Gastropoda

Freshwater gastropods are frequently used as model organisms to assess the effects of certain chemical substances. Among them Radix balthica and Lymnaea stagnalis are commonly used in the laboratory, mesocosm and fields tests. In order to determine the effects of pollutants and more particularly endocrine disrupting substances on the reproduction of these organisms, histopathological analyses can be used. Because data are still scarce in the literature, knowledge development on anatomy of reproductive tissues and gametogenesis is a preliminary step before any studies on the impact of contaminants on the reproduction of these gastropods. The characterization of the anatomy and gametogenesis of Radix balthica and Lymnaea stagnalis was thus performed in this study. Important morphological differences exist between the two species. Despite this, the gonads of the two gastropods species have similar histological structure. In both species, spermatogonia are clustered; spermatozoids are anchored in the Sertoli cells and the male cells alternate with the female cells that rest on the epithelium of the hermaphroditic gland. This study is a prerequisite for any further histopathological studies on contaminated individuals.

Eukaryotic organelles depend on nuclear genes to perpetuate their biochemical integrity. This is true for mitochondria in all eukaryotes and plastids in plants and algae. Then how do kleptoplasts, plastids that are sequestered by some sacoglossan sea slugs, survive in the animals’ digestive gland cells in the absence of the algal nucleus encoding the vast majority of organellar proteins? For almost two decades, lateral gene transfer (LGT) from algae to slugs appeared to offer a solution, but RNA-seq analysis, later supported by genome sequencing of slug DNA, failed to find any evidence for such LGT events. Yet, isolated reports continue to be published and are readily discussed by the popular press and social media, making the data on LGT and its support for kleptoplast longevity appear controversial. However, when we take a sober look at the methods used, we realise that caution is warranted in how the results are interpreted. There is no evidence that the evolution of kleptoplasty...

In this study, in order to analyze Mollusca species and determining their relationship with the sediment factors, sediment samples were gathered during spring, summer, autumn and winter 2012 from 12 stations (ranging in depths 5, 10, 20 and 50 meters) in the Southern Caspian Sea from Behshahr to Ramsar (Mazandaran, Iran). The sediment factors (grain size, total organic matter and calcium carbonate concentration) were measured in laboratory. Two classes of Mollusca (Bivalvia and Gastropoda) were identified. Class Bivalvia had 3 species (Didacna protracta, Hypanis caspia, Abra ovata) which belong to 3 genera of 2 families and class Gastropoda had 4 species (Pergola sp., Anisus kolesnikovi, Abeskunus sphaerion, Ulskia ulskii) which belong to 4 genera of 3 families. Most dominant species of Bivalvia was Abra ovata (46.2 individuals/0.1m 2) and that of Gastropoda was Abeskunus sphaerion (58.66 individuals/0.1m 2). The mean of maximum and minimum density of Mollusca was observed in spring (29.67 individuals/0.1m 2) and winter (0 individuals/0.1m 2) respectively. The results of One Way ANOVA showed that density of Mollusca was different significantly with depth and season (P<0.05). Results of Pearson correlation showed that between density of Mollusca and salinity, %silt and clay, TOM and depth had been negative positive correlation and had been positive correlation with temperature.

The Phoenix talussnail was detected at 16 new localities, bringing the total to 20 within the greater Phoenix metropolitan area of northeastern Maricopa County. The species was detected within discontinuous ranges of central and north Phoenix, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Glendale, Peoria, Cave Creek, Carefree, and New River. Snails inhabit hillside talus and rocky desert washes. Within appropriate talus habitat, formed by dense igneous and metamorphosed bedrock, snails were detected on all slope aspects and only when slope gradient was minimally 18º, or 32%. Snails were not evenly detected throughout talus where present, nor were they always detected on neighboring hills with appropriate habitat. Snail surface activity periodically occurs after rainfall from December through March when surface temperatures range from 7°C–15°C and soil moisture is greater than 60%. Summer surface activity, following monsoon rainfall
from July to September, was not detected in 2011 but has been reported in the past during wet years. Snails were observed estivating during dry hot periods on average 0.37 m below the surface. Summer temperatures at this depth average 34°C. Snails were tested on a thermal gradient and found to avoid temperatures < 1°C and > 34ºC. Snails perished rapidly at or below 0ºC. Upper estivation thermal limits are unknown. The introduced decollate snail, a predator of snails and slugs, was not detected at any sample sites. Introduced buffelgrass was detected and poses a significant threat to talus habitat. Hillside talus is well conserved within the greater Phoenix metropolitan area and there do not appear to be any significant threats to talus via development or mining. Washes have been heavily altered throughout the valley and continue to be modified due to ongoing, rapid development near mountains. Substantial areas of talus habitat are unoccupied by the species and the extent of wash occupancy is unknown. To reduce the danger of wildfire impacts to talus slopes, exotic fire-tolerant buffelgrass needs to be controlled. Further study is recommended to determine whether widely separated talussnail populations are genetically distinct or cryptic species, and whether their populations are stable or in decline. Additional research is needed to determine habitat correlates of occupied washes, whether washes are suitable for dispersal, and to determine the critical thermal and moisture parameters the species requires of its microhabitat at sensitive life stages.

The influence of Quarternary glacial cycles on the extant diversity of Holarctic species has been intensively studied. It has been hypothesized that palaeoclimatic changes are responsible for divergence events in lineages. A constant improvement in DNA sequencing and modeling methods, as well as palaeoclimatic reconstruction, permit a deeper exploration of general causes of speciation in geological time. In the present study, we sampled, as exhaustively as possible, the butterflies belonging to the genus Melitaea (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), which are widely spread in the Palaearctic region. We conducted analyses to assess the phylogeny of the genus and estimated the timing of divergence and the most likely distribution of ancestral populations. The results obtained indicate that the systematics of the genus is in need of revision and that the diversity of the genus has been profoundly shaped by palaeoenvironmental changes during its evolutionary history. The present study also emphasizes that, when employed with caveats, major palaeoenvironmental events could represent very powerful tools for the calibration of the dating of divergences using molecular data. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 97, 346–361.

In this study, a new evidence of Neogastropods of the family Costellariidae MacDonald, 1860 from the Miocene of Central Paratethys is presented. The finds of fossil shells of the genus Vexillum Röding, 1798 derives from the middle Miocene (Serravallian) marine deposits from the eastern margin of the Vienna Basin (Western Carpathians, Slovakia), which belongs to the north-west Central Paratethys realm. The studied gastropods were discovered at the locality Rohožník – Konopiská, in the basinal pelitic facies and organodetritic corallinacean marls of the Studienka Formation of late Badenian age (Bulimina-Bolivina Biozone). The material studied here includes two new species: Vexillum svagrovskyi sp. nov. and Vexillum pseudoschafferi sp. nov. The affinity and comparison of both species with other similar costellariids from the Neogene of European Eastern Atlantic, Proto-Mediterranean and Paratethyan regions are discussed. From a paleoecological point of view, the results suggest that V. svagrovskyi was adapted to a moderately deep, circalittoral environment with occasional worsening of the paleoecological conditions (low bottom water oxygenation), whereas species V. pseudoschafferi preferred a shallow-water infralittoral environment.

The "lower heterobranch" gastropod family Cornirostridae Ponder, 1990 (Valvatoidea), has been previously known from only six confirmed extant species in three genera ( Cornirostra, Noerrevangia, Tamura). Knowledge of the soft-body morphology is necessary for placement in this family. The unique "multi-tentacled, two-tailed" habitus forms a synapomorphy of this group (an appearance produced by a combination of characters of the paired anterior oral lobes, cephalic tentacles, curved foot processes, and the deeply split hindfoot). As a result of research on "lower heterobranchs" of the Florida Keys, a new species of Cornirostra, C. floridana Bieler & Mikkelsen, n. sp., is described from the Florida Keys, as the seventh known species in the family, the second known species in the genus, and the first member of Cornirostra from the Atlantic Ocean. Detailed anatomical descriptions and interpretations of the foregut and nervous system
are provided from computer-assisted reconstructions of semi-thin histological sections. Shell and anatomical characters of the seven confirmed living cornirostrid species are summarized, generic and familial diagnoses are discussed, and a redescription of the family Cornirostridae is provided, based on shell and anatomical data. Distinguishing characters of other recognized families of Valvatoidea (Valvatidae, Orbitestellidae) are surveyed. The problematic assignment of fossils to this anatomically defined gastropod family is also addressed

The book represents descriptions and keys to identification of the 221 stylommatophoran species and also, in addition, the 10 more species of terrestrial molluscs form other taxa, which allow covering this ecological group completely. All terrestrial molluscs species of Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe (except Caucasus), including Quaternary deposits, are reviewed. Morphology, variability, systematic, way of living, recent and Pleistocene distribution, zoogeography, practical importance and methods of study of terrestual molluses of Ukraine with vicinities are discussed.

Book in Russian, but there is an English summary on page 586 .

Catalase is an antioxidant enzyme that plays a significant role in protection against oxidative stress by detoxification of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). A gene coding for a putative catalase was isolated from the disk abalone (Haliotis discus discus) cDNA library and denoted as ...

Se presenta una síntesis y nueva información sobre
faunística, distribución, taxonomía y conservación de la
malacofauna uruguaya de Gastropoda marinos y
estuarinos costeros bentónicos (0-50 m). La misma está
compuesta por al menos 140 especies, de las cuales solo
siete son estuarinas (incluyendo las exóticas Rapana venosa
y Myosotella myosotis). Los géneros Olivancillaria (Olividae)
y Buccinanops (Nassariidae) son particularmente diversos
en especies y están distribuidos en una variedad de
fondos inconsolidados. En el Río de la Plata y y otros
ambientes estuariales el género Heleobia (Cochliopidae)
está ampliamente distribuido y es considerado aquí como
máxima prioridad de investigación. Otros grupos prioritarios
son aquellos generalmente compuestos por
microgasterópodos que poseen diversos grados de asociación
y simbiosis con poríferos, antozoos, poliquetos,
crustáceos, equinodermos y briozoos (Epitoniidae,
Eulimidae, Triphoridae, Cerithiopsidae, Pyramidellidae
y Nudibranchia), así como Trochoidea y Vitrinellidae. Se
insiste en la necesidad de nuevas técnicas de muestreo y
enfoques de investigación, formación de colecciones y
recursos humanos como elementos particularmente críticos
para llenar vacíos de información. El manejo adecuado
del agua de lastre y del químico tributiltina (TBT),
la reglamentación y control de la extracción de algunas
especies, la implementación de áreas protegidas y el enfoque
ecosistémico en pesquerías son considerados de
particular relevancia para la conservación de esa fauna.

The genus Galactochilus Sandberger has been treated as a typical fossil representative of helicoid land snails in Europe ever since its first description. Several authors have discussed the systematic relationships of the taxon, but all of them overlooked that the type species of the genus is a recent species from the Caribbean. In order to clarify their taxonomic and systematic identity, we reexamined the species formerly assigned to Galactochilus. Oligocene species, here assigned to the genus Galactochiloides Wenz, can be distinguished from Miocene representatives by differences in teleoconch surface ornamentation. For the latter we introduce the new genus Agalactochilus, with the late Miocene Helix leobersdorfensis Troll as type species. Because of the morphological and, apparently, phylogenetic distinctness of the two genera within the Helicoidea, we propose a new subfamilial taxon, the Galactochiloidini n.trib., which we tentatively rank within the Helicidae: Ariantinae.

Compiled and augmented by Christophe Avon Based on : « Freshwater Mollusk Bibliography » [02-26-2015] : 22,441 References, 1786 pp. "This freshwater mollusk bibliography database is a collaborative effort by Kevin Cummings, Illinois Natural History Survey, Art Bogan, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Tom Watters, The Ohio State University Museum of Biological Diversity, and Christine Mayer, Illinois Natural History Survey. The project was funded by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation". Website : http://ellipse.inhs.uiuc.edu:591/mollusk/ http://www.WAS-Archives.org.

The marine gastropod family Architectonicidae (= Solariidae), commonly known as sundials, comprises about 140 worldwide extant species classified in 11 genera. More than ten times as many names are used in the literature for both Recent and fossil taxa, the latter dating from the Mesozoic (Paleozoic taxa were misinterpreted). Herein we catalog more than 1550 names that have appeared in print at the family-group (10), genus-group (137), and species-group levels (1408). Of the last, nearly 1100 are found to be nomenclatorially available or potentially available. An Appendix is included in which nomenclatural changes are made and/or commented upon. It is demonstrated that Solarium maculatum Link, 1807 was validly introduced and, as Architectonica maculata (Link, 1807), becomes the valid name for the species usually cited as A. picta (Philippi,
1849). The invalid introduction of Heliacus messanensis Bertolaso & Palazzi, 2000 is discussed. The emended spelling of the specific name in the binomen Solatisonax alleryi (G. Seguenza, 1876) is shown to be correctly accepted. Philippia lepida Bayer, 1942, Torinia gyrus depressiuscula Bayer, 1848, Solarium subconcolor von Martens, 1880, Solarium conulus Weinkauff, 1868 and Solarium submoniliferum d’Orbigny, 1852 were proposed as replacement names for multiple preoccupied names and/or misidentifications. These are here restricted to avoid possible confusion. The history and current status of the similarly spelled and inconsistently used nomina Fluxiella and Fluxinella (as placed in Architectonicidae and/or Seguenziidae) are discussed.

Ekosistem terumbu karang merupakan sumber kehidupan bagi beraneka ragam biota laut salah satunya adalah gastropoda. Gastropoda merupakan salah satu makrobenthos dari filum moluska yang memiliki kebiasaan hidup di dasar perairan dan tergolong kedalam jenis hewan bentik. Tujuan dari kerja praktek ini adalah untuk mengetahui kelimpahan gastropoda di ekosistem terumbu karang Pantai Ngandong, Kabupaten Gunungkidul, DIY dan faktor-faktor lingkungan yang mempengaruhinya. Metode pengambilan data terumbu karang yaitu metode LIT (Line Intercept Transect). Pengambilan data gastropoda menggunakan metode belt transect dengan luas 2 m². Hasil pengamatan di lapangan menunjukan nilai persen tutupan karang hidup berada pada kisaran 33,96%, nilai tersebut menunjukan tutupan karang berada dalam kategori sedang. Hasil analisis kelimpahan gastropoda di Pantai Ngandong yaitu stasiun I sebesar 22,5 ind/m, stasiun II sebesar 4,5 ind/m, stasiun III sebesar  10,5 ind/m, dan Stasiun IV sebesar 3 ind/m. Hasil pengukuran kondisi fisika-kimia perairan di lokasi penelitian meliputi suhu perairan berkisar  30 C, salinitas 33 ppt, pH berkisar 8,5, dan Kedalaman berkisar 45-55 cm.
Kata kunci : Terumbu karang, Gastropoda, Belt transect, Parameter fisika-kimia

The biodiversity of early Eocene cerithioidean gastropods from a marine littoral environment, including mangroves with Nypa palms, is documented from the Figols group (FG) and the overlying Castigaleu group (CG), of the Ager and the Tremp-Graus basins (south-central Pyrenees, Spain). The stratigraphic interval includes the middle and upper Ypresian, encompassing the early Eocene climatic optimum (EECO). A lower Ypresian assemblage from the Tremp-Ager group (TA) is also discussed. The malacofauna comprises a rich association of intertidal to shallow subtidal species, dominated by Potamidiidae, Batillariidae, Pachychilidae and Cerithiidae, with subordinate Melanopsidae, Thiaridae and Diastomidae. The subtidal fauna is dominated by Turritellidae. The new taxa Peraubium n. gen. (middle-upper Ypresian), Cerithium agervallensis n. sp. (middle Ypresian) (Cerithiidae), Granulolabium pyrenaicum n. sp. (upper Ypresian), Melanopsis cuisiensis n. sp. (upper Ypresian), Pseudobellardia muttii n. sp. (middle-upper Ypresian) (Pachychilidae), Trempotamides n. gen. (middle Ypresian), Cerithideopsis roselli n. sp. (upper Ypresian), Cerithideopsis harzhauseri n. sp. (upper Ypresian), Potamides isabenense n. sp. (upper Ypresian), Tympanotonos morillensis n. sp. (upper Ypresian) (Potamididae) and Melanoides vidali n. comb. (lower Ypresian) (Thiaridae) are introduced. The Cerithioidea fossil record is interpreted according to their local palaeoenvironmental gradients, and by considering their genus-level global stratigraphic distributions in the light of molecular phylogeny, ecology and geographic range of Recent relatives. The study suggests that Potamididae were adapted to intertidal bottoms of mangrove settings since their radiation in Western Tethys. Some early Eocene genera survive in Recent mangrove-fringed coasts. The Batillariidae were adapted to shallow subtidal settings. Their species richness is high, but within genera unrelated to modern forms. Some early Eocene genera attributed to the Pachychilidae lived in marine habitats, contrary to purely freshwater Recent species of that family. Turritellidae were abundant, but not diversified, and occupied a seaward position with respect to all other cerithioidean families.

Gastropod and bivalve have a broad distribution in time and space, and mostly abundance as an individual. Generally, their habit was the sea, live along the shore or in shallow waters. The aims of this research were to examine the effect of bottom substrate texture and organic material content as a detector in the presence of gastropod and bivalve in Sluke beach. Research locations were divided into five stations, every 100 meters apart along the shore. Each location was divided into 5 substations which space 100 meters each to the sea. Sampling was done by using 1 x 1 m quadrant transects, then sample was cleaned and restored for further identification. The result showed that most gastropod and bivalve found at station B2 while in stations A3, A5, C3, D3, and E2 there was no bivalve or gastropod found. The most abundant species was Nassarius siquijorensis of gastropod class as much as 62 species while the Trachycardium rugosum of bivalve class was the smallest in an amount to be found. Organic material content in Sluke Beach has a distinct range. The highest was 22.38% of high organic material in C5 while the lowest was 2.65% of low organic material in E1. The bottom substrate texture in station 1 mainly was sand, station 2 mainly silty sand. While station 3, 4, and 5 mainly were sandy silt.

We describe an early middle Miocene (late Langhian) terrestrial mollusc fauna from Nowa Wieś Królewska at Opole in Silesia (Poland). This survey is based on the rich collection stored in the Natural History Museum in Vienna and represents the first revision of this classical fauna. The assemblage is extraordinarily diverse and comprises 82 gastropod species and one bivalve species. About 56% of the taxa are known so far only from Nowa Wieś Królewska, emphasizing the preeminent position of this fauna within the European Neogene. The fauna reveals taxonomic affinities with early and early middle Miocene faunas. Stratigraphic overlap of several species and genera would suggest a correlation with the mammal biozone MN 5; integrating mammal data, however, indicates correlation with the biozone MN 6. This discrepancy is explained best by the lack of other adequately revised European MN 6 mollusc faunas. Consequently, the fauna from Nowa Wieś Królewska is proposed here as type of a MN 6 mollusc fauna in Central Europe. As such, this fauna represents the best-documented terrestrial mollusc fauna from the late Miocene Climate Optimum. Semi-quantitative abundance data of the terrestrial gastropods suggests the presence of ephemeral ponds and fens that formed on Cret-aceous limestones, surrounded by forested environments with leaf litter and dead wood. Occidentina gen. nov., Mennoia gen. nov., Neubertella gen. nov. and Eurocystina gen. nov. are described as new genera. Martinietta kadolskyi sp. nov., Carychium stworzewiczae sp. nov., Gastrocopta (Albinula) polonica sp. nov., Leiostyla piserai sp. nov., Vertigo antipygmaea sp. nov., Mennoia sculpturata sp. nov., Neubertella pulchra sp. nov., Aegopinella depressula sp. nov., Eurocystina nordsiecki sp. nov. and Vitrea angustaeumbilicata sp. nov. are introduced as new species. •

In the year 2008, the then named Department of Geological Sciences of the University of Catania came into possession of malacological material belonging to Tommaso Di Maria, baron of Allery and marquis of Monterosato (Palermo, 1841–1927), an important malacologist specialized in the systematics of continental and mostly marine and fossil molluscs from the Mediterranean Sea and north east Atlantic. The small collection also includes interesting lots of shells belonging to other Sicilian naturalists such as the abbot Giuseppe Brugnone (Caltanissetta, Italy) and Pietro Calcara (Palermo, Italy). In this malacological collection, some interesting taxa little known and difficult taxonomic interpretations have been found. The rediscovery of the Aghatina mandralisci Calcara, 1840 and Lachesis retifera Brugnone, 1880 probable lectotypes, and the taxonomy of Helix schwerzenbachi Calcara, 1841 and Helix cupani Calcara, 1842 (syntypes) are discussed. Particularly, A. mandralisci is proposed as a synonym of Allopeas gracilis (Hutton, 1834), H. schwerzenbachi is proposed as a synonym of Punctum (Punctum) pygmaeum (Draparnaud, 1801), and H. cupani is proposed as a synonym of Xerotricha conspurcata (Draparnaud, 1801).

This nomenclator provides details on all published names in the family-, genus-, and species-group, as well as for a few infrasubspecific names introduced for, or attributed to, the family Melanopsidae. It includes nomenclaturally valid names, as well as junior homonyms, junior objective synonyms, nomina nuda, common incorrect subsequent spellings, and as far as possible discussion on the current status in taxonomy. The catalogue encompasses three family-group names, 79 genus-group names, and 1381 species-group names. All of them are given in their original combination and spelling (except mandatory corrections requested by the Code), along with their original source. For each family- and genus-group name, the original classification and the type genus and type species, respectively, are given. Data provided for species-group taxa are type locality, type horizon (for fossil taxa), and type specimens, as far as available.