Showing papers in "Malacologia in 2013"
TL;DR: Changes of terrestrial snail assemblages over a gradient of soil moisture using 60 sampling plots in the White Carpathian Mountains of the south-eastern Czech Republic are studied, suggesting differences in species preference to soil moisture conditions at fine, within-site scale.
Abstract: We studied changes of terrestrial snail assemblages over a gradient of soil moisture using 60 sampling plots in the White Carpathian Mountains of the south-eastern Czech Republic. We used within-site design to control for confounding effects of site characteristics other than humidity, and we directly measured soil moisture along nine transects at distinct locations. Each transect had from 4 to 16 plots, and it was laid down from wet calcium-rich spring fen habitats to semi-dry meadows in the fen surroundings. We observed a sharp moisture gradient along each transect, with the measured soil moisture varying from 97% in fen plots to 19% in semi-dry grassland plots. Altogether 29 land snail species and 4,213 live individuals were collected. Species richness of land snails varied from 2 to 11 species per plot. However, we did not observe any significant linear or unimodal response of species richness or total abundances to measured soil moisture. In contrast, sharp compositional changes along studie...
26 citations
TL;DR: The first broad spatial sampling of sphaeriids from the Tibetan Plateau is presented, which allowed us to describe the Recent fauna as well as their biogeographical background, and it is concluded that the extant diversity of Tibetan PlateAU sphaerids might have been caused by multiple colonization events.
Abstract: Sphaeriids represent a highly diverse family of small bivalves inhabiting freshwater habitats worldwide. They are recognized for their high dispersal capacity as well as for a high capability to adapt to such extreme environments as high mountain regions over 4,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.). The Tibetan Plateau, located in central Asia, is such a high elevation area. Here, we present the first broad spatial sampling of sphaeriids from the Tibetan Plateau, which allowed us to describe the Recent fauna as well as their biogeographical background. Our study revealed six sphaeriid species inhabiting various habitats on the Tibetan Plateau: Pisidium nitidum, P. stewarti, P. subtruncatum, P. zugmayeri, Pisidium sp. I and Musculium kashmirensis. Four species are newly recorded for this region. Based on phylogenetic analyses using molecular information from three different genes (COI, 16S and 28S) we conclude that the extant diversity of Tibetan Plateau sphaeriids might have been caused by multiple colo...
26 citations
TL;DR: Well-preserved specimens of the two species of Brachidontes are distinguishable on the basis of shell characters, some of them previously ignored, over their combined latitudinal range.
Abstract: Intertidal communities from rocky shores of the southwestern Atlantic are dominated by two small-sized mussels of the genus Brachidontes, B. rodriguezii (d'Orbigny, 1846) and B. purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819). Their generic placement, separation of specimens based on external conchological characters and geographic distribution are problematic. We conducted a comparative study based on extensive collections and observations at 14 sites along the coasts of the southwestern Atlantic, complemented by the study of materials from museum collections. Well-preserved specimens of the two species are distinguishable on the basis of shell characters, some of them previously ignored, over their combined latitudinal range.
24 citations
TL;DR: It was found that the distribution of P. globosa not only includes the Gulf of California but extends to at least Bahía Magdalena on the western coast of the peninsula, thus extending its distribution to more temperate areas.
Abstract: Two species of geoduck clams, Panopea, are known from the Pacific coast of Mexico: P. generosa, also present in the temperate areas along the western coast of North America, and P. globosa, originally considered endemic to the Gulf of California. Often regarded as a temperate and a tropical species, their respective distributions were assumed to be clearly separate. However, commercial interests recently found populations in the temperate-tropical transition zone, thus raising doubts regarding their taxonomic identity and the distribution limits of each species. Discriminant function analysis was used to examine the morphological characteristics of the shells of individuals from nine locations to identify their species and to re-examine the distribution limits of Panopea spp. in this region. Results show that the tropical limit in the distribution of P. generosa is the western coast of the Baja California Peninsula, south to at least Punta Canoas (29°43′N). It was found that the distribution of P...
24 citations
TL;DR: The intensity of predation (both drilling and peeling) on Recent turritelline gastropods from the Indian subcontinent, which has been underrepresented in previous studies, is estimated.
Abstract: Traces of predation by drilling gastropods and peeling crabs provide important insights about predator-prey interaction in ecological as well as evolutionary times. Predation on turritelline gastropods, in this context, has been frequently discussed in literature. Here, we have estimated the intensity of predation (both drilling and peeling) on Recent turritelline gastropods from the Indian subcontinent, which has been underrepresented in previous studies. Our samples include our own collections from several Indian coasts as well as a vast collection which was locked in the archive of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Kolkata for the past 150 years. It includes samples from different parts of the Indian subcontinent as well as from many other countries. Drilling frequency (DF) of Indian turritelline species is low compared to average values of global data. We suggest that this is mainly because most of the Indian species are larger (> 4 cm) than species living elsewhere. Smaller species show higher DF and lower values of peeling frequency. Size selectivity of drill holes shows both intra- and interspecific variation. Shell thickness and ornamentation appear to be antipredatory in nature.We have compared our results with a revised global database. Distribution of intensity of predation shows latitudinal variation where both drilling and peeling frequencies increase towards the tropics.
23 citations
TL;DR: A catalogue of all available species nomina of Orthalicoidea occurring in Argentina is provided based on examination of primary literature, available revisions and monographs, comparative studies within and among species and revision of museum data, including most type specimens.
Abstract: Fil: Cuezzo, Maria Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Cs.naturales E Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Tucuman; Argentina
21 citations
TL;DR: The findings presented here support the idea that L. fortunei can inhabit heavily polluted environments, but at the expense of a significant decrease in its biologic potential.
Abstract: The invasive freshwater mussel, the mytilid Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857), has a great capacity for colonizing a wide range of aquatic environments because of its dispersal ability, high fecundity and wide range of physiological tolerances. Most of the biological and ecological studies of L. fortunei, having been restricted to specific locations, lack comparative analyses among different habitats. In this investigation, we examined the differences in larval density, density in settlement plates, shell allometry, and growth between two populations from the Rio de la Plata basin, Argentina. One of the populations inhabited a heavily polluted area, whereas the other a moderately polluted area. We predicted that the density and growth of the golden mussel would be lower in the heavily polluted environment, expecting therefore to find variations in shell allometry as a consequence of differences in density and environmental conditions between the sites investigated. We accordingly found that the larval density, the density of settled individuals, and the growth were lower in the more polluted environment. We also observed allometric differences because the individuals from the moderately polluted area with higher population densities were more elongated (i.e., with a higher shell length-to-width ratio). The golden mussel tolerates a wide range of environmental conditions and can survive in many polluted water bodies where other invasive species cannot. The findings presented here support the idea that L. fortunei can inhabit heavily polluted environments, but at the expense of a significant decrease in its biologic potential.
17 citations
TL;DR: The yellow clam Mesodesma mactroides is an intertidal sandy beach bivalve that is distributed from the southeast of Brazil to Argentina and had been considered an important economic resource (Coscaron, 1959).
Abstract: The yellow clam Mesodesma mactroides (Deshayes, 1854) is an intertidal sandy beach bivalve that is distributed from the southeast of Brazil (Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro State, 23°S) to Argentina (Isla del Jabali, Buenos Aires Province, 41°S) (Rios, 2009). Historically, the yellow clam had been considered an important economic resource (Coscaron, 1959). However, yellow clam populations collapsed as
17 citations
TL;DR: Within the habitats covered by the study, abiotic factors were more important than vegetation composition, although the influence of two groups of variables was partially overlapping.
Abstract: Microhabitat requirements of five vertiginid species — Vertigo angustior, V. moulinsiana, V. pygmaea, V. substriata and Columella edentula — were studied in two wetland areas of western Poland; two of the species, V. angustior and V. moulinsiana, are respectively listed as “near threatened” and “vulnerable” according to the IUCN red list. Data on the species and their habitats were collected biweekly during spring and summer months in 2008 and 2009 along four permanent transects at each site. Factors influencing the distribution of vertiginids were examined using Canonical Correspondence Analysis and Canonical Varieties Analysis. A variance partitioning approach was used to determine the influence of groups offactors. The small-scale distribution of the vertiginids was strongly influenced by specific environmental conditions. Both abiotic microhabitat characteristics and vegetation structure significantly influenced the composition of the studied malacocenoses. The most important factors were: li...
17 citations
TL;DR: This poster presents a probabilistic reconstruction of the immune system of birds of Altai Region, Northern Xinjiang during the period of June-July of 1991 to July of 1993, using a variety of methods.
Abstract: Fil: Vogler, Roberto Eugenio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Division Zoologia Invertebrados; Argentina
13 citations
TL;DR: Longevity, low somatic production, low population density, late reproductive maturity and direct development with few embryos, makes A. ancilla a vulnerable resource that will require a proper management approach incorporating estimates of these life history parameters.
Abstract: Fil: Zabala, Maria Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagonico; Argentina
TL;DR: The developed and validated RIAs meet the requirements for quantification of progesterone and testosterone in Octopus gonad extracts and show that it is possible to use 125I-labeled hormone as well as the plastic coated-tubes from commercial RIA kits to analyse variations in hormone levels associated with gonad developmental stages and the reproductive cycle of octopuses, allowing exploration of their possible functions.
Abstract: Commercially available radioimmunoassays (RIA) with 125I-labeled hormones were adapted, developed and validated to quantify progesterone and testosterone in gonad extracts of Octopus maya, considered an easily domesticated species with potential in aquaculture. Development of the RIAs was divided into four phases: (1) extraction of progesterone and testosterone from gonads, (2) preparation of gonad extracts for RIA, (3) standards preparation, and (4) RIA procedure. Hormones were extracted twice with 15 mL of diethyl-ether each time. The recovered hormone and the solvent effect on extraction were evaluated. RIAs were validated based on specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision and reproducibility. Serially diluted gonad extracts were parallel to the standard curves of each hormone, indicating specificity. Sensitivities for both hormones were less than 0.1 ng·g-1, and did not change by more than 20% during the 125I half-life. Accuracy was 102.25 ± 11.22% for progesterone and 81.62 ± 6.24% for t...
TL;DR: This study proposes C. confusus, new species, an Andean slug of the genus Colosius Thomé, 1975, and a newly recognized pest of coffee and cultivated flowers from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and compares it with C. pulcher (Colosi, 1921), a poorly known species with which it has been confused.
Abstract: In this study, we propose C. confusus, new species, an Andean slug of the genus Colosius Thome, 1975, and a newly recognized pest of coffee and cultivated flowers from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. We compare it with C. pulcher (Colosi, 1921), a poorly known species with which it has been confused. Our study is based on morphological analysis of a large number of specimens, including interceptions on cut-flowers and live plants by federal agricultural inspectors of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and material from eight museum collections. Genetic diversity within C. confusus, n. sp. and C. pulcher is also analysed based on fragments of cytochrome oxidase I (COI), and 16S rRNA. They are differentiated by reproductive characters and genes studied. In C. confusus, n. sp., the phallus has a deep longitudinal groove from the base, near the retractor muscle, to its distal region, close to the papilla. In C. pulcher, there is an oval to re...
TL;DR: This study considers three common, structurally diverse freshwater snail genera Planorbella, Pomacea and Haitia to examine the utility of using multiple length measures to predict multiple soft-tissue mass measures.
Abstract: 1Department of Biological Science, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, Florida 33181, U.S.A. 2Ocean Associates, Inc., 501 W. Ocean Blvd, Suite 4200, Long Beach, California 90802, U.S.A. 3Department of Biology, Columbus State University, Columbus, Georgia 31907, U.S.A. *Corresponding author: aobaza@yahoo.com power and provide more accurate biomass estimates for snails because they exhibit a diversity of shapes. Comparisons among possible regression models may reveal that different metrics or combinations of metrics are better predictors of a particular mass measure for a given group (e.g., AFDM vs. wet mass). In this study, we consider three common, structurally diverse freshwater snail genera Planorbella, Pomacea and Haitia to examine the utility of using multiple length measures to predict multiple soft-tissue mass measures. Planorbella (Planorbidae) are pulmonate snails with planispiral shells that grow sinistrally (left handed). Haitia (Physidae) are small pulmonates with a sinistrally growing conispiral shell. Pomacea (Ampulariidae) are large caenogastropods that have globose, conispiral shells that are generally dextral (right handed) with
TL;DR: The morphology of Calliostoma adspersum, C. depictum and C. hassler, from the Brazilian coast, were studied in detail and it is concluded that C. vinosum is a synonym of C.Hasler, because specimens identifiable as both species occur within a single ontogenetic series.
Abstract: The morphology of Calliostoma adspersum, C. depictum and C. hassler, from the Brazilian coast, were studied in detail. Their anatomy has particularities that may be unique to the genus, such as: presence of an ampulla in the female; reduction or loss of the cephalic lappets; presence of a pseudoproboscis; occurrence of the intestinal loop outside the head-foot haemocoel. At species level, we conclude that C. vinosum is a synonym of C. hassler, because specimens identifiable as both species occur within a single ontogenetic series. Calliostoma hassler can be distinguished by: lack of the left dorsal esophageal fold, absence of a gastric spiral caecum and presence of an intestine with two wide loops. Based on anatomical evidence, we concluded that C. depictum is not a synonym of C. adspersum, differing by strongly convex whorls and a distinct suture; a marked groove near the columella; an odontophore partially covered by the mid-esophagus; absence of the pair of odontophore muscles m8a; a ventral esophageal fold of the same size as the dorsal folds; and a reduced spiral caecum with 0.5 whorl.
TL;DR: The reproductive biology of Eledone cirrhosa was studied for the first time in the northern and eastern region of Tunisia from surveys carried out on board the Tunisian oceanographic vessel “Hannibal” and from commercial catches of bottom-trawl operating from October 2005 to September 2006.
Abstract: The reproductive biology of Eledone cirrhosa (Lamarck, 1798) was studied for the first time in the northern and eastern region of Tunisia. Monthly samples were provided from surveys carried out on board the Tunisian oceanographic vessel “Hannibal” and from commercial catches of bottom-trawl operating in this area from October 2005 to September 2006. Although specimens have been collected at a wide depth range, E. cirrhosa shows the greatest abundance between 100 and 300 m. The sex ratio was estimated at 0.94 with no significant difference (P > 0.05). Length-weight relationships calculated for each sex and the whole sample showed negative allometric growth (b < 3). The allometric coefficient in immature individuals revealed an allometric growth (b < 3) and isometric growth (b = 3) in maturing and mature individuals. A three-stage maturity scale was intended to distinguish between immature, maturing and fully mature animals. The reproductive season for females extended from April to August, with a spawning peak from June to August, and for males from January to August with a peak from April to August. The dorsal mantle length (DML) at maturity, corresponding to the size class when 50% of individuals were mature, was estimated at 6.88 cm in males, and 8.80 cm in females. The juveniles were mainly found in between 100 and 200 m where a nursery area for the species is probably present, while mature individuals were mostly fished at a depth greater than 200 m, which represents the spawning area of Eledone cirrhosa. Potential fecundity, estimated from 37 mature females, was 4171 ± 1216 oocytes. The number of spermatophores ranged from 42 to 121, with a mean length of 51.34 ± 4.86 mm.
TL;DR: An improved immunolabelling technique to track the fate of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-labelled sperm in the female reproductive organs of gastropods providing insight into mechanisms of sperm competition and cryptic female choice is presented.
Abstract: The mechanisms of sperm transfer, storage, utilization and digestion are crucial for understanding processes of postcopulatory sexual selection. Previous studies analysing postcopulatory processes have generally focused only on the ultimate outcome of the interactions between male and female sexual selection (paternity patterns). For a mechanistic understanding of the fate of received sperm and the involved patterns of postcopulatory sexual selection new techniques are required. Here we present an improved immunolabelling technique to track the fate of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-labelled sperm in the female reproductive organs of gastropods. The technique was tested in individuals of the simultaneously hermaphroditic land snail Arianta arbustorum (Linnaeus, 1758). We determined the percentage of labelled sperm in spermato-phores delivered and assessed the reliability of detecting labelled sperm in the spermatheca (sperm storage organ) and bursa copulatrix (sperm digestion organ) of the recipi...
TL;DR: In over one hundred years of research, double hectocotylization has been reported in only six individual cases in six different species of octopus including: Eledone cirrhosa (by Appellof, 1892),Octopus briareus (by Robson, 1929), Octopus vulgaris (by Palacio, 1973, Octopus selene ( by Palacio) and Octopus minor (by Higashide et al., 2007).
Abstract: Life-history information regarding most cephalopod species is somewhat scarce, and information relating anatomical anomalies of cephalopods is even more limited. For octopus species, the few anomalies that have been reported include: arm bifurcations (Smith, 1907; Okada, 1965; Gonzalez & Guerra, 2006), fourtharm hectocotylus (Robson, 1929), hexapody (Toll & Binger, 1991), septapody (Gleadall, 1989), decapody (Toll & Binger, 1991), and double hectocotylization (Robson, 1929; Palacio, 1973). Most male octopus have a modified third right arm or hectocotylus that is specialized for passing sperm packets to females. The tip of this specialized arm, known as a ligula, is spoon-shaped bearing a seminal groove ending in a rounded calamus. There are only three species of octopus that typically have the hectocotylized arm on the third left arm instead of the third right: Scaeurgus unicirrhus, Euaxoctopus panamensis and Pteroctopus tetracirrhus (Palacio, 1973). In over one hundred years of research, double hectocotylization has been reported in only six individual cases in six different species of octopus including: Eledone cirrhosa (by Appellof, 1892), Octopus briareus (by Robson, 1929), Octopus vulgaris (by Palacio, 1973), Octopus selene (by Palacio, 1973), Octopus chierchiae (by Roy Caldwell, personal communication) and Octopus minor (by Higashide et al., 2007). In each case, the third right arm was hectocotylized, along with an additional arm from the right side of the body (unilateral hectocotylization) or a left arm (bilateral hectocotylization). mentation of double hectocotylization for the Enteroctopus dofleini cephalopod having double hectocotylization not including either the third right or left arm. MALACOLOGIA, 2013, 56(1 2): 297 300
TL;DR: The early Holocene records from Hungary together with the new record from southern Slovakia fill a distribution gab between northern and southern present populations and suggest a possible dispersal pathway of postglacial spreading from southern refugia to the north, in a southeastwards direction along the Alps.
Abstract: The rare and endangered freshwater snail Marstoniopsis
insubrica (Kuster, 1853) (Gastropoda: Amnicolidae) today has a
highly disjunct distribution in Europe. We abstracted all known
published Holocene fossil records of Marstoniopsis insubrica,
previously reported as M. scholtzi. The early Holocene records
from Hungary together with the new record from southern
Slovakia fill a distribution gab between northern and southern
present populations. Because of the presence of continental ice
sheet that covered much of northwestern Europe during the last
cold stage, it is likely that the modern distribution of M.
insubrica in most of northern Europe is of postglacial origin.
These fossil records can therefore suggest a possible dispersal
pathway of postglacial spreading from southern refugia to the
north, in a southeastwards direction along the Alps, thought
the location of its glacial refugia are unknown.
TL;DR: Two extant species of geoduck clams occur on the coast of the Baja California Peninsula, and based on morphological and genetic similarity, it has been shown that P. generosa and P. globosa are not phylogenetically close.
Abstract: Two extant species of geoduck clams occur on the coast of the Baja California Peninsula. Panopea generosa Gould, 1850, occurs from southern Alaska, U.S.A., to Punta Eugenia on insula, and P. globosa Dall, 1898, which was historically considered endemic to the Gulf of California. Despite their geographic proximity, P. generosa and P. globosa are not phylogenetically close (Rocha-Olivares et al., 2010). In addition, based on morphological and genetic similarity, it has been shown that P. globosa oc-
TL;DR: The terrestrial malacofauna of the Iberian Peninsula is extremely rich and shows the highest diversity of arionid slug species in Europe (and probably worldwide), with 30 to 50 species, including several endemic ones (Castillejo, 1998).
Abstract: The terrestrial malacofauna of the Iberian Peninsula is extremely rich and shows the highest diversity of arionid slug species in Europe (and probably worldwide), with 30 to 50 species, including several endemic ones (Castillejo, 1998). However, the taxonomic status of several of these species remains unclear due to the extreme variability in body size and color and the lack of reliable diagnostic morphological traits (Backeljau & De Bruyn, 1990). The taxonomy of terrestrial slugs is based almost entirely on the morphology of their reproductive apparatus, which varies according to developmental stage and sexual maturation, often
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that H. diversicolor AEP contains a factor, potentially the mantle protein sometsuke, which may impart in the osteoblastic cell differentiation, and this protein was presumably laid down as extracellular matrix.
Abstract: The organic matrix proteins of molluscan nacre are known to engage biocompatible and osteoinductive properties. In this study, we aimed to extract Haliotis diversicolor nacreous proteins and assayed their effect on pre-osteoblastic cell differentiation. We found that acid extracted nacreous proteins (AEP) consisted primarily of a major protein band of 25 kDa and three other minor proteins. AEP enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of MC3T3-E1 cells both in time- and concentration-dependent manners. Transcriptional up-regulation of osteogenic markers, including collagen type I (COL-I), osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN), was also apparent in days 7 and 14 upon AEP treatments. At the translational level, higher protein expression of COL-I was evident in AEP treated cells, and the protein was presumably laid down as extracellular matrix. Further de novo sequencing of an AEP major protein revealed a match with the abalone mantle protein sometsuke. Conclusively, we demonstrated that H. diversicolor AEP contains a factor, potentially the mantle protein sometsuke, which may impart in the osteoblastic cell differentiation.
TL;DR: I investigated whether morphs common in British Columbia showed consistent differences in size or depth of occurrence of Diaulula sandiegensis, finding at least two common forms, though each shows variation in characters.
Abstract: Diaulula sandiegensis (Cooper, 1863) has long been known to vary in dorsal coloration, with a ground color ranging from cream to dark brown, overlain by either rings or irregular blotches (Behrens, 1991; Smith & Carlton, 1975). Some morphs previously considered to be separate species (Diaulula sp. 1, Doris s. l.) have recently been combined into D. sandiegensis (Behrens & Valdes, 2001; Behrens, 2004). However, other morphs may actually be separate species (Dayrat, 2010). I investigated whether morphs common in British Columbia showed consistent differences in size or depth of occurrence. There are at least two common forms, though each shows variation in characters, and some individuals are ambiguous in their markings (Table 1, Fig. 1). The “ring” form has few brown rings symmetrically distributed and offset from the midline, typically on a light background (Fig. 1A). These rings may be complete or broken and relatively light or dark. The “spotted” form has multiple, irregular, dark patches similar to leopard spots in that they are surrounded by a ring of different (in this case, lighter) value, and they often grade into this color towards the center. These spots are often asymmetrically MALACOLOGIA, 2013, 56(1 2): 351 354
TL;DR: The validity of this genus-group name Hiatula is reevaluate in light of the philology and in accordance with the provision of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)
Abstract: In 1793, Adolph Modeer, a Swedish naturalist, proposed Hiatula as a bivalve genus-group name in the introduction to his study of bivalve mollusks. However, the validity of Hiatula Modeer, 1793, has been open to debate, because of the ambiguous original description lacking a type designation, the polyphyletic originally included nominal species (ICZN Art. 67.2), and the existence of probable senior and junior homonyms, as discussed by several authors (e.g., Dall, 1900; Winckworth, 1935; Rehder, 1967; Roth & Guruswani-Naidu, 1974; Beu & Maxwell, 1990; Willan, 1993). I herein reevaluate the validity of this genus-group name in light of the philology and in accordance with the provision of International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, 1999). Modeer (1793: 178–179) described Hiatula in Latin as follows (Fig. 1): “HIATULA (Gapmussla): Testa aequalis oblonga, utrinque hians. Cardo valvae unius dente depresso, patulo: inserto aut vacuo; alterius subbidentato, plerisque scrobiculo intermedio, excavato. Dentibus lateralibus aut nullis, aut vulvali tantum, raro anali obsoleto. Animal Pallio lobato, pede disticho subfalcato, Tentaculis lanceolato-subtriquetris; Trachea longissima, simplici.” Translation: [HIATULA (Gape clam): Shell equally oblong, gaping at both ends; Hinge of valves with a single, depressed, broad tooth: or insert in a socket; others weakly bidentate; with several, excavate intermediate pits. Lateral teeth either none or only in small valves; posterior rarely obsoleted. Pallial animal lobate; pedal distichous, subfalcate; gills lanceolate-subtriquetral; siphon very long, simple. Modeer (1793: 182–183) also made the following remarks in Swedish: “Ifrån SOLEN är HIATULA, både til Skal och Kräk, få åskildt [sic; åtskild] som natt och dag, hvarföre ock til den senare höra de som MALACOLOGIA, 2013, 56(1 2): 309 313
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The invasive Melanoides tuberculata (Muller, 1774), a freshwater and brackish water snail, is reported from Mosta and Baħrija in Malta.
Abstract: The invasive Melanoides tuberculata (Muller, 1774), a freshwater and brackish water snail, is reported from Mosta and Baħrija in Malta. Shells from these populations are morphologically distinct from a population at Salini first recorded in 1981.