Ecuador
Manna from heaven?
12-10-2010 07:37
The Lissachatina
saga
continues... Sadly,
but seemingly inevitable. This time in a place
where it may remain totally out of control.
Pictures that I received from Colombian sources, show a flourishing population in Colombia, Dept. Putumayo, Puerto Asis. As this is at the border of Ecuador, and no records for Lissachatina are known for northern localities at the eastern side of the Andes in Colombia, it seems probable that these snails have been “imported” from Ecuador.
To the poor inhibatants of this area, the sudden appearance of these snails is perhaps perceived like manna from heaven. Big bulky snails, ready to eat and use their mucus. Perhaps they are good for making some money too....
Little they know of the damage that is in store for them in their fields. Of the health risks they have to endure when one of the snails is infected.
And although the authorities have been informed, this area is way out of their attention. Slowly, but steadily, this plague will disperse.
Pictures that I received from Colombian sources, show a flourishing population in Colombia, Dept. Putumayo, Puerto Asis. As this is at the border of Ecuador, and no records for Lissachatina are known for northern localities at the eastern side of the Andes in Colombia, it seems probable that these snails have been “imported” from Ecuador.
To the poor inhibatants of this area, the sudden appearance of these snails is perhaps perceived like manna from heaven. Big bulky snails, ready to eat and use their mucus. Perhaps they are good for making some money too....
Little they know of the damage that is in store for them in their fields. Of the health risks they have to endure when one of the snails is infected.
And although the authorities have been informed, this area is way out of their attention. Slowly, but steadily, this plague will disperse.
Photo of the day (107): Deroceras
24-08-2010 22:08
Some pictures of an as
yet unidentified slug, probably Deroceras
sp. According to my
colleague Ton de Winter, it is possibly only a form
of Deroceras
laeve (Müller, 1774). Only dissection and
comparison with well-identified material could reveal
their true identity.
The specimens were spotted in Ecuador, Prov. Pichincha, Bellavista. Photographs courtesy of Adrián González.
The specimens were spotted in Ecuador, Prov. Pichincha, Bellavista. Photographs courtesy of Adrián González.
Photo of the day (106): Plekocheilus
23-08-2010 09:11
Biodiversity sites are
popping up. And snails get interest too on these
sites, apart from the ‘usual suspects, like mammals,
birds, herps and plants.
This weekend I discovered the site of the Bigal River Conservation Project in northeastern Ecuador. This area (only 10 km2) is located near the vulcano Sumaco, on the border of Prov. Napo and Orellana.
The snail pictured here is not fully-grown, but undoubtedly a Plekocheilus.
This weekend I discovered the site of the Bigal River Conservation Project in northeastern Ecuador. This area (only 10 km2) is located near the vulcano Sumaco, on the border of Prov. Napo and Orellana.
The snail pictured here is not fully-grown, but undoubtedly a Plekocheilus.
Confusing types
19-08-2010 22:01
Messing up things can
happen to everyone. Even the Big Names in malacology
are not immune to this phenomenon. However, the
resulting confusion - especially when types are
involved - is what taxonomists don’t like at all.
Some historical malaco-trivia about messing up things with types... Our figureheads: Henry A. Pilsbry and William J. Clench.
In 1939, Pilsbry described several species from Ecuador and Colombia (Pilsbry, 1939). He based himself on material from R.W. Jackson, and Hno. Nicéforo Maria respectively. The taxa under dispute: Plekocheilus oligostylus, described from “Colombia”, and Plekocheilus nachiyacu, described from “Nachiyacu, Ecuador”.
P. oligostylus
Pilsbry, 1939
P. nachiyacu
Pilsbry, 1939
During a recent revision of Plekocheilus species from both countries, Francisco Borrero and I were pretty sure that we recognized both taxa. However, P. oligostylus was found among Ecuadorian material, while P. nachiyacu was identified with Colombian shells.
This seemed to be consistent with the data provided by Clench & Turner (1962):
When we asked the collections manager of the Philadelphia museum, Amanda Lawless, about details of P. nachiyacu, she provided proof of its label:
“Just to let you know that the label states that the lot is from Nachiyacu, Ecuador. I checked the original ledger as well and at the time this lot was donated by Pilsbry, he also donated two other lots from Ecuador and one from Colombia. The one from Colombia was a different species and had no other specific data, maybe Clench and Turner got confused by this one. With the lot, there is also an original handwritten slip of paper with specific locality info on it stating it is from Ecuador”.
This is the type of confusion I meant... Pilsbry right and Clench wrong, or vice versa? To be continued.
References:
Clench, W.J. & Turner, R.D., 1962. New names introduced by H.A. Pilsbry in the Mollusca and Crustacea. - Special Publications, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 4: 1-218.
Pilsbry, H.A., 1939. Sout American land mollusks, X. Species of Ecuador and Colombia. - Notulae Naturae 19: 1-6.
Some historical malaco-trivia about messing up things with types... Our figureheads: Henry A. Pilsbry and William J. Clench.
In 1939, Pilsbry described several species from Ecuador and Colombia (Pilsbry, 1939). He based himself on material from R.W. Jackson, and Hno. Nicéforo Maria respectively. The taxa under dispute: Plekocheilus oligostylus, described from “Colombia”, and Plekocheilus nachiyacu, described from “Nachiyacu, Ecuador”.
P. oligostylus
Pilsbry, 1939
P. nachiyacu
Pilsbry, 1939
During a recent revision of Plekocheilus species from both countries, Francisco Borrero and I were pretty sure that we recognized both taxa. However, P. oligostylus was found among Ecuadorian material, while P. nachiyacu was identified with Colombian shells.
This seemed to be consistent with the data provided by Clench & Turner (1962):
When we asked the collections manager of the Philadelphia museum, Amanda Lawless, about details of P. nachiyacu, she provided proof of its label:
“Just to let you know that the label states that the lot is from Nachiyacu, Ecuador. I checked the original ledger as well and at the time this lot was donated by Pilsbry, he also donated two other lots from Ecuador and one from Colombia. The one from Colombia was a different species and had no other specific data, maybe Clench and Turner got confused by this one. With the lot, there is also an original handwritten slip of paper with specific locality info on it stating it is from Ecuador”.
This is the type of confusion I meant... Pilsbry right and Clench wrong, or vice versa? To be continued.
References:
Clench, W.J. & Turner, R.D., 1962. New names introduced by H.A. Pilsbry in the Mollusca and Crustacea. - Special Publications, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 4: 1-218.
Pilsbry, H.A., 1939. Sout American land mollusks, X. Species of Ecuador and Colombia. - Notulae Naturae 19: 1-6.
Another find of Lissachatina
30-06-2010 18:52
Today a new record
of
Lissachatina fulica was reported by Herman Cremers, a
colleague, who spotted this species during his
holidays in Ecuador.
The snail was found In Prov. Napo, Tena, Lodge “Casa del Suizo” along the Napo river. As it was found in the newly decorated garden, it may have been transported with horticultural material. But other sources cannot be excluded a priori.
As far as I know, this is the first record of this species on the eastern side of the Andes in Ecuador.
The snail was found In Prov. Napo, Tena, Lodge “Casa del Suizo” along the Napo river. As it was found in the newly decorated garden, it may have been transported with horticultural material. But other sources cannot be excluded a priori.
As far as I know, this is the first record of this species on the eastern side of the Andes in Ecuador.
Photo of the day (98): Plekocheilus
09-06-2010 10:54
Last week Adrián
González also sent these pictures. They show a
species which I tentatively identify as
Plekocheilus
(Aeropictus) tenuissimus Weyrauch, 1967. The specimen was
collected near El Laurel.
Photo of the day (97): Bostryx
07-06-2010 14:04
These pictures were
taken by Adrián González in Ecuador, prov. Manabí,
between Salango and Manglaralto. They show
Bostryx
bilineatus (Sowerby, 1833).
A new record of Lissachatina in Ecuador
29-04-2010 20:33
Thanks to Adrián
González, it is now possible to document an
introduction of Lissachatina fulica
into an area hitherto
not affected by this species.
During a recent trip to the Chical-Quinyul area in Prov. Carchi, northern Ecuador, he found this specimen (see picture).
When he asked the owner of the locality where Adrián collected it, the guy told him that a while ago he brought about hundred plants from Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (formerly known as Santo Domingo de los Colorados) in Prov. Pichincha. This is a known occurrence for Lissachatina fulica (see Correoso, 2010) and snails probably were transported as eggs or juveniles. The owner didn’t want to kill the snail (he wanted to keep it as a pet) nor to let Adrián scrutinize the property for more specimens.
It is expected that in this area an outbreak may occur in the (most likely) case that there is no further intervention by officials. As a consequence, the local snail fauna - with flourishing populations of Drymaeus - could be seriously affected. Monitoring of this new occurrence is thus highly recommended.
This case is also a clear illustration of a pathway described by Cowie & Robinson (2003) in general and Cowie et al. (2008) for the horticultural industry.
References:
Cowie, R.H. & Robinson, D.G., 2003. Pathways of introduction of nonindigenous land and freshwater snails and slugs. In Ruiz, G. & Carlton, J.T. (Eds.), Invasive species: vectors and management strategies. Washington DC: Island Press: 93-122.
Cowie, R.H., Hayes, K.H., Tran, C.T. & Meyer, W.M., 2008. The horticultural industry as a vector of alien snails and slugs: widespread invasions in Hawaii. - International Journal of Pest Management 54: 267-276.
During a recent trip to the Chical-Quinyul area in Prov. Carchi, northern Ecuador, he found this specimen (see picture).
When he asked the owner of the locality where Adrián collected it, the guy told him that a while ago he brought about hundred plants from Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (formerly known as Santo Domingo de los Colorados) in Prov. Pichincha. This is a known occurrence for Lissachatina fulica (see Correoso, 2010) and snails probably were transported as eggs or juveniles. The owner didn’t want to kill the snail (he wanted to keep it as a pet) nor to let Adrián scrutinize the property for more specimens.
It is expected that in this area an outbreak may occur in the (most likely) case that there is no further intervention by officials. As a consequence, the local snail fauna - with flourishing populations of Drymaeus - could be seriously affected. Monitoring of this new occurrence is thus highly recommended.
This case is also a clear illustration of a pathway described by Cowie & Robinson (2003) in general and Cowie et al. (2008) for the horticultural industry.
References:
Cowie, R.H. & Robinson, D.G., 2003. Pathways of introduction of nonindigenous land and freshwater snails and slugs. In Ruiz, G. & Carlton, J.T. (Eds.), Invasive species: vectors and management strategies. Washington DC: Island Press: 93-122.
Cowie, R.H., Hayes, K.H., Tran, C.T. & Meyer, W.M., 2008. The horticultural industry as a vector of alien snails and slugs: widespread invasions in Hawaii. - International Journal of Pest Management 54: 267-276.
Unknown helicinids and cyclophorids
28-04-2010 09:06
Cyclophoridae and
Helicinidae are notorious difficult groups and beyond
my own focus of specialization. I recently received
some pictures of helicinids, one live specimen and
one of a shell only, plus some pictures of live
cyclophorids. Just sharing these pictures with you;
if someone has a name, let me know.
The first helicinid is from Adrián González and was found during a recent trip to the cloud forest in Junín area in Prov. Imbabura, Ecuador. It is as Bourciera helicinaeformis Pfeiffer, 1851 mentioned in literature.
The second species was collected by Raúl Zea in Colombia, Cundinamarca, near Soacha.
He also sent me this picture of a Neocyclotus (?), which was collected by Gilman Santander near Armenía, Quindío, Colombia.
Finally, Adrián González sent me pictures of a similar (but distinct) species, found near Tembor, Chical area, northern Ecuador at 1700 m.
The first helicinid is from Adrián González and was found during a recent trip to the cloud forest in Junín area in Prov. Imbabura, Ecuador. It is as Bourciera helicinaeformis Pfeiffer, 1851 mentioned in literature.
The second species was collected by Raúl Zea in Colombia, Cundinamarca, near Soacha.
He also sent me this picture of a Neocyclotus (?), which was collected by Gilman Santander near Armenía, Quindío, Colombia.
Finally, Adrián González sent me pictures of a similar (but distinct) species, found near Tembor, Chical area, northern Ecuador at 1700 m.
Photo of the day (94): Synapterpes
27-04-2010 20:41
Amoung the photographs
that I recently received from Adrián González are
some of a Synapterpes
species. As far as I
could ascertain it is S. bicingulatus
Fulton, 1908.
The pictures were taken in Ecuador, prov. Imbabura, Junín area.
The pictures were taken in Ecuador, prov. Imbabura, Junín area.
More on Lissachatina in Ecuador
22-04-2010 20:02
Previously reports on
the occurrence of Lissachatina fulica in Ecuador were
based on a few observations and the assumption that
this species was far more spread into the country.
This assumption is now supported by new records which
have been documented by Modest Correoso (Correoso,
2010).
The localities are all on the western side of the Andes. Some of them were found in protected areas, like this picture documents.
In his paper, Correoso has also made a modelling of the potential distribution based on the known occurrences and SDM software.
Reference:
Correoso, M., 2009 [2010]. Modelación y distribución de Lissachatina fulica (Gastropoda, Achatinidae) en Ecuador. Potenciales impactos ambietales y sanitarios. - Revista Geospacial, Quito, Nov. 2009: 79-90.
The localities are all on the western side of the Andes. Some of them were found in protected areas, like this picture documents.
In his paper, Correoso has also made a modelling of the potential distribution based on the known occurrences and SDM software.
Reference:
Correoso, M., 2009 [2010]. Modelación y distribución de Lissachatina fulica (Gastropoda, Achatinidae) en Ecuador. Potenciales impactos ambietales y sanitarios. - Revista Geospacial, Quito, Nov. 2009: 79-90.
Photo of the day (92): Porphyrobaphe
19-04-2010 20:11
Adrián González keeps
surprising me with beautiful pictures of living
snails. He recently visited prov. Manabí in western
Ecuador. In the coastal hills near Salango he found
living Porphyrobaphe
iostoma (Sowerby, 1824).
Interesting enough, he reports the same species from Isla Salango, 1 km off the coast. Here Adrián found a population with both the typical purple lip and a variety with a pinkish lip.
Thanks Adrián! Keep up the good work.
Interesting enough, he reports the same species from Isla Salango, 1 km off the coast. Here Adrián found a population with both the typical purple lip and a variety with a pinkish lip.
Thanks Adrián! Keep up the good work.
Photo of the day (91): Plekocheilus
12-04-2010 21:19
This is a picture of
what appears like a subadult Plekocheilus
(Eurytus) cf. taylorianus
(Reeve, 1849).
The picture was taken by Adrián González in Prov. Imbabura, Chontal Alto region, in cloud forest.
The picture was taken by Adrián González in Prov. Imbabura, Chontal Alto region, in cloud forest.
Photo of the day (90): Solaropsis
08-04-2010 14:58
Adrián González kindly
forwarded me a photograph from a Solaropsis
species. I think it
is S. cf.
solenostoma (Pfeiffer, 1852). The picture was
made by Jaime Buestán in Ecuador, Prov. Guayas,
Bucay, humid forests near río Limón, 850 m.
Interestingly, Adrián found the same species recently in Prov. Imbabura, Sanguagal, 600 m and in cold cloud forest at 1500 m in the Chontal Alto area in the same province.
Interestingly, Adrián found the same species recently in Prov. Imbabura, Sanguagal, 600 m and in cold cloud forest at 1500 m in the Chontal Alto area in the same province.
Photo of the day (88): Simpulopsis
02-04-2010 13:44
The same species that
is shown in the previous
post in
this series, Simpulopsis
citrinovitrea (Moricand, 1836) is here
depictured from two other localities.
The first one is from Ecuador, Pichincha, Mindo.
The second series was taken in Colombia, Riseralda, region of Otun-Quimbaya.
All pictures were sent to me by Francisco Borrero.
The first one is from Ecuador, Pichincha, Mindo.
The second series was taken in Colombia, Riseralda, region of Otun-Quimbaya.
All pictures were sent to me by Francisco Borrero.
Photo of the day (87): Simpulopsis
31-03-2010 22:03
These pictures are Simpulopsis cf. citrinovitrea (Moricand, 1836) and were taken by Adrián Gonzalez in western Ecuador, area of Junín.
Photo of the day (85): Porphyrobaphe
08-02-2010 09:34
These photos were
submitted by Adrián González Guillén and taken in
Ecuador, near Puerto López. They show the habitat
of Porphyrobaphe
iostoma (Sowerby, 1824) and a close-up of
two of the shells found at this locality.
Thanks Adrián...
Thanks Adrián...
New books
04-02-2010 07:12
Three new books have
been published or announced, that might be
interesting for those interested in the Cuban
malacofauna and the geology and biogeography of
Amazonia.
The first is a book by Espinosa & Ortea, published by Spartacus Foundation and the Cuban Zoological Society. I haven’t seen it myself yet, but I found the following announcement of a book dealer:
This is a gorgeous book and I think that the photography here is possibly the best live animal photography that I have seen in all of my other titles. It is simply amazing and the book is also an amazing work. Its focus is to introduce us to the numerous families of terrestrial mollusks that live in Cuba. Most of the shells are show alive in their natural habitat in extreme close up. The text (in Spanish) gives us an overview of the shell family, its habitat , the characteristic of these shells and a lot of background information. My Spanish is not good enough to understand the more technical details that the authors have written but from what I can understand it is a carefully written and thoroughly researched book. The authors and the photographer are prominent workers in the scientific field and it is a shame that their names and their works are not well know in the USA. The last section of their book is a check list of 1393 species of land-shells found in Cuba.
From what I saw of the pictures in the announcement, some will be the same as those used in the book of González. They partly share the same photographer. Hopefully, they have corrected all the errors they made in the previous version of their checklist (Espinosa & Ortega, 1999). But a judgement should be postponed till I have actually seen the book.
The second book on Cuban terrestrial snails is, if possible, even more obscure and curious. It is a publication based on an unfinished manuscript of Torre & Bartsch. There is a quite complication story to this book (which is beyond the scope of this blog), that has been published as a tribute to Carlos de la Torre y Huerta (1858-1950) in 2008. From what I know, several new species are described in this book, casting an interesting question on the rules of nomenclature. Are they to be credited to the original authors (as posthume work) or to the editor of this book?
Again, let’s first see this book before making a judgement.
Finally, an impressive book will be published on February 16, entitled “Amazonia: landscape and species evolution. A look into the past”. I had the privilege to have a sneak preview and I can assure you this will be a reference work for those working on the biogeography of northern South America.
This book focuses on geological history as the critical factor in determining the present biodiversity and landscapes of Amazonia. We explore the different driving mechanisms for landscape evolution by reviewing the history of the Amazon Craton, the associated sedimentary basins, and the role of mountain uplift and climate change. Throughout the book we provide an insight into the Meso- and Cenozoic record of Amazonia that was characterized by fluvial and long-lived lake systems and a highly diverse flora and fauna. This fauna includes giants such as the ca. 12 m long caiman Purussaurus, but also a varied fish fauna and fragile molluscs, whilst fossil pollen and spores form relics of ancestral swamps and rainforests.
Finally, we review the molecular datasets of the modern Amazonian rainforest and aquatic ecosystem, and discuss the possible relations between the origin of Amazonian species diversity and the palaeogeographic, palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental evolution of northern South America. The multidisciplinary approach in evaluating the history of Amazonia has resulted in a comprehensive volume that provides novel insights into the evolution of this region and can serve as reference for a variety of scientists working in Amazonia.
The book is written by leading scientists of the Amazonian research community and should be of interest to all students and researchers concerned with the natural history of Amazonia. Potential readers will include geologists, geographers and biologists who wish to understand the evolution of landscapes and biota of this unique region.
I hope to briefly review this book after its publication.
References:
Espinosa, J. & Ortega, J., 2009. Moluscos terrestres de Cuba: 1-191. Spartacus Foundation/Sociedad Cubana de Zoología.
Hoorn C. & Wesselingh, F. (eds.), 2010. Amazonia: landscape and species evolution. A look into the past: 1-447. Wiley-Blackwell.
Torre, C. de la & Bartsch, P., 2008. Los moluscos terrestres Cubanos de la familia Urocoptidae: 1-730 + 1-23. Editoria Científico-Técnica, La Habana/Ruth Casa, Panama.
The first is a book by Espinosa & Ortea, published by Spartacus Foundation and the Cuban Zoological Society. I haven’t seen it myself yet, but I found the following announcement of a book dealer:
This is a gorgeous book and I think that the photography here is possibly the best live animal photography that I have seen in all of my other titles. It is simply amazing and the book is also an amazing work. Its focus is to introduce us to the numerous families of terrestrial mollusks that live in Cuba. Most of the shells are show alive in their natural habitat in extreme close up. The text (in Spanish) gives us an overview of the shell family, its habitat , the characteristic of these shells and a lot of background information. My Spanish is not good enough to understand the more technical details that the authors have written but from what I can understand it is a carefully written and thoroughly researched book. The authors and the photographer are prominent workers in the scientific field and it is a shame that their names and their works are not well know in the USA. The last section of their book is a check list of 1393 species of land-shells found in Cuba.
From what I saw of the pictures in the announcement, some will be the same as those used in the book of González. They partly share the same photographer. Hopefully, they have corrected all the errors they made in the previous version of their checklist (Espinosa & Ortega, 1999). But a judgement should be postponed till I have actually seen the book.
The second book on Cuban terrestrial snails is, if possible, even more obscure and curious. It is a publication based on an unfinished manuscript of Torre & Bartsch. There is a quite complication story to this book (which is beyond the scope of this blog), that has been published as a tribute to Carlos de la Torre y Huerta (1858-1950) in 2008. From what I know, several new species are described in this book, casting an interesting question on the rules of nomenclature. Are they to be credited to the original authors (as posthume work) or to the editor of this book?
Again, let’s first see this book before making a judgement.
Finally, an impressive book will be published on February 16, entitled “Amazonia: landscape and species evolution. A look into the past”. I had the privilege to have a sneak preview and I can assure you this will be a reference work for those working on the biogeography of northern South America.
This book focuses on geological history as the critical factor in determining the present biodiversity and landscapes of Amazonia. We explore the different driving mechanisms for landscape evolution by reviewing the history of the Amazon Craton, the associated sedimentary basins, and the role of mountain uplift and climate change. Throughout the book we provide an insight into the Meso- and Cenozoic record of Amazonia that was characterized by fluvial and long-lived lake systems and a highly diverse flora and fauna. This fauna includes giants such as the ca. 12 m long caiman Purussaurus, but also a varied fish fauna and fragile molluscs, whilst fossil pollen and spores form relics of ancestral swamps and rainforests.
Finally, we review the molecular datasets of the modern Amazonian rainforest and aquatic ecosystem, and discuss the possible relations between the origin of Amazonian species diversity and the palaeogeographic, palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental evolution of northern South America. The multidisciplinary approach in evaluating the history of Amazonia has resulted in a comprehensive volume that provides novel insights into the evolution of this region and can serve as reference for a variety of scientists working in Amazonia.
The book is written by leading scientists of the Amazonian research community and should be of interest to all students and researchers concerned with the natural history of Amazonia. Potential readers will include geologists, geographers and biologists who wish to understand the evolution of landscapes and biota of this unique region.
I hope to briefly review this book after its publication.
References:
Espinosa, J. & Ortega, J., 2009. Moluscos terrestres de Cuba: 1-191. Spartacus Foundation/Sociedad Cubana de Zoología.
Hoorn C. & Wesselingh, F. (eds.), 2010. Amazonia: landscape and species evolution. A look into the past: 1-447. Wiley-Blackwell.
Torre, C. de la & Bartsch, P., 2008. Los moluscos terrestres Cubanos de la familia Urocoptidae: 1-730 + 1-23. Editoria Científico-Técnica, La Habana/Ruth Casa, Panama.
Vanishing snails
05-01-2010 22:39
In another recent
publication, Christine Parent and Guy Coppois tell
the story of their fascination with Galápagos land
snails and their concerns about conservation issues
with these animals.
Coppois has a long experience with field work on these islands, visiting the archipelago for the first time in 1973 and continuing during 30 years. He succeeded to collect more than 80 taxa of bulimulids. One of his most remarkable finds was the discovery of living specimens of Naesiotus achatinellus (Forbes, 1850). This only one of the species with a very restricted distribution range and which probably has vanished into extinction. Several species are on the Red List of endangered species.
Habitat destruction and the negative impact of introduced predators and competition of alien pest species, like veronicellid slugs, may be considered the main causes of the decline of land snails on these islands.
The personal stories of both authors reveal their fascination with this group, which is a thankful subject for studies in evolutionary biology.
Reference:
Parent, C.E. & Coppois, G., 2009. On the snails’ trail: evolution and speciation among a vanishing tribe. In: De Roy, T. (ed.), Galápagos: preserving Darwin’s legacy: 74-81. Firefly Books, Richmond Hill, Ontario.
Coppois has a long experience with field work on these islands, visiting the archipelago for the first time in 1973 and continuing during 30 years. He succeeded to collect more than 80 taxa of bulimulids. One of his most remarkable finds was the discovery of living specimens of Naesiotus achatinellus (Forbes, 1850). This only one of the species with a very restricted distribution range and which probably has vanished into extinction. Several species are on the Red List of endangered species.
Habitat destruction and the negative impact of introduced predators and competition of alien pest species, like veronicellid slugs, may be considered the main causes of the decline of land snails on these islands.
The personal stories of both authors reveal their fascination with this group, which is a thankful subject for studies in evolutionary biology.
Reference:
Parent, C.E. & Coppois, G., 2009. On the snails’ trail: evolution and speciation among a vanishing tribe. In: De Roy, T. (ed.), Galápagos: preserving Darwin’s legacy: 74-81. Firefly Books, Richmond Hill, Ontario.
The ecology of adaptive radiation in bulimulids
04-01-2010 11:29
The land snails of the
Galápagos archipelago are amoung the best studied
Neotropical snails. Thanks to Christine Parent
and co-workers, much
progress has been made on our understanding of the
ecology and phylogenetic relationships of this
group (Parent & Crespi, 2006; Parent et al.,
2008).
Recently, a new paper was published with details on the ecology of these species (Parent & Crespi, 2009). Although Galápagos bulimulids are not host-plant specific, they are distributed in space according to different local microhabitats, with differences in substrates, plant species, vegetation types and resting places. The authors also notice an elevational variation in shell shape associated with moisture levels, with more slender shells at lower elevations and more conical shells at higher.
In this study a three-level zonation is followed (coastal, dry lowland, humid highland). Endemic plant species are used as a proxy for resource and habitat complexity. The effect of ecological opportunity and intraspecific phenotypic variation is also quantified by the number of congeners. The results show that the number of congeners inhabiting the same vegetation zone is negatively correlated with the degree of intraspecific variation in shell shape and resource heterogeneity was positively correlated. Ecological opportunity is greatest on younger islands, where relatively high resource heterogeneity combines with low interspecific competition.
The main conclusion of this study is that competition and resource heterogeneity are significant determinants of interspecific phenotypic variation in the context of adaptive radiation.
It should be noted (again) that the taxonomic treatment of this group in this paper is misleading. Galápagos bulimulids are not Bulimulus but should be placed - for now - in Naesiotus. Their proper relationships and taxonomic placement will be treated in one of my upcoming papers. Nevertheless, the authors have done an insightful study into the ecological relationships, which stimulates further research.
Reference:
Parent, C.E. Caccone, A. & Petren, K., 2008. Colonization and diversification of Galápagos terrestrial fauna: a phylogenetic and biographical synthesis. - Phliosopical Transactions of the Royal Society, B 363: 3347-3361.
Parent, C.E. & Crespi, B.J., 2006. Sequrntial colonization and diversification of Galápagos endemic land snail genus Bulimulus (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora). - Evolution 60: 2311-2328.
Parent, C.E. & Crespi, B.J., 2009. Ecological opportunity in adaptive radiation of Galápagos endemic land snails. - American Naturalist 174: 898-905.
Recently, a new paper was published with details on the ecology of these species (Parent & Crespi, 2009). Although Galápagos bulimulids are not host-plant specific, they are distributed in space according to different local microhabitats, with differences in substrates, plant species, vegetation types and resting places. The authors also notice an elevational variation in shell shape associated with moisture levels, with more slender shells at lower elevations and more conical shells at higher.
In this study a three-level zonation is followed (coastal, dry lowland, humid highland). Endemic plant species are used as a proxy for resource and habitat complexity. The effect of ecological opportunity and intraspecific phenotypic variation is also quantified by the number of congeners. The results show that the number of congeners inhabiting the same vegetation zone is negatively correlated with the degree of intraspecific variation in shell shape and resource heterogeneity was positively correlated. Ecological opportunity is greatest on younger islands, where relatively high resource heterogeneity combines with low interspecific competition.
The main conclusion of this study is that competition and resource heterogeneity are significant determinants of interspecific phenotypic variation in the context of adaptive radiation.
It should be noted (again) that the taxonomic treatment of this group in this paper is misleading. Galápagos bulimulids are not Bulimulus but should be placed - for now - in Naesiotus. Their proper relationships and taxonomic placement will be treated in one of my upcoming papers. Nevertheless, the authors have done an insightful study into the ecological relationships, which stimulates further research.
Reference:
Parent, C.E. Caccone, A. & Petren, K., 2008. Colonization and diversification of Galápagos terrestrial fauna: a phylogenetic and biographical synthesis. - Phliosopical Transactions of the Royal Society, B 363: 3347-3361.
Parent, C.E. & Crespi, B.J., 2006. Sequrntial colonization and diversification of Galápagos endemic land snail genus Bulimulus (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora). - Evolution 60: 2311-2328.
Parent, C.E. & Crespi, B.J., 2009. Ecological opportunity in adaptive radiation of Galápagos endemic land snails. - American Naturalist 174: 898-905.
On the move
18-09-2009 19:44
A few more videos of the
Thaumastus
species recently reported on. They show not only some
details of the animal, but also the behaviour of
tilting the head.
Photo of the day (59): Thaumastus
09-09-2009 20:26
Giovanni Cuno Tisalema found this nice specimen
of
Thaumastus
thompsonii
(Pfeiffer, 1845) near Gualaceo, Prov. Azuay, Ecuador.
The pictures and the video show nicely the colours of the animal (yellowish with darker lines dorsally, and a blackish mantle).
The video may be found on YouTube, if you follow the link.
The pictures and the video show nicely the colours of the animal (yellowish with darker lines dorsally, and a blackish mantle).
The video may be found on YouTube, if you follow the link.
Photo of the day (56): Porphyrobaphe
02-07-2009 12:58
This photograph of
Porphyrobaphe
iostoma
(Sowerby, 1824) was taken by Modest Correoso. This is
a species that occurs in western Ecuador. The picture
was, however, not taken in the natural habitat.
Modest, many thanks.
Modest, many thanks.
Book review: Correoso
02-06-2009 19:27
The first comprehensive scientific overview of the
non-marine molluscs of continental Ecuador was
published at the end of the 19th century (Cousin,
1887). More than a century later this introductory
book to land and freshwater snails from this country
appears. As the author writes, it is “an integral
study on the biodiversity ..., and includes a
characterization of the principal families and
genera”.
After the introduction there are eight chapters. The first chapter gives a historical overview on malacology in Ecuador. The description of the current situation reveals that there is hardly malacological work being done at the moment, and the collection in the natural history museum in Quito is under revision. The second chapter lists the families (32) of land and freshwater molluscs, including bivalves. A key to families is included. Chapter 3 provides a short introduction to terrestrial snails. The following chapter presents a more elaborate characterization of the families of land snails, their habitat, ecological importance, experiences with rearing under laboratory conditions, geographical distribution and occurrence in Ecuador. There are many pictures of shells and living animals. Chapter 5 and 6 repeats the same scheme for freshwater molluscs. The final two chapters give an analysis of the biogeography, dividing the country into seven regions. In the Annexes, several maps are added.
This book is clearly aimed at a rather broad public of people with an interest in molluscs. As stated before, no introductory text to this group was available for Ecuador and the book clearly serves this aim. From a scientific point of view, there are several points which could be improved; e.g. not all literature mentioned in the text is included in the list of references and there are several typos. Hopefully there will be enough demand to make a second, revised edition possible.
The author has spent many years to gather all the data and made field observations that are worth to be included in a book like the ones for Cuba or Brazil (see literature). Despite lack of funds and difficult conditions (the production of the book took several years!), it is thanks to the perseverance of the author that this book has finally resulted.
References:
Correoso Rodríguez, M., 2008 [2009]. Los moluscos terrestres y fluviales del Ecuador continental. La biodiversidad desconocida: 1-179. - SIMBIOE, Quito. ISBN 978-9978-9959-1-4.
Cousin, A., 1887. Faune malacologique de la république de l’Equateur. - Bulletin Société Zoologique de France 12: 187-287.
After the introduction there are eight chapters. The first chapter gives a historical overview on malacology in Ecuador. The description of the current situation reveals that there is hardly malacological work being done at the moment, and the collection in the natural history museum in Quito is under revision. The second chapter lists the families (32) of land and freshwater molluscs, including bivalves. A key to families is included. Chapter 3 provides a short introduction to terrestrial snails. The following chapter presents a more elaborate characterization of the families of land snails, their habitat, ecological importance, experiences with rearing under laboratory conditions, geographical distribution and occurrence in Ecuador. There are many pictures of shells and living animals. Chapter 5 and 6 repeats the same scheme for freshwater molluscs. The final two chapters give an analysis of the biogeography, dividing the country into seven regions. In the Annexes, several maps are added.
This book is clearly aimed at a rather broad public of people with an interest in molluscs. As stated before, no introductory text to this group was available for Ecuador and the book clearly serves this aim. From a scientific point of view, there are several points which could be improved; e.g. not all literature mentioned in the text is included in the list of references and there are several typos. Hopefully there will be enough demand to make a second, revised edition possible.
The author has spent many years to gather all the data and made field observations that are worth to be included in a book like the ones for Cuba or Brazil (see literature). Despite lack of funds and difficult conditions (the production of the book took several years!), it is thanks to the perseverance of the author that this book has finally resulted.
References:
Correoso Rodríguez, M., 2008 [2009]. Los moluscos terrestres y fluviales del Ecuador continental. La biodiversidad desconocida: 1-179. - SIMBIOE, Quito. ISBN 978-9978-9959-1-4.
Cousin, A., 1887. Faune malacologique de la république de l’Equateur. - Bulletin Société Zoologique de France 12: 187-287.
A new book announced
05-05-2009 21:39
Books on Neotropical snails are scarce and additions
are very welcome. Modesto Correoso send me notice
that - after a long production process - his book on
non-marine snails of continental Ecuador has recently
been published.
Awaiting further details on this new addition to the malacological library, I’ll keep you posted once the copy ordered arrives on my desk.
Update:
Here is a picture of the formal presentation of the book (the author at left).
Awaiting further details on this new addition to the malacological library, I’ll keep you posted once the copy ordered arrives on my desk.
Update:
Here is a picture of the formal presentation of the book (the author at left).
Ecuadorian snails
31-03-2009 19:25
Recently I received a mail from a French bird watcher
who had been to Ecuador. I know that bird watchers
can be ardent ‘snail watchers’ and vice versa. He
took some pictures at Rio Silanche Reserve, a patch
of tropical lowland forest at 500 m elevation on the
west side of the Andes.
It is always difficult to make an identification from a photograph only, especially if there only dorso-lateral views of the shell obscuring any details of the umbilicus, the shape of the aperture, possible dentition, etc. On the other hand, it is extremely nice to have pictures of living snails. There can’t be enough.
With all the reservations you can expect from a scientist, the final judgement is that this is most probably Strophocheilus popelarianus (Nyst, 1845).
The other picture is from some pleurodontid species. Most likely it is an Isomeria, possibly I. kolbergi (Miller).
Thanks to Vincent Mouret for the pictures and to Francisco Borrero for help with identifications.
It is always difficult to make an identification from a photograph only, especially if there only dorso-lateral views of the shell obscuring any details of the umbilicus, the shape of the aperture, possible dentition, etc. On the other hand, it is extremely nice to have pictures of living snails. There can’t be enough.
With all the reservations you can expect from a scientist, the final judgement is that this is most probably Strophocheilus popelarianus (Nyst, 1845).
The other picture is from some pleurodontid species. Most likely it is an Isomeria, possibly I. kolbergi (Miller).
Thanks to Vincent Mouret for the pictures and to Francisco Borrero for help with identifications.
Darwin's legacy
20-11-2008 15:49
Darwin’s legacy is still very vivid and doubtless
will continue to be. A recent paper by Parent et al.
(2008) reviews the colonization and diversification
of the Galápagos terrestrial fauna. Snails are one of
the groups that have diversified on this archipelago.
Of the 10 land snail genera present on the islands,
only the bulimulids show a huge radiation. Much is,
however, still unknown - not only of snails but also
of other groups - and e.g. even the sister group of
the Galápagos bulimulids has not been ascertained
till now. One of the reasons is that no reliable
molecular clock for the group is known. As a
non-vagile group, land snails are among the animals
for which many single island endemics are to be
expected. Parent & Crispi (2006) found a
combination of both within-island and between-island
speciation and the relative importance of genetic
drift and selection in within-island diversifications
of this group is not known.
While the speciation processes are affected by colonization and extinction, the geographical dynamics of the whole archipelago has to be taken into account, where change of sea levels undoubtedly created or ceased possibilities for gene flow.
The analogy with the tepui ‘islands’ in Guayana are strikingly. Perhaps I will come back at this issue later, when hopefully more phylogenetic data are known.
Incidentally I came across another paper on the Galápagos earlier this week (Estes et al., 2000). It is a detailed reconstruction of the journey of Darwin within the archipelago. Where was Darwin in the Galápagos and what did he see? Based both on bibliographic sources and revisiting the islands in the same period of the year, the authors were still able to see the geological features noted by Darwin. However, in contrast, the flora and fauna has changed considerably since the Beagle landed on the islands.
The reconstruction was possible thanks to the detailed field notes taken during that expedition and the fact that they have been preserved. Again and again, I cannot help to stress the importance of taking field notes and storing them at a place where they will be available for future scientists.
References:
Estes, G., Grant, K.T. & Grant, P.R., 2000. Darwin in Galápagos: his footsteps through the archipelago. - Notes and Records of the Royal Society London 54: 343-368.
Parent, C.E. Caccone, A. & Petren, K., 2008. Colonization and diversification of Galápagos terrestrial fauna: a phylogenetic and biographical synthesis. - Phliosopical Transactions of the Royal Society, B 363: 3347-3361.
Parent, C.E. & Crespi, B.J., 2006. Sequrntial colonization and diversification of Galápagos endemic land snail genus Bulimulus (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora). - Evolution 60: 2311-2328.
While the speciation processes are affected by colonization and extinction, the geographical dynamics of the whole archipelago has to be taken into account, where change of sea levels undoubtedly created or ceased possibilities for gene flow.
The analogy with the tepui ‘islands’ in Guayana are strikingly. Perhaps I will come back at this issue later, when hopefully more phylogenetic data are known.
Incidentally I came across another paper on the Galápagos earlier this week (Estes et al., 2000). It is a detailed reconstruction of the journey of Darwin within the archipelago. Where was Darwin in the Galápagos and what did he see? Based both on bibliographic sources and revisiting the islands in the same period of the year, the authors were still able to see the geological features noted by Darwin. However, in contrast, the flora and fauna has changed considerably since the Beagle landed on the islands.
The reconstruction was possible thanks to the detailed field notes taken during that expedition and the fact that they have been preserved. Again and again, I cannot help to stress the importance of taking field notes and storing them at a place where they will be available for future scientists.
References:
Estes, G., Grant, K.T. & Grant, P.R., 2000. Darwin in Galápagos: his footsteps through the archipelago. - Notes and Records of the Royal Society London 54: 343-368.
Parent, C.E. Caccone, A. & Petren, K., 2008. Colonization and diversification of Galápagos terrestrial fauna: a phylogenetic and biographical synthesis. - Phliosopical Transactions of the Royal Society, B 363: 3347-3361.
Parent, C.E. & Crespi, B.J., 2006. Sequrntial colonization and diversification of Galápagos endemic land snail genus Bulimulus (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora). - Evolution 60: 2311-2328.
Where one snail goes...?
16-07-2008 11:55
The title is in analogy to the saying "where one
sheep goes, follows another". I had to think about
when I
read
about Ecuador's Constitutional Assemblage who
approved last week articles that "recognize rights
for nature and ecosystems". At least, it
could
be a first step in the right direction. However, as
we all know, principles are often beautifully
phrased, but practices are more often quite
miserable...
Look at these figures about remaining ecosystems and their protection in the same country:
It fits very well with the recent observations by Jens Hemmen: "Most of the localities mentioned in the older literature are destroyed by clearing. There are only fields, plantages or pasture-land, even in high altitudes". This could be certainly one of the explanations why so many species have not been recollected after their initial description in this country. When I run through my recent checklist of Ecuadorian Orthalicidae, roughly 25% of the mainland species falls into that category.
The impact of ecosystem loss on vertebrates is much better known. We are only beginning to understand what this means for habitat functioning and their negative impact for humans. Snails and their value in ecosystems are much less known and this is a vast area open for further research.
Look at these figures about remaining ecosystems and their protection in the same country:
It fits very well with the recent observations by Jens Hemmen: "Most of the localities mentioned in the older literature are destroyed by clearing. There are only fields, plantages or pasture-land, even in high altitudes". This could be certainly one of the explanations why so many species have not been recollected after their initial description in this country. When I run through my recent checklist of Ecuadorian Orthalicidae, roughly 25% of the mainland species falls into that category.
The impact of ecosystem loss on vertebrates is much better known. We are only beginning to understand what this means for habitat functioning and their negative impact for humans. Snails and their value in ecosystems are much less known and this is a vast area open for further research.
Dead but still interesting
09-07-2008 11:38
Some months ago, Francisco Borrero found many dead
shells in a field near the airport of Catamyo, Prov.
Loja, Ecuador. While it resembles Naesiotus quitensis
(Pfeiffer, 1848) in shell shape, it may actually be a
Bostryx species, possibly B. juana (Coussin, 1887)
[to be confirmed after inspection of the material].
The habitat were here found them is also interesting, although doesn't look spectacular albeit scenic. Interesting, however, is the fact that it is part of a larger system of small interandean valleys, with a dry climate but occasionally flooded after rains.
Such localities often harbour endemic species and are dry pockets in an otherwise more humid environment. I remember having found similar conditions in Colombia, where Naesiotus gerenorum (Breure, 1977) and N. jullensorum (Breure, 1977) were collected in Dept. Boyacá, near Soatá.
The habitat were here found them is also interesting, although doesn't look spectacular albeit scenic. Interesting, however, is the fact that it is part of a larger system of small interandean valleys, with a dry climate but occasionally flooded after rains.
Such localities often harbour endemic species and are dry pockets in an otherwise more humid environment. I remember having found similar conditions in Colombia, where Naesiotus gerenorum (Breure, 1977) and N. jullensorum (Breure, 1977) were collected in Dept. Boyacá, near Soatá.
The tail of a snail: more on Achatina
08-07-2008 07:17
Some snails have longer tails than others, especially
if they are so slimy like Achatina fulica is. But
first a note on taxonomy before we dive further into
the Neotropical story of it's distribution.
Fontanilla et al. (2007) reported on phylogenetic work with Achatina fulica and came to the conclusion that it should taxonomically designated Lissachatina fulica. There is a second species from East Africa which belongs to this genus (Fontanilla, pers. comm.). The interesting thing is that they found that all globally dispersed populations originate from a single haplotype, originating from East Africa.
Modesto Correoso, the only person who is doing serious work on land snails in Ecuador, kindly drew my attention to the fact that in 2005 he purchased some specimens of Lissachatina fulica on a market in Esmeraldas (northwestern Ecuador) and this fact was picked up by a journalist of the newspaper El Comercio.
This was evidently the source of the reference I wrote about last week. Later, Correoso wrote a paper in a technical bulletin of a local institution. Unfortunately this has escaped the attention of the scientific community, but I like to give credits to the person who deserves them.
So we might think that the story ends here. Just an unfortunate introduction of a species that has been more or less officially reported on. Children who have fun with it as pets and some people who are earning money with it.
But like in any good detective, the next, unexpected plot is just one page away...
The article in the newspaper was mentioned on a discussion forum on aquaculture. And from there the trail leads to Venezuela. Again. Because back in 1997, Rafael Martinez found already some shells near Caracas and reported on them. Not sure what happened exactly, but his paper gives the impression that this seemed a non-established population. However, from this blog entry it may be clear that L. fulica has now reached a pest status several hundreds kilometers west of the locality reported on by Martinez. So it is evident that the species has become well established in Venezuela, but to what extent is unclear at the moment.
This is certainly not a soap series, but I'm afraid I have to say: to be continued...
Update: Barbados is another place where L. fulica has been established, according to this blog. It is said to have entered the island through the port. Barbados has spent an estimated US$ 500,000 over the past eight years in an effort to eradicate the Giant African Snail that has been infesting crops in countries across the Caribbean.
Some of the comments to this blogpost:
"We are not the first country to be infested. The GAS have been on a world tour since leaving east Africa two centuries ago. It was only a matter of time before they reached our shores. It has been found that hand collecting is the best way to do away with them however you then have to kill them. Immersion in salt water doesn’t work too well and the odor produced is not pleasant. One test found that there was an 85% survival rate after 48 hours of soaking. Burning works but stinks. Same for boiling. The surest method is to make sure that the shell is well broken. I propose that the Min of Ag distribute appropriately coloured and stenciled plastic bags that homeowners can put out with the garbage. At the dump they can easily be sorted out, run through a crusher and buried in a deep trench.
When to collect them. Don’t waste your time if it hasn’t rained for 2 or 3 days but if it rains off and on and is overcast much of the day the snails will be out foraging. During the rainy season you can usually go out at 5 p.m. and collect several hundred before 6:30 p.m. If you go out at 5 a.m. you will likely be able to collect 6 to 700 per hour through to 8 a.m. when you will no longer find enough to warrant the effort. I roam over 2 acres of land every morning and some evenings. My best day I collected 3,000. For the month of November my total was 42,000. Since then the dry season has yielded an average of 15,000 per month."
According to Pestalert, this snail is besides Guadeloupe, Martinique and Barbados, also known from St. Lucia.
References:
Correoso, M. (2006). Estrategia preliminar para evaluar y erradicar Achatina fulica (Gastropoda: Achatineaceae) en Ecuador. Boletim Técnico IASA, Serie Zoológica, 2: 45-52.
Fontanilla, I. K., Hudelot, C., Naggs, F. & Wade, C.M. (2007). Achatina fulica: its molecular phylogeny and genetic variation in global populations. http://www.malacsoc.org.uk/The_Malacologist/BULL48/forum48.htm. Re-published: Abstracts World Congress of Malacology, Antwerp, 15-20 July 2007: 63.
Martinez, R. & Martinez, E. (1997). Nota acerca de la Achatina (Lissachatina) fulica (Bowdich, 1822). Peligroso caracol africano (Pulmonata-Achatinidae) introducido en Venezuela. Acta Biologica Venezuelica, 17: 37-40.
Fontanilla et al. (2007) reported on phylogenetic work with Achatina fulica and came to the conclusion that it should taxonomically designated Lissachatina fulica. There is a second species from East Africa which belongs to this genus (Fontanilla, pers. comm.). The interesting thing is that they found that all globally dispersed populations originate from a single haplotype, originating from East Africa.
Modesto Correoso, the only person who is doing serious work on land snails in Ecuador, kindly drew my attention to the fact that in 2005 he purchased some specimens of Lissachatina fulica on a market in Esmeraldas (northwestern Ecuador) and this fact was picked up by a journalist of the newspaper El Comercio.
This was evidently the source of the reference I wrote about last week. Later, Correoso wrote a paper in a technical bulletin of a local institution. Unfortunately this has escaped the attention of the scientific community, but I like to give credits to the person who deserves them.
So we might think that the story ends here. Just an unfortunate introduction of a species that has been more or less officially reported on. Children who have fun with it as pets and some people who are earning money with it.
But like in any good detective, the next, unexpected plot is just one page away...
The article in the newspaper was mentioned on a discussion forum on aquaculture. And from there the trail leads to Venezuela. Again. Because back in 1997, Rafael Martinez found already some shells near Caracas and reported on them. Not sure what happened exactly, but his paper gives the impression that this seemed a non-established population. However, from this blog entry it may be clear that L. fulica has now reached a pest status several hundreds kilometers west of the locality reported on by Martinez. So it is evident that the species has become well established in Venezuela, but to what extent is unclear at the moment.
This is certainly not a soap series, but I'm afraid I have to say: to be continued...
Update: Barbados is another place where L. fulica has been established, according to this blog. It is said to have entered the island through the port. Barbados has spent an estimated US$ 500,000 over the past eight years in an effort to eradicate the Giant African Snail that has been infesting crops in countries across the Caribbean.
Some of the comments to this blogpost:
"We are not the first country to be infested. The GAS have been on a world tour since leaving east Africa two centuries ago. It was only a matter of time before they reached our shores. It has been found that hand collecting is the best way to do away with them however you then have to kill them. Immersion in salt water doesn’t work too well and the odor produced is not pleasant. One test found that there was an 85% survival rate after 48 hours of soaking. Burning works but stinks. Same for boiling. The surest method is to make sure that the shell is well broken. I propose that the Min of Ag distribute appropriately coloured and stenciled plastic bags that homeowners can put out with the garbage. At the dump they can easily be sorted out, run through a crusher and buried in a deep trench.
When to collect them. Don’t waste your time if it hasn’t rained for 2 or 3 days but if it rains off and on and is overcast much of the day the snails will be out foraging. During the rainy season you can usually go out at 5 p.m. and collect several hundred before 6:30 p.m. If you go out at 5 a.m. you will likely be able to collect 6 to 700 per hour through to 8 a.m. when you will no longer find enough to warrant the effort. I roam over 2 acres of land every morning and some evenings. My best day I collected 3,000. For the month of November my total was 42,000. Since then the dry season has yielded an average of 15,000 per month."
According to Pestalert, this snail is besides Guadeloupe, Martinique and Barbados, also known from St. Lucia.
References:
Correoso, M. (2006). Estrategia preliminar para evaluar y erradicar Achatina fulica (Gastropoda: Achatineaceae) en Ecuador. Boletim Técnico IASA, Serie Zoológica, 2: 45-52.
Fontanilla, I. K., Hudelot, C., Naggs, F. & Wade, C.M. (2007). Achatina fulica: its molecular phylogeny and genetic variation in global populations. http://www.malacsoc.org.uk/The_Malacologist/BULL48/forum48.htm. Re-published: Abstracts World Congress of Malacology, Antwerp, 15-20 July 2007: 63.
Martinez, R. & Martinez, E. (1997). Nota acerca de la Achatina (Lissachatina) fulica (Bowdich, 1822). Peligroso caracol africano (Pulmonata-Achatinidae) introducido en Venezuela. Acta Biologica Venezuelica, 17: 37-40.
Achatina in Ecuador
02-07-2008 09:08
Recently I wrote about an observation of some
pet
snails
near Mindo, which turn out to be Achatina fulica
(Bowdich, 1822). This is the first record for this
species in Ecuador. Very unfortunately, I should add,
as this pet species is a dangerous pest!
It looks very much that economic profit (or better: stupid shortsightedness) has lured somebody to set up a snail farm in Ecuador. My guess is that they know very well what they are doing, since on the CORPEI site they call it concealed "Chinese Escargot". But we know better than that...
A recent paper has described the rapid spread of this species in Brazil. Let's just hope that it will be possible to eradicate it in Ecuador, before it becomes a major threat to agriculture, health and biodiversity. Just today I got confirmation from an independent source that Achatina has been found this year in a ship which came from Guayaquil.
Update: Thanks to Carl Christensen, who found the following text in a newsletter of a tourist information organisation, we now know that already in 2005 Achatina must have been established in the country:
False promises and African snails
The offer to receive a spotlessly clean skin thanks to snail slime could destroy the ecosystem of a whole country. On the basis of publications about the thaumaturgy of the cream made of the secretion, there has been a development of a parallel market along the streets of the coast that does not apply to any regulations.
The main problem is that for the fabrication of the salve animals of the breed Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica) are used. The name of the giant derives from its size that can extend in its natural tropical surroundings in West Africa more than 11.8 inches. The mollusks which can be bought for one dollar a piece are sold in Esmeraldas for example as domestic species [emphasis added]. The situation is been aggravated by the fact that the Giant African Snail looks very similar to the Ecuadorian Amazonian breed (Strophocheilus popelairianius) which is close to extinction!
The ministry of the environment is concerned: the gluttony of the intruder, its high reproduction rate and its existence as carrier of a disease makes it to a special blatant danger. The snails nourish on agricultural products and thus form a risk for banana plantations, vegetable fields and fruit trees. The immediate extermination of the pest is indispensable! In some countries such as the USA, Australia, Canada, China and Israel the breed and import of the snails is illegal – whereas its flesh is much liked by the Italians and Spaniards.
It looks very much that economic profit (or better: stupid shortsightedness) has lured somebody to set up a snail farm in Ecuador. My guess is that they know very well what they are doing, since on the CORPEI site they call it concealed "Chinese Escargot". But we know better than that...
A recent paper has described the rapid spread of this species in Brazil. Let's just hope that it will be possible to eradicate it in Ecuador, before it becomes a major threat to agriculture, health and biodiversity. Just today I got confirmation from an independent source that Achatina has been found this year in a ship which came from Guayaquil.
Update: Thanks to Carl Christensen, who found the following text in a newsletter of a tourist information organisation, we now know that already in 2005 Achatina must have been established in the country:
False promises and African snails
The offer to receive a spotlessly clean skin thanks to snail slime could destroy the ecosystem of a whole country. On the basis of publications about the thaumaturgy of the cream made of the secretion, there has been a development of a parallel market along the streets of the coast that does not apply to any regulations.
The main problem is that for the fabrication of the salve animals of the breed Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica) are used. The name of the giant derives from its size that can extend in its natural tropical surroundings in West Africa more than 11.8 inches. The mollusks which can be bought for one dollar a piece are sold in Esmeraldas for example as domestic species [emphasis added]. The situation is been aggravated by the fact that the Giant African Snail looks very similar to the Ecuadorian Amazonian breed (Strophocheilus popelairianius) which is close to extinction!
The ministry of the environment is concerned: the gluttony of the intruder, its high reproduction rate and its existence as carrier of a disease makes it to a special blatant danger. The snails nourish on agricultural products and thus form a risk for banana plantations, vegetable fields and fruit trees. The immediate extermination of the pest is indispensable! In some countries such as the USA, Australia, Canada, China and Israel the breed and import of the snails is illegal – whereas its flesh is much liked by the Italians and Spaniards.
Photo of the day (16): Drymaeus
26-06-2008 16:26
Drymaeus aequatorianus (E.A. Smith, 1877) was until
recently only known from "Ecuador". In collections it
was found from two specified localities in Ecuador,
but recently Francisco Borrero found it alive near
Mindo.
Photo of the day (15): Thaumastus
22-06-2008 20:06
Another photograph of the series that I received from
Francisco Borrero. This time from Ecuador, Prov.
Zamora-Chinchipe, Tapichalaca. It depicts Thaumastus
(Kara) thompsonii (Pfeiffer, 1845).
Photo of the day (13): Simpulopsis
19-06-2008 15:23
Here is another picture that Francisco Borrero took
while in Ecuador. It depicts Simpulopsis (Eudiotus)
citrinovitreas (Moricand, 1836) near Mindo, Prov.
Pichincha.
Photo of the day (12): A snail twin
15-06-2008 14:05
Francisco Borrero sent me some pictures from his
recent trip to Ecuador. This one is from a pair of
snails (probably Sultana sp.) which were said to have
been collected locally around Mindo, Prov. Pichincha.
They were kept as pets by a young girl in the
village.
Update: Carl C. Christensen suggested that this species may be Achatina fulica, the Giant African Snail which is an agricultural pest and an intermediate host of angiostrongyliasis, a zoonose that may cause meningitis. Carl kindly drew my attention to the fact that these snails now seem to be cultured in Ecuador and are exported as "Chinese Escargot".
CORPEI is a private nonprofit institution, regarded by the Government of Ecuador "as the official body of the promotion of exports and investments of Ecuador".
Update: Carl C. Christensen suggested that this species may be Achatina fulica, the Giant African Snail which is an agricultural pest and an intermediate host of angiostrongyliasis, a zoonose that may cause meningitis. Carl kindly drew my attention to the fact that these snails now seem to be cultured in Ecuador and are exported as "Chinese Escargot".
CORPEI is a private nonprofit institution, regarded by the Government of Ecuador "as the official body of the promotion of exports and investments of Ecuador".
Google Earth and map making
25-02-2008 15:22
Since I was struggling with making a map for my
Ecuador paper, I was very happy with some tips from a
colleague. The first one was about online map making.
There are several sites, of which online map creation
(OMC)
has the basic functionality. A handy feature is
that it supports Postscript-output, which makes it
easy for publication although you might need
commercial software to process it further. The
same format is supported by
Planiglobe,
although I don't like like scaling feature as it
gives me not enough flexibility.
A second tip seems even more handy: the use of GPSVisualizer to transfer (distribution) data to KML or KMZ files as an overlay in Google Earth. Unfortunately, in the end this doesn't produce maps that are suitable for publication (unless you are the happy owner of the commercial version of GE), but after much fiddling I was able to obtain a map with localities in Ecuador.
Thanks for the tips, Bas!
A second tip seems even more handy: the use of GPSVisualizer to transfer (distribution) data to KML or KMZ files as an overlay in Google Earth. Unfortunately, in the end this doesn't produce maps that are suitable for publication (unless you are the happy owner of the commercial version of GE), but after much fiddling I was able to obtain a map with localities in Ecuador.
Thanks for the tips, Bas!
Going through some rapids
25-11-2007 22:01
While sometimes things
just proceed slowly and steadily, this weekend felt
like steering a canoe through the rapids. But in a
pleasant way...
I submitted my publication to Zootaxa, only some minor technicalities need to be fixed before the review process will start. That is an exciting feeling, after so many years of not being able to publish!
One of the things I decided to give priority, was to revise and edit the Orthalicoidea from Francisco Borrero's checklist for Colombia. Many minor mistakes were corrected, but it is certainly a great advantage to have such a solid basis to work on, instead of having to collect all the data one by one. I made good progress and showed some pages to Francisco, who approved the idea for a joint paper.
He also mentioned that he has contacts with Fundación Jocotoco, an organisation that manages eight nature reserves in Ecuador. Plans are being made to set up a cooperation with the Cincinnati Museum and to start joint field work in the reserves. This could open up exciting new prospects...
Finally, out of the blue, I received today an email from someone in Perú, seeking identification of some Bulimulidae. I was able to quickly give him my opinion on the species figured (he had made excellent pictures!) and within short I received photos of some other unidentified species. As such people with an apparent keen interest in land snails are quite rare, I offered him help with literature since many old books and journals are difficult to consult in South America. And this way the contact network with like-minded people grows, slowly but steadily...
I submitted my publication to Zootaxa, only some minor technicalities need to be fixed before the review process will start. That is an exciting feeling, after so many years of not being able to publish!
One of the things I decided to give priority, was to revise and edit the Orthalicoidea from Francisco Borrero's checklist for Colombia. Many minor mistakes were corrected, but it is certainly a great advantage to have such a solid basis to work on, instead of having to collect all the data one by one. I made good progress and showed some pages to Francisco, who approved the idea for a joint paper.
He also mentioned that he has contacts with Fundación Jocotoco, an organisation that manages eight nature reserves in Ecuador. Plans are being made to set up a cooperation with the Cincinnati Museum and to start joint field work in the reserves. This could open up exciting new prospects...
Finally, out of the blue, I received today an email from someone in Perú, seeking identification of some Bulimulidae. I was able to quickly give him my opinion on the species figured (he had made excellent pictures!) and within short I received photos of some other unidentified species. As such people with an apparent keen interest in land snails are quite rare, I offered him help with literature since many old books and journals are difficult to consult in South America. And this way the contact network with like-minded people grows, slowly but steadily...
Nearing submission
18-11-2007 20:24
The checklist of
Ecuadorian Orthalicoidea is nearing its final stage.
At least for now. Two reviewers have kindly provided
their comments, so I put the manuscript in the format
prescribed by the journal (Zootaxa) and announced my
intention to one of the editors.
The localities are plotted here (blue ones sampled after 1950, yellow ones older).
Francisco Borrero, who was so kind to review the manuscript, also sent me some pictures which he received from contacts in southern Ecuador. The following picture is identified by me as Plekocheilus (Eurytus) roseolabrum (E.A. Smith, 1877), a rare species that has not been found after its original description.
The localities are plotted here (blue ones sampled after 1950, yellow ones older).
Francisco Borrero, who was so kind to review the manuscript, also sent me some pictures which he received from contacts in southern Ecuador. The following picture is identified by me as Plekocheilus (Eurytus) roseolabrum (E.A. Smith, 1877), a rare species that has not been found after its original description.
Making progress, steadily but slow
28-10-2007 22:48
The
focus in the Ecuadorian project is now on the
analysis of the distributions. I decided first to pay
more attention to the analysis of ecoregions and
endemism. The latter concept is clearly contextual
and I was tossing around with it when I found an
interesting site that gave me some inspiration:
the Andes-Amazon project
in
Peru and Bolivia. This project deals with plants,
mammals, birds and amphibians, but in their
methodology they also used Maxent modeling. The
limited data on land mollusks (i.e. Orthalicidae)
makes it necessary to tailor-made a definition on
range-restricted species. I decided to limit it to
those species known from a single locality. Those
that are endemic to Ecuador deserve special
attention, and when I plotted their localities
three geographical clusters appeared. But clearly
more research is needed before any definite
conclusions can be drawn.
With my limited time (usually only during the weekends), progress is necessarily slow. So much to do and so little time...
With my limited time (usually only during the weekends), progress is necessarily slow. So much to do and so little time...
Version 0.2 is up
09-09-2007 21:26
The checklist of
Orthalicidae from Ecuador is taking shape. I have
checked now the following collections: ANSP
(Philadelphia), FMNH (Chicago), FLMNH (Gainesville),
RMNH (Leiden) and USNM (Washington). There remain a
number to be done, but as far as I can guess the
number of taxa is quite complete. So after some
polishing I have put up version 0.2 on the web. Its
main changes are:
- Orthalicinae added (checked with Strebel, 1909);
- the longitude/latitude coordinates of the localities have been centralized in Table 1, to improve the readableness of the text;
- the taxa have been numbered;
- a start has been made with some analyses.
This week I also made progress with the inventory of type material in the Naturalis collection. Some 170 have been listed so far, of which 15 manuscript names, mostly of Weyrauch (another project coming up).
- Orthalicinae added (checked with Strebel, 1909);
- the longitude/latitude coordinates of the localities have been centralized in Table 1, to improve the readableness of the text;
- the taxa have been numbered;
- a start has been made with some analyses.
This week I also made progress with the inventory of type material in the Naturalis collection. Some 170 have been listed so far, of which 15 manuscript names, mostly of Weyrauch (another project coming up).
An interim balance
02-09-2007 17:16
After having put the
first version of the Ecuadorian checklist on this
website, I added the Orthalicinae and began to add
data from more museums. Some have made their
collection available through a database (e.g. the
Florida and Philadelphia museums) and Dr. Jochen
Gerben kindly sent me the list of their Orthalicoids
from Ecuador. To make up an interim balance: the list
of localities has grown to 104; only the Provinces of
Bolívar and Sucumbios are not represented, but
Pichincha is still over-represented with 23%.
The number of species has also grown, to 170, with most additional ones to the previous version being species from neighbouring countries. However, I suspect that after checking the identifications with specimens at hand, some may appear to have been identified in error. And just to illustrate the radiation in the Galápagos: about 1/3 of the species now listed is from the archipel.
The number of species has also grown, to 170, with most additional ones to the previous version being species from neighbouring countries. However, I suspect that after checking the identifications with specimens at hand, some may appear to have been identified in error. And just to illustrate the radiation in the Galápagos: about 1/3 of the species now listed is from the archipel.
Not surprised, but still...
18-08-2007 14:51
After having pinpointed
all exact (or at least specific and traceable)
localities in Ecuador with the help of the GNS
databse and Google Earth, I ended up with 62
localities. Of course, this is not a complete survey
and possibly many will be added later, but I was
curious enough to do a first analysis. It is very
clear that the surrounding of Quito is well-sampled:
17 of the 62 localities are found in the province of
Pichincha. So far, Los Ríos, Bolívar, Esmeraldas and
Sucumbios provinces are not represented at all.
A beginning
17-08-2007 20:44
Today I finished the
first version of the catalogue. It is only rough and
far from complete, only the Bulimulinae are treated.
The current version can be found under Current topics
> Colombia (or follow this link). I would like to explore the
possibility to have photographs of type material,
as far as it hasn't been recently (re)figured, but
that may prove a bridge too far. The next steps
will be to sort out the mainland localities and
their altitude, to see if these can be linked to
the ecoregions and to do some analysis on
distribution patterns.
Ecoregions in Ecuador (Source:
WWF)
Ecoregions in Ecuador (Source:
WWF)
In the pressure cooker again
09-08-2007 21:40
Holidays are over and
normal work has begun, so there is little time left
when all the household chores and social activities
have been done. However, I managed to visit Naturalis
twice this week. The first time was to check the
collection for Succineidae to be able to answer a
request from Brazil. The second time was to show a
visitor from Ecuador around.
Mentioning Ecuador, I had an exchange of various emails with the coordinator of Los Cedros. It is really a very big cloud forest, but he assured me that the trails within the Reserve are good, even during the rainy season. Still my guess is that snails are not abundant and maybe hard to find, but that the fauna could be very interesting.
Mentioning Ecuador, I had an exchange of various emails with the coordinator of Los Cedros. It is really a very big cloud forest, but he assured me that the trails within the Reserve are good, even during the rainy season. Still my guess is that snails are not abundant and maybe hard to find, but that the fauna could be very interesting.
Galápagos bulimulids
04-01-2007 22:03
Yesterday I was at
Naturalis and had a very busy and interesting day.
First of all I dissected the myterious Simpulopsis from Hispaniola. Although I'm not 100% sure yet, it most probably isn't a Simpulopsis at all. To be continued...
I briefly met the new scientific director, Menno Schilthuizen, who was Secretary of the NMV in the 1980s when I was President. He returned from Malaysia last year after having successfully worked in Kota Kinabalu and set up a molecular genetics laboratory. I'm sure we will have a more lengthy discussion soon.
Speaking about molecular genetics... Just before Christmas I got notice from Bernhard Hausdorf that he sequenced a number of bulimulids that I had sent to him. Only specimens of two recently collected species produced good results. Most unfortunate for the specimens that I collected during the 1970s and apparently have been preserved too long in alcohol70 to be of any use in this respect. Aargghh, quite frustrating...
However I quickly scanned the collection for other recently collected material and found some species that I prepared for DNA research. Let's hope that they will produce good results. I also have asked several contacts if they possibly can provide me with some freshly collected specimens. It already turns out that - unlike 30 years ago - there are quite some administrative and bureaucratic hurdles to overcome.
But now about Galápagos bulimulids...
In the library I searched for literature referenced by Yesson & Culham. During my habitual check of the latest journals I found a very recent paper by Christine Parent*) on Galápagos bulimulids. She has a very conservative viewpoint regarding the taxonomy as she speaks of Bulimulus (Naesiotus). But content-wise her paper is most interesting, proving that the Galápagos bulimulids are monophyletic and discussion their diversification as they colonized the islands of the archipelago.
Her research will be of interest during the study of Plekocheilus on the Guayana Highlands, which has an islandlike distribution.
*) Parent, C.E. & B.J. Crespi (2006). Evolution 60: 2311-2328.
First of all I dissected the myterious Simpulopsis from Hispaniola. Although I'm not 100% sure yet, it most probably isn't a Simpulopsis at all. To be continued...
I briefly met the new scientific director, Menno Schilthuizen, who was Secretary of the NMV in the 1980s when I was President. He returned from Malaysia last year after having successfully worked in Kota Kinabalu and set up a molecular genetics laboratory. I'm sure we will have a more lengthy discussion soon.
Speaking about molecular genetics... Just before Christmas I got notice from Bernhard Hausdorf that he sequenced a number of bulimulids that I had sent to him. Only specimens of two recently collected species produced good results. Most unfortunate for the specimens that I collected during the 1970s and apparently have been preserved too long in alcohol70 to be of any use in this respect. Aargghh, quite frustrating...
However I quickly scanned the collection for other recently collected material and found some species that I prepared for DNA research. Let's hope that they will produce good results. I also have asked several contacts if they possibly can provide me with some freshly collected specimens. It already turns out that - unlike 30 years ago - there are quite some administrative and bureaucratic hurdles to overcome.
But now about Galápagos bulimulids...
In the library I searched for literature referenced by Yesson & Culham. During my habitual check of the latest journals I found a very recent paper by Christine Parent*) on Galápagos bulimulids. She has a very conservative viewpoint regarding the taxonomy as she speaks of Bulimulus (Naesiotus). But content-wise her paper is most interesting, proving that the Galápagos bulimulids are monophyletic and discussion their diversification as they colonized the islands of the archipelago.
Her research will be of interest during the study of Plekocheilus on the Guayana Highlands, which has an islandlike distribution.
*) Parent, C.E. & B.J. Crespi (2006). Evolution 60: 2311-2328.