Helix (Helix) anctostoma MARTENS , 1874

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 : 109-112

Helix (Helix) anctostoma MARTENS, 1874 ( Figs 172–175 )

1874 Helix cincta var. anctostoma V. MARTENS, Vorderasiatische Conchylien 19, Taf. 4, Fig. 21 [Castle hill of Orfa].

1892 Helix (Pomatia) beilanica WESTERLUND, Verhandlungen der k. k. zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft 42: 34 [ Syria, at Beilan close to Alexandrette].

1895 Helix (Pomatia) achidea KOBELT, Iconographie der Land- und Süsswassermollusken, Suppl. 1: 48, Taf. 18, Fig. 5 [Tarablus in Syria].

1895 Helix (Pomatia) bituminis KOBELT, Iconographie der Land- und Süsswassermollusken, Suppl. 1: 49, Taf. 19, Fig. 4, 5 [Tschengen-KÖi in Cilicia].

1895 Helix (Pomatia) issica KOBELT, Iconographie der Land- und Süsswassermollusken, Suppl. 1: 50, Taf. 20, Fig. 1, 2 [Alexandrette (Alexandria ad Issicum].

1895 " Helix iskuraxa ", – Kobelt, Iconographie der Land- und Süsswassermollusken, Suppl. 1: 50, 51, Taf. 18, Fig. 4 [Alexandrette] [nomen nudum].

1939 Pomatia (Tammouzia) anctostoma var. edentula PALLARY, Mémoires présentés a l'Institut d'Égypte 39: 22 (= Iconographie der Land- und Süsswassermollusken, Suppl. 1: 50, Taf. 20, Fig. 4, 5 sub Helix (Pomatia) beilanica [in den Bergen drei Stunden von Tschengen-KÖi in Cilicia]).

1939 Pomatia (Tammouzia) anctostoma var. alta PALLARY, Mémoires présentés a l'Institut d'Égypte 39: 22 [Beilan, = Belen, Bilan, Beylan].

1939 Pomatia (Tammouzia) anctostoma var. ampulla PALLARY, Mémoires présentés a l'Institut d'Égypte 39: 22 [Beilan].

Type specimens:

anctostoma : lectotype ZMB 22426a, H = 37.4; D = 35.9; PH = 23.5; PD = 16.3; PrD = 4.3; W = 6.25 (lectotype, herewith designated), paralectotype ZMB 22426b. issica : holotype SMF 9812 ( Zilch 1952: 149): H = 35.2; D = 35.2; PH = 25.2; PD = 17.2; PrD = 4.3; W = 5.75. bituminis : lectotype SMF 9672 (SD Zilch 1952: 149): H = 29.2; D = 29.7; PH = 19.4; PD = 13.4; PrD = 4.1; W = 5.75. achidaea: holotype MHNG

18065, not researched. beilanica , edentula, alta, ampulla: not researched. " iskuraxa ": MHNG 18069/3.

Remarks on type specimens: anctostoma : The type lot consists of two specimens as described by Martens which match the dimensions given by him more or less (1874: 19). The height of 30 mm given by him for specimen nr. 2 surely is a misprint. One of the specimens contained a small label in Martens' handwriting which reads "21". This obviously relates to the fig. 21 on table 4. In the authors opinion, this specimen does not represent figure 21, because the upper rim of its peristome was damaged and afterwards repaired by the animal, leading to an abnormally formed aperture. In contrast, the figured specimen is complete. For this reason, the second specimen is here selected as lectotype.

Specimens examined:

Turkey: SMF 74053 Hatay, Beilan , 36.4751 36.247, coll. K.L. Pfeiffer ex Rolle; SMF 74054 Hatay, Beilan , coll. C.R. Boettger ; Hatay, rocks at Topboğazı , 750 m alt., 12 km SE Iskenderun, 36.4808 36.2375, 28.12.1990, MENK (7) ; Hatay, rocks 8 km NE of Ulucinar , 28.12.1990, MENK (9) ; Hatay: rocks 7 km N of Serinyol at the crossroads of Maraşboğazı , 36.3999 36.2362, 31.12.1990, MENK (16) ; Hatay, castle of Bektasli (= Sultankale ) 8 km SW of Güvenc, 36.4751 36.247, 31.12.1990, MENK (10) ; Hatay: rocks in Yenişehir 4 km S Reyhanli, 36.2341 36.5707, 30.12.1990, MENK (1) + 1 alk.; Hatay, rocks at the shore 11.5 km S Iskenderun , 36.552 36.0866, 28.12.1990, MENK (8) ; Hatay: Antakya, Reyhanli , 36.2684 36.5751, 04.04.1987, LIEB (6) ; Hatay: Antakya, Harbiye , 36.1465 36.1417, 07.04.1987, LIEB (7) ; Hatay: Antakya, Kirikhane , 36.4991 36.3617, 03.04.1987, LIEB (5) ; Hatay: Antakya, Belen , 30.03.1987, LIEB (5) ; Hatay: Iskenderun , 29.03.1987, LIEB (1) ; Ceyhan, Yilankale , 37.0111 35.7479, 23.7.1994, YG 40, SMNS/NORDS ; Hatay, vegetatie Magaracik ruins 4 km NW SamandağI, 36.1159 35.9424, 29.12.1990, YF 60, MENK ; Orontes 9 km NE Antakya, 36.2591 36.2735, 90 m alt., 10.8.1988, leg. R. Kinzelbach, NMBE 520417 / 1; Orontes , 8 km E Antakya, 36.2516 36.2482, 90 m. alt., 17.8.1989 leg. Kinzelbach, NMBE 520418 /3.

Syria: Apameia 15 km N Suqaylibiyah, 35.4154 36. 3938, 240 m. alt., Nov. 1988, leg. Pauscher, NMBE 520416 / 1; Al Barah W von Maarat Ann Nu'mah, 660 m alt., 35.6873 36.5399, Nov. 1988, leg. Pauscher, NMBE 520419 /1.

Diagnosis: shell of medium size, thick, massive brown area between suture and periphery, aperture chestnut-brown rounded, columella twisted with a denticle, umbilicus closed.

Description: shell of medium size, very thick, spherical to depressed spherical, with a low spire; basic shell colour whitish-greyish with chestnut brown spirals; spiral bands Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are fused to a massive brown area expanding between the suture and the purely white periphery, the subperipheral spiral bands Nos. 4 and 5 sometimes fusing or indistinctly separate; protoconch small, its diameter ranging from 4– 4.5 mm, smooth, white; teleoconch of 4–5 rounded whorls; teleoconch sculpture of distinct, narrowly spaced axial riblets; aperture rounded, apertural rim broad with a strong labial callus, chestnut-brown coloured, columellar triangle broad, columella twisted, sometimes forming a thick columellar denticle; umbilicus closed in adult shells.

Genital organs: No specimens available for dissection.

Distribution ( Fig. 175 ): This species is endemic to the Amanus mountains in southern Turkey and the neighbouring area in Syria.

Remarks: The type locality of H. anctostoma is the castle hill in Urfa. Although the author as well as many colleagues visited this place, neither H. anctostoma nor any other Helix species were found there. Among others, Martens also records Sphincterochila fimbriata ( BOURGUIGNAT, 1853) from Urfa, which is also not living there. Presumably, there occurred a confusion of labels or localities by Haussknecht himself. In the introduction, Martens cites the itinerary of Haussknecht who started his botanical research in Iskenderun and performed several excursions to the Amanus Mountains and later went to Halep via Beilan. This is the typical area where H. anctostoma is abundant.

This characteristic species lives partly in sympatry with H. cincta . In some cases, shells of both species are hard to discriminate, and it seems that H. anctostoma is a close relative to H. cincta . The two species can always be separated by the formation of the columella, which is straight in H. cincta , and twisted to denticulate in H. anctostoma . Moreover, shells of H. anctostoma tend to be very compact and more densely coiled than those of H. cincta . In the area, the black-mouthed H. fathallae can be found, which usually has a larger and more conical shell, with an almost black-violet aperture and distinct spiral bands No. 4 and 5.

Figures

Figs 172–174. Helix (Helix) anctostoma MARTENS, 1874. Fig. 172 lectotype anctostoma: ZMB 22426a, "Orfa", D = 35.9; Fig. 173 issica: holotype SMF 9812, Alexandrette, D = 35.2; Fig. 174 bituminis: lectotype SMF 9672, Tschengen-Köi in Cilicia, D = 29.7. — All photos Neubert, original size.

Fig. 175. Helix (Helix) anctostoma MARTENS, 1874. Distribution.

Fig. 21. Helix (Helix) pomatia LINNAEUS, 1758. Genital organs, NMBE 519954, Bulgaria, Iskar valley, Cerepiski Monastery, situs 51.58. — All photos Neubert.

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.