Helix (Helix) antiochiensis KOBELT, 1895

Neubert, Eike, 2014, Revision of Helix LINNAEUS, 1758 in its eastern Mediterranean distribution area, and reassignment of Helix godetiana KOBELT, 1878 to Maltzanella HESSE, 1917 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Helicidae), Contributions to Natural History 26, pp. 1-200 : 94-97

Helix (Helix) antiochiensis KOBELT, 1895 ( Figs 151–155)

1895 Helix (Pomatia) antiochiensis KOBELT, Iconographie der Land- und Süsswassermollusken, Suppl. 1: 51, Taf. 21, Fig. 1 , Taf. 22, Fig. 1, 2 [in der Umgebung von Antiochia (= Antakia)].

1895 Helix salisi KOBELT, Iconographie der Land- und Süsswassermollusken, Suppl. 1: Taf. 18, Fig. 1 [nomen nudum].

1905 Helix (Helicogena) eduardi KOBELT, Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet VI : 205, Taf. 351, Fig. 1, 2 [ Palästina, … nicht allzuweit vom See Genezareth].

1905 Helix salisi KOBELT, Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet VI : 225, Taf. 354, Fig. 1 [NÖrdliches Syrien; according to the label in MHNG: Tripoli de Syrie (= Trâblous)].

1905 Helix (Helicogena) berytensis KOBELT, Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet VI : 226, Taf. 354, Fig. 2 [Beirut].

1921 Helix (Helicogena) tripolitana GERMAIN, Mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles de Syrie I: 134, pl. 7, fig. 18 [Tripoli de Syrie ou il a été recueilli par le voyageur Olivier] [non Helix (Helicogena) cavata tripolitana KOBELT, 1904 , nec WOOD, 1829].

Type specimens:

antiochiensis : holotype SMF 9656 ( Zilch 1952: 149): H = 54.8; D = 48.5; PH = 37.1; PD = 24.2; PrD = 4.8; W = 5; SMF 9799 [= Iconographie der Land- und Süsswassermollusken, Suppl. 1, Taf. 22, Fig. 1–2 ] is a juvenile. eduardi : ZMB, ex coll. Paetel, not searched for. berytensis : ZMB, leg. Riebeck, not searched for. tripolitana : syntype (s) MNHN-IM-2000-27767, coll. Olivier: H = 52.7; D = 47.3; PH = 37.2; PD = 24.5; PrD = 5.2; W = 5. salisi : holotype MHNG 18146, H = 42.5, D = 40.9, PH = 28.9, PD = 22.5, PrD = 6.5, W = 5.5.

Specimens examined:

Turkey: SMF 9933, Antiochia, 36.2028 36.1602, coll. O. v. Moellendorff (paratypes?); ditto, SMF 74968/2, coll. Nägele; ditto, SMF 74406/2, coll. C.R. Boettger; ditto, SMF 299556, coll. Kaltenbach; Hatay, Kuruyer SE Antakya, 36.1863 36.1939, 17.4.1997, NMBE 525619 / 1; Antakya, St. Pierre Kilesi , 36.2091 36.1784, 3.1.1994 , SMNS/NORDS; ditto, 31.7.1994 ; ditto, 29.12.1990, MENK (4) ; SamandağI, Çevlik (Titus Tüneli), 36.1204 35.9252, 1.8.1994 SMNS/NORDS; ditto 18.4.1997, NMBE 525620 /3.

Syria: SMF 17639, Homs at the Orontes, coll. Nägele [doubtful].; SMF 22686 Syria, Kessab, 35.9283 35.9852, ex Mazek-Fialla; Qualaat Sahyn = Qal'aat Salah ed-Din ( Castle of Saladin ), 35.5958 36.0575, Nov. 1988, NMBE 520415 /1.

Lebanon: Beino (cf. Thomé & Thomé 1987: 100) [not seen, doubtful].

Diagnosis: thick and large shell, high conical spire, aperture large, subquadrate, cream to deeply brown.

Description: shell of large size, thick, with a high conical spire; basic shell colour greyish white with chestnut brown spirals, with the upper three spirals slightly fusing on the body whorl; protoconch small in comparison to shell, its diameter ranging from 4.5– 5.5 mm, smooth, white whorls; teleoconch of 4 whorls, smooth, with fine axial riblets alternating with a few stronger ribs; last whorl slightly descending below the periphery; aperture large, subquadrate, apertural rim broad, labial callus weak, cream to deeply brown coloured, columellar triangle small; umbilicus closed in adult shells.

Genital organs: There were no specimens for dissection available.

Distribution ( Fig. 155 ): This taxon is one of the least known Helix species. So far, shells attributed to H. antiochiensis originate from Hatay and the connecting mountain chains in western Syria; there are no modern records for this species from Lebanon. In Beirut only H. pachya is known. However, it is possible that the species reaches the northernmost parts of the Lebanon Mts. The record from Lake Tiberias ( H. eduardi ) is surely a mislabelling, this species is not recorded from this quite well studied area.

Remarks: The status of H. antiochiensis as a species separate from the syntopic H. cincta is under debate. It differs from H. cincta by its much larger shells with an elongate spire. In parallel, typical H. cincta shells are known from the Hatay area. From a conchological point of view it is almost indistinguishable from H. valentini , and there is no similar form with such large shells with a high spire known in the distribution area of H. cincta . Synonymising H. antiochiensis with H. valentini would create a species with two disjunct distribution areas, which is not easy to explain. Korábek & al. (submitted) hypothesize that the two species H. antiochiensis and H. valentini are probably very young off-shoots from the H.- cincta -clade, which could explain their position in the mitochondrial trees.

Helix pachya differs from H. antiochiensis , which reaches similar shell sizes, by the purely white labial callus and the granulated teleoconch surface of the latter. Helix lucorum has a more globular shell, and usually has the upper and lower spirals fused to large brown areas leaving only a small purely white subperipheral zone in the centre of the shell.

Figures

Figs 1–9. Helix (Helix) pomatia LINNAEUS, 1758. Fig. 1 compacta, syntype SMF 9573, D = 50.07, Hungary "Gestrüppe der Berglehnen"; Fig. 2 pulskyana, syntype SMF 9525/2a, Hungary "Inseln der Donau", D = 36.6; Fig. 3 hajnaldiana, syntype SMF 9658, Hungary "Budapest, im botanischen Garten", D = 34.1; Fig. 4 solitaria, syntype SMF 74708/2a, D = 31.1; Fig. 5 sabulosa, syntype SMF 9524, D = 40.5, Fig. 6 expansilabris, holotype SMF 9538, D = 45.5; Fig. 7 luteola, holotype SMF 9527, D = 34.6; Fig. 8 pannonica, lectotype SMF 9535, D = 40.5, Fig. 9 lednicensis, syntype SMF 9534/2a, D = 38.3. — All photos Neubert, original size.

Fig. 155. Helix (Helix) antiochiensis KOBELT, 1895. Distribution.