Helix (Helix) lutescens ROSSMÄSSLER, 1837

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 : 22-25

Helix (Helix) lutescens ROSSMÄSSLER, 1837 ( Figs 24–29 )

1837 Helix lutescens ROSSMÄSSLER, Iconographie der Land- und Süsswassermollusken 1 (1) (5/6): 4, Taf. 21, Fig. 292 [Lemberg in Galicia].

1889 H. lutescens fuscolabiata WESTERLUND, Fauna der in der Paläarctischen Region lebenden Binnenconchylien. II. Helix : 455 [no locality].

1889 H. lutescens fasciata WESTERLUND, Fauna der in der Paläarctischen Region lebenden Binnenconchylien. II. Helix : 455 [no locality].

1906 Helix lutescens serbica KOBELT, Martini & Chemnitz, Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet (1) 12: 264, 302, Taf. 363, Fig. 9 , 10 , Taf. 364, Fig. 9 , 10 [ Serbia; non Helix (Helicogena) pomatia var. serbica KOBELT, 1906 ].

Type specimens: lutescens : neotype SMF 9850 (SD Zilch 1952: 158): H = 31.6; D = 19.2; PH = 21.2,

PD = 17.7; PrD = 4.3, W = 5. serbica: holotype SMF 9731 ( Zilch 1952: 158): H = 26.4;

D = 23.95; PH = 17.1; PD = 15.9; PrD = 5.1; W = 4.75.

Specimens examined:

Poland: SMF 74682/2, Penczelice, Stopnica, 50.448 20.785, coll. C. R. Boettger; SMF 74685/2, Krakau, Twardowski rock [Zakrzówek], 50.036 19.913, coll. C. R. Boettger.

Ukraine: SMF 214891/2, Lwow, 49.8396 24.0295, coll. S. H. Jaeckel; SMF 74684/3, Sinkow, Zaleszayki [Sinkow, Salischtschyky], 48.615 25.958, coll. C. R. Boettger; SMF 214889/1, Rawa-Ruska, 50.23 23.62, coll. S. H. Jaeckel; SMF 214888/2, Tarnopol, 49.55 25.59, coll. S. H. Jaeckel; SMF 299503/4, Zalnzosyki am Dniest, coll. Kaltenbach.

Hungary: SMF Vajda-Hunyad , castle, 47.515 19.083, coll. Jetschin ; SMF 280629/1, Ternanadaska [Tornanádaska], 48.5666 20.7833, coll. Schlickum ; SMF 74672/6, Mumkacz [Mukatschewe?], 48.44 22.72, coll. Krüper ; ditto, SMF 299495 /1; Ujszeged, Maros River , Szeged, 46.2533 20.1626, 28.7.1967, NMBE 522718 /1; Kraszna, 47.9428 22 . 3628, 110 m alt., 8.1958, NMBE 522636 /2; Békéscsaba, 46.6768 21.0972 , 90 m alt., 10.2.1960, NMBE 522635 /3; Ketegyhaza / Békés Megye, 46.5432 21.1864 , 90 m alt., 20.5.1976, NMBE 522634 /5; SMF 19119/2, Bihar, coll. O. Boettger.

Belorussia: SMF 280630/2, 52.1 23.7, Brest Litowsk, coll. Schlickum.

Romania: SMF 86135/6, Shigisoara [Schässburg], coll. Ehrmann ; ditto, SMF 299502 /5, coll. Kaltenbach ; ditto, SMF 299500 /1, coll. Bosch ; Shigisoara [Schässburg], 46.2176 24 . 7849, 350 m alt., 30.7.2007, NMBE 512635 /1; Sighisoara, castle, 46.2172 24 . 7905, 420 m alt., 30.6.2004, NMBE 522344 /20 ; ditto, SMF 74665 /2, coll. Jetschin ; SMF 74666/2, SMF 74668 /11, Schässburg, Schulberg, coll. Jetschin ; ditto, SMF 74676 /4, coll. C. R. Boettger ; SMF 74675/4, Schässburg, Kirchenberg; SMF 214887/2, Szamosujvar [Gherla], 47.02 23.90, coll. S. H. Jaeckel ; SMF 19125/11, Deva , castle, 45.889 22.897, coll. Reinhardt ; ditto, SMF 73681 /2, Ruine bei Deva, coll. Jetschin ; SMF 19214/2, Deva , 45.88 22.91, coll. Moellendorff ; ditto, SMF 74662 /6, coll. Jetschin ; SMF 19004/1, ElÖpatak close Kronstadt [Vâlcele], 45.855 25.68; SMF 74671/1, Kronstadt , Gesprengberg, 45.6614 25.5764, coll. Jetschin ; SMF 74677/2, Hermannstadt, 45.79 24.15, coll. C. R. Boettger; ditto, SMF 299499 /2, coll. Bosch ; ditto, SMF 19112 , coll. Rossmässler ; SMF 74679/3, Einsiedlergraben close Hermannstadt, coll. Jetschin ; SMF 74667/4, Heltau close to Hermannstadt, 45.71 24.15, coll. Jetschin ; ditto, SMF 74618 /4, Heltau close to Hermannstadt, coll. C. R. Boettger ; SMF 74680/3, Mühlstadt , Hermannstadt [Sebeș?], 45.96 23.57, coll. C. R. Boettger ; SMF 74669/4, Mühlbach, Rother Berg , 45.988 23.592, coll. Jetschin ; SMF 74670/2, Reps [Rupea], 46.04 25.22, coll. Jetschin ; ditto SMF 299496/2, SMF 299497 /2; SMF 74660/2, Klausenburg, 46.77 23.58, coll. Jetschin ; SMF 19211, Kirchhof in Broos , 45.85 23.20, coll. Reinhardt ; SMF 19116/2, Roter Turm Pass, 45.55 24.27, ex Rolle; SMF 74659/2, Alzen close Lechkirsch [AlțânaNocrich], 45.93 24.46, coll. Jetschin ; SMF 74674/2, Apahida , 46.80 23.75, coll. Jetschin ; SMF 19209/2, Fogarascher [Făgăraș] Mts., 45.6 24.73, ex Brancsik ; SMF 74661/4, Galatz [Galați] close to Fogarasch , 45.43 28.04, coll. Jetschin ; Torda Canyon [Tordai hasadék] close Thorenburg [Turda], 46.5636 23. 6795, 550 m alt., 26.7.1977, NMBE 512560 /2 ; ditto, SMF 214890 /1, coll. S. H. Jaeckel ; SMF 19123/8, Szemosujvar, Szilnok Doboka , [= Gherla], 47.0283 23.9056, coll. Kormos ; SMF 155749/13, Ciorauni [Ciorani] S Adjud, 45.99 27.215, ex Grossu; canyon Cheile Turzii / Turda / Gilau-Muntele Mare-Mts. , 46.5642 23.6817, 500 m alt., 5.7.2004, NMBE 522343 /1; SMF 74673/1, Jarashti, Licherdopol, coll. Jetschin.

Slovakia: SMF 299505/2, Malco [Malcov?], 49.3 21.06, coll. Kaltenbach; Kechnec south of Košice , 48.5485 21.2663, 10.5.2014, NMBE 523961 /2.

Diagnosis: shell small, thin, shell colour yellowish to cream-white, seldom with brown spirals, aperture rounded, white, columellar triangle large, umbilicus slit-like open; diverticulum reduced, large glandulae mucosae.

Description: shell small to medium size, thin, elongate spherical, with a conical spire; basic shell colour yellowish to cream-white; seldom with chestnut brown spirals, and if present, usually spiral Nos. 3, 4 and 5; protoconch small, rounded, its diameter hardly reaching 5 mm, smooth, white whorls; teleoconch of 3–4 whorls with a weak spiral pattern of beaded furrows and a few inconspicuous coarse riblets; last whorl only slightly descending below the periphery; aperture rounded, almost spherical, apertural rim narrow, labial callus weak, cream to brown coloured, columellar triangle large, expanding; umbilicus always slit-like open.

Genital organs ( Fig. 28 ): penis club-shaped, epiphallus approximately as long as penis; flagellum long, exceeding the length of epiphallus+penis three times; mrp attaching in an apical position on the epiphallus; internally, pp1 small, pp1 larger, penial chamber short, with a few elongate folds, both papillae conical with a central perforation; atrial stimulator a rounded knob; female system with a long vaginal tube, dart sac and glandulae mucosae strongly developed, the glandulae with a thick basic stem, multi-branched, much longer than dart sac; pedunculus stem long, diverticulum missing, vesicle rounded and bent downwards.

Hesse (1919: 219–221) stressed the large glandulae mucosae with a thick stem and the relatively small dart sac, which perfectly agrees with the findings here; he also could not find a diverticulum. In contrast to many Helix species, the mrp attaches in an apical position on the epiphallus thus producing a supposedly "unbalanced subdivision" of the penis sensu Hesse (loc. cit.).

Distribution ( Fig. 29 ): This species inhabits the eastern part of the distribution area of H. pomatia , a species, with which is sometimes lives in sympatric (or even syntopic?) conditions.

Remarks: This small Helix -species can always be separated from H. pomatia because of its small, thin, yellowish and non-granulated shell ( Fig. 27 ). It cannot be confused with any other species of Helix , and any similarities with other small white species like H. escherichi are only superficial. It is not clear to which other species it might be more closely related.

Figures

Figs 24–27. Helix (Helix) lutescens ROSSMÄSSLER, 1837. Fig. 24 lutescens: neotype SMF 9850, "Galizien", D = 19.2; Fig. 25 serbica: holotype SMF 9731, "Serbien", D = 23.95; Fig. 26 NMBE 523961, Slowakia, Kechnec south of Kosice, D = 27.68; Fig. 27 SMF 75694, Romania, Siebenbürgen, Hermannstadt, coll. Kobelt ex A. Wagner [M.Ch., T. 363, fig. 9–10], D = 26.4. — All photos Neubert, original size.

Fig. 28. Helix (Helix) lutescens ROSSMÄSSLER, 1837. Genital organs, NMBE 523961, Slowakia, Kechnec south of Košice, situs length 57.88. — All photos Neubert.

Fig. 29. Helix (Helix) lutescens ROSSMÄSSLER, 1837. Distribution.

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.

Figs 10–19. Helix (Helix) pomatia LINNAEUS, 1758. Fig. 10 claudiensis, holotype SMF 9543, Klausenburg, D = 39.5; Fig. 11 dobrudschae, holotype SMF 9541, Rumania, Dobrudscha, Comana Vlasca, D = 46.2; Fig. 12 costellata, holotype SMF 9631, Markt in Bukarest, D = 39.7; Fig. 13 elsae, lectotype SMF 9529, nahe Bukarest, D = 34.9; Fig. 14 transsylvanica, holotype SMF 9634, Markt in Bukarest, D = 40.1; Fig. 15 christinae, lectotype SMF 9542, Runku über Bukarest, D = 44.5; Fig. 16 kapellae, holotype SMF 9544, Kapella Gebirge, D = 44.2; Fig. 17 serbica, holotype SMF 9540, Maidanek, D = 53.9; Fig. 18 thessalica, lectotype SMF 9568, Makrinitza bei Volos, D = 45.4; Fig. 19 rhodopensis, syntype SMF 9599/2a, Philippoppel, D = 41.0. — All photos Neubert, original size.