Plectostylus
Orthalicid radulae (3): Plectostylus
10-12-2009 20:37
Continued from
last
month,
today the radula of Plectostylus
coquimbensis (Broderip, 1832) from
Chile,
Coquimbo. Radula formula: C/1 + L16/1 + M56/3.
From top to bottom, left to right: overview, showing half row; C+L1; teeth 18 (M2); teeth 56-57 (M40-41); teeth 30-31 (M14-15); teeth 44-53 (M28-37); teeth 27-34 (M11-18).
From top to bottom, left to right: overview, showing half row; C+L1; teeth 18 (M2); teeth 56-57 (M40-41); teeth 30-31 (M14-15); teeth 44-53 (M28-37); teeth 27-34 (M11-18).
Photo of the day (49): Plectostylus
19-05-2009 18:59
Imagine that you see a mossy tree stem from some
distance. Would you spot the snail on it? Certainly
if you are so near as where this picture was taken
of
Plectostylus
variegatus
(Pfeiffer, 1842).
This photograph was taken in January 2009 by Ad Hovestadt in Chile, Coquimbo, south of La Serena, Parque Nacional Fray Jorge, in cloud forest.
Thanks Ad!
This photograph was taken in January 2009 by Ad Hovestadt in Chile, Coquimbo, south of La Serena, Parque Nacional Fray Jorge, in cloud forest.
Thanks Ad!
Chilean Orthalicidae (2)
04-01-2009 12:58
Linked to my previous post, I found some pictures of
live snails on Flickr.
The first is a species of Bostryx, found near Coquimbo, Punta de Choros. It is hard to say what species precisely, because only this dorso-lateral view is available. Judging from the shell shape and the records from literature, one possibility is B. rouaulti (Hupe, 1857).
All others are Plectostylus. From the same locality is P. coquimbensis (Broderip, 1832).
The next one is from an unknown locality. It resembles P. variegatus (Pfeiffer, 1842) but, again, with only this information it is hard to be conclusive.
Again, no data on the next picture, but clearly a different species judging from the animal alone; the orange neck-stripe and rim along the foot is characteristic. If I have to make a guess, it could be P. peruvianus (Bruguière, 1789).
This looks like the same species...
Another, clearly distinct species. It looks like the photograph was taken in a more wooded part of the country. Supposing this is a more southern species, possibly P. vagabondiae Brooks, 1936 (?).
And these cristal balls are eggs of an unknown Plectostylus species, ready to hatch.
The first is a species of Bostryx, found near Coquimbo, Punta de Choros. It is hard to say what species precisely, because only this dorso-lateral view is available. Judging from the shell shape and the records from literature, one possibility is B. rouaulti (Hupe, 1857).
All others are Plectostylus. From the same locality is P. coquimbensis (Broderip, 1832).
The next one is from an unknown locality. It resembles P. variegatus (Pfeiffer, 1842) but, again, with only this information it is hard to be conclusive.
Again, no data on the next picture, but clearly a different species judging from the animal alone; the orange neck-stripe and rim along the foot is characteristic. If I have to make a guess, it could be P. peruvianus (Bruguière, 1789).
This looks like the same species...
Another, clearly distinct species. It looks like the photograph was taken in a more wooded part of the country. Supposing this is a more southern species, possibly P. vagabondiae Brooks, 1936 (?).
And these cristal balls are eggs of an unknown Plectostylus species, ready to hatch.
Chilean Orthalicidae (1)
03-01-2009 22:02
Preparing information for a friend who will visit
Chile this month, it strikes me that some years have
past since the last publication on Chilean land
molluscs. Most recently some publications appeared in
the ’80s (Stuardo & Valdovinos, 1985; Stuardo
& Vega, 1985).
The latter publication is a synopsis of the land snails, for which detailed catalogues and group analyses were announced “to be published by parts elsewhere”. A far as I know, only a revision of Plectostylus appeared (Valdovinos & Stuardo, 1988).
As is also the case in other countries, the Orthalicidae are a major element of the Chilean terrestrial malacofauna. 42 taxa are listed, one doubtfully recorded for Chile (belonging to Thaumastus); the others all belong to Bostryx and Plectostylus.
While the latter genus has been largely revised, Bostryx remains quite ‘messy’ with 29 taxa. All species occur in northern Chile and seem to flourish in the desertic coastal area. An overview of the Chilean Orthalicidae can be found here.
I find deserts always interesting, providing ample niche habitats for snails ‘living on the edge’. Whether these circumstances constitute ‘ecological stress’ leading to peculiar shell shapes or not remains an open question for me (as discussed in this post). Certainly it forms a ‘playground’ for genetical research.
References
Stuardo, J. & Valdovinos, C., 1985. A synonimic list of Chilean bulimulids (Mollusca: Pulmonata). - Boletin Sociedad Biologia Concepcion 56: 55-58.
Stuardo, J. & Vega, R., 1985. Synopsis of the land Mollusca of Chile, with remark on distributions. - Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 20: 125-146.
Valdovinos, C. & Stuardo, J., 1988. Morfología, sistematica y distribución del género Plectostylus Beck, 1837 (Pulmonata: Bulimulidae). - Gayana, Zoologia 52: 115-195.
The latter publication is a synopsis of the land snails, for which detailed catalogues and group analyses were announced “to be published by parts elsewhere”. A far as I know, only a revision of Plectostylus appeared (Valdovinos & Stuardo, 1988).
As is also the case in other countries, the Orthalicidae are a major element of the Chilean terrestrial malacofauna. 42 taxa are listed, one doubtfully recorded for Chile (belonging to Thaumastus); the others all belong to Bostryx and Plectostylus.
While the latter genus has been largely revised, Bostryx remains quite ‘messy’ with 29 taxa. All species occur in northern Chile and seem to flourish in the desertic coastal area. An overview of the Chilean Orthalicidae can be found here.
I find deserts always interesting, providing ample niche habitats for snails ‘living on the edge’. Whether these circumstances constitute ‘ecological stress’ leading to peculiar shell shapes or not remains an open question for me (as discussed in this post). Certainly it forms a ‘playground’ for genetical research.
References
Stuardo, J. & Valdovinos, C., 1985. A synonimic list of Chilean bulimulids (Mollusca: Pulmonata). - Boletin Sociedad Biologia Concepcion 56: 55-58.
Stuardo, J. & Vega, R., 1985. Synopsis of the land Mollusca of Chile, with remark on distributions. - Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 20: 125-146.
Valdovinos, C. & Stuardo, J., 1988. Morfología, sistematica y distribución del género Plectostylus Beck, 1837 (Pulmonata: Bulimulidae). - Gayana, Zoologia 52: 115-195.