spread out a search pattern from there. Finally I discovered the secret. There is one type of weed that grows in the roadside swale between the road and the ditch and it was under these patches of weeds that the Bulimulus were hiding. I found them nowhere else. It was kind of interesting as a small plant would have one live Bulimulus and a large plant would have 4-5. To say that the species is common is an understatement. I collected plenty (both live and empty shells) and could have collected a whole lot more if I had wanted them. All of those were from the swale which was mowed very close and recently. I can imagine that the nearby high growth weedy area is probably full of them. The only other mollusks I saw in this area were a very modest number of Polygyra cereolus.”
The locality is pictured to the north, and Bulimulus is on the left under the weeds.
When you look closely to the snails that Bill found, you will notice that some have the striped pattern, but others not. The latter thus resemble those from Duval County.
Thanks Bill for sharing the information.
Quoting from his report:
“Knowing that I was in the right place wasn't real helpful as I was initially unable to find any Bulimulus. Finally, I found one empty shell and spread out a search pattern from there. Finally I discovered the secret. There is one type of weed that grows in the roadside swale between the road and the ditch and it was under these patches of weeds that the Bulimulus were hiding. I found them nowhere else. It was kind of interesting as a small plant would have one live Bulimulus and a large plant would have 4-5. To say that the species is common is an understatement. I collected plenty (both live and empty shells) and could have collected a whole lot more if I had wanted them. All of those were from the swale which was mowed very close and recently. I can imagine that the nearby high growth weedy area is probably full of them. The only other mollusks I saw in this area were a very modest number of Polygyra cereolus.”
The locality is pictured to the north, and Bulimulus is on the left under the weeds.
When you look closely to the snails that Bill found, you will notice that some have the striped pattern, but others not. The latter thus resemble those from Duval County.
Thanks Bill for sharing the information.
On intra-specific variation
02-07-2010 17:52
Bill Frank sent me some
additional pictures of specimens of
Bulimulus
collected recently near
Jacksonville in Nassau County. He noted difference
with specimens collected inside the city (Duval
County), especially in the striping of the animals.
Specimens from Duval County above, Nassau County below.
Just today I read the comprehensive and thorough paper of Herbert & Moussalli (2010). They have a section on Comparative morphological observations, in which they noted that “due to intra-specific variability, head-foot colour seems to be of limited value for species discremination [...]. In most cases, data on body coloration is available for too few specimens to make meaningful assessments”.
Although in this case the difference is caused by a pattern in the mantle tissue, my hypothesis is that this is merely due to intra-specific variation. To be tested when molecular data become available for both populations.
Reference:
Herbert, D.G. & Moussalli, A., 2010. Revision of the larger cannibal snails (Natalina s.l.) of southern Africa -- Natalina s.s., Afrorhytida and Capitina (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Rhytididae). African Invertebrates 51: 1-132.
Specimens from Duval County above, Nassau County below.
Just today I read the comprehensive and thorough paper of Herbert & Moussalli (2010). They have a section on Comparative morphological observations, in which they noted that “due to intra-specific variability, head-foot colour seems to be of limited value for species discremination [...]. In most cases, data on body coloration is available for too few specimens to make meaningful assessments”.
Although in this case the difference is caused by a pattern in the mantle tissue, my hypothesis is that this is merely due to intra-specific variation. To be tested when molecular data become available for both populations.
Reference:
Herbert, D.G. & Moussalli, A., 2010. Revision of the larger cannibal snails (Natalina s.l.) of southern Africa -- Natalina s.s., Afrorhytida and Capitina (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Rhytididae). African Invertebrates 51: 1-132.
Placostylidae of the Solomons
01-07-2010 16:19
Nearly a year ago, I
wrote about my visit to André
Delsaerdt, the Belgian expert on land
snails from the Solomon Islands. This post is on
his first book dealing with this topic and
covering the family Placostylidae, also part of
the Orthalicoidea.
After careful study of literature and a vast amount of shells, Delsaerdt concludes that there are four genera present on the Salomon Islands: Aspastus Albers, 1850; Eumecostylus Martens, 1860; Placocharis Pilsbry, 1900 and Santacharis Iredale, 1927. A total of 33 taxa are listed, of which two new ones (Eumecostylus gardneri and E. vicinus backhuysi) and one new name (Placocharis palmarum galvini).
As may been seen by these two figures, Placostylids are beautiful snails and there are two pages full of these figures in the book. For each taxon, the following items are given, full of useful notes: type material, type locality, etymology, material examined, characteristics, discussion and distribution.
The book concludes with a chapter on the origin and dispersal of the Solomon Placostylidae, a georeferenced list of localities and a bibliography.
All together it is a thorough revision of this group on the Solomons. Delsaerdt’s book will be a reference work for many years to come.
Reference:
Delsaerdt, A., 2009 [2010]. Land snails on the Solomon Islands, Vol. 1. Placostylidae: 1-132. L’Informatore Piceno, Ancona.
After careful study of literature and a vast amount of shells, Delsaerdt concludes that there are four genera present on the Salomon Islands: Aspastus Albers, 1850; Eumecostylus Martens, 1860; Placocharis Pilsbry, 1900 and Santacharis Iredale, 1927. A total of 33 taxa are listed, of which two new ones (Eumecostylus gardneri and E. vicinus backhuysi) and one new name (Placocharis palmarum galvini).
As may been seen by these two figures, Placostylids are beautiful snails and there are two pages full of these figures in the book. For each taxon, the following items are given, full of useful notes: type material, type locality, etymology, material examined, characteristics, discussion and distribution.
The book concludes with a chapter on the origin and dispersal of the Solomon Placostylidae, a georeferenced list of localities and a bibliography.
All together it is a thorough revision of this group on the Solomons. Delsaerdt’s book will be a reference work for many years to come.
Reference:
Delsaerdt, A., 2009 [2010]. Land snails on the Solomon Islands, Vol. 1. Placostylidae: 1-132. L’Informatore Piceno, Ancona.