Helix (Helix) pomacella MOUSSON, 1854

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 : 53-56

Helix (Helix) pomacella MOUSSON, 1854 ( Figs 81–88 )

1854 Helix pomacella MOUSSON, Mittheilungen der naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zürich 3: 365 [Les deux côtés de Bosphore].

1904 Helix (Helicogena) ( figulina var.?) straubei KOBELT, Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet VI: 190, Taf. 344, Fig. 7, 8 [Bei Konstantinopel].

1904 Helix (Helicogena) ( figulina var.?) anthesi KOBELT, Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet VI: 190, Taf. 344, Fig. 10, 11 [Rumeli Karsak am Bosporus].

1906 Helix (Helicogena) figulina var. eumolpia KOBELT, Iconographie der Land- und Süsswassermollusken 2 (12): 51, Taf. 326, Fig. 2046, 2047 [Philippopel].

1921 Helix (Helicogena) figulina var. zonata GERMAIN, Mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles de Syrie I: 139, fig. 9, 10 [non Helix mazulli var. zonata BOURGUIGNAT, 1860 ] [Brousse (Anatolie)].

Type specimens:

pomacella : lectotype ZMZ 506387a, H = 22.3; D = 23.6; PH = 15.9; PD = 12.2; PrD = 2.9; W = 5 (lectotype herewith designated); paralectotype ZMZ 506387b: H = 20.9; D = 24; PH = 15.4; PD = 12.1; PrD = 3.3; W = 5.; straubei: lectotype SMF 9734 (SD Zilch 1952: 161), H = 21.3; D = 21.6; anthesi: lectotype SMF 9759 (SD Zilch 1952: 161), H = 22.1, D = 21.85; eumolpia: lectotype SMF 9843 (SD Zilch 1952: 161), H = 22.5; D = 23; zonata: not researched.

Two lots of Mousson's collection contained probable type specimens of pomacella , viz. ZMZ 506386 (Brussa, Thiek Koch 47) and ZMZ 506387 (Brussa, Parr. 52). The last one is herewith chosen as the lectotype lot since it contains two specimens which were distributed by Parreys himself in 1852 as cited by Mousson. The original label contains the information " Bursa " thus restricting the locus typicus to this city .

Additional measurements:

Iznik, rocks at pass 7 km S Iznik (n= 9): H = 21.7; D = 24.5; PH = 16.4; PD = 12; PrD = 4.3; W = 4.75; 5 km N Apolyont (n= 7): H = 21.6; D = 23.4; PH = 15.9; PD = 11.4; PrD = 3.36; W = 5.

Specimens examined:

Turkey: SMF 299398/4, Bosporus, 41.0339 28.9941; Çannakale , 40.1474 26.4039, 6.1970, leg. MENK ; Kara Deniz close to YesilÇay , 41.1350 29.8446, 18.6.1979, leg. A.F. de Jong, MENK ; Çannakale, Guzelyali 14 km SW Çannakale, 40.0323 26.2318, 30.7.1984, NMBE 512607 / 3; Bursa, Stadtgebiet , 40.19 29.06, 1.8.1984, NMBE 512608 / 1; Bursa, Pass 9 km SE Mudanya, 40.3096 28.9396, 4.8.1984, NMBE 512609 / 2; Bursa, Hanife Dere E Karacabey , 40.206 28.433, 6.8.1984, NMBE 512610 / 1; Kozan , barrage 7 km N Kavak, 40.63 26.92, 16.8.1984, NMBE 512612 / 1; Bursa, 6 km E Gevye to Tarakli , 40.487 30.35, 7.7.1986, NMBE 512613 / 1; Iznik, pass 7 km S Iznik, road to Yenişehir , 40.35 29.68, 30.8.1989, NMBE 512617 / 9; ditto, 26.3.1993, NMBE 512625 / 9, NMBE 512620 / 18; Çannakale , pass 10 km NW GÖnen, 40.2 27.73, 29.8.1989, NMBE 512616 / 3; Çannakale , 20 km S Çannakale, 39.99 26.3115, 12.7.1991, leg. Ertan, NMBE 512623 / 1; Troja , 39.95 26.25, 30.4.1992, leg. Tannert ex coll. Groh, NMBE 512621 / 3; Bursa, Ufer des Uluabat GÖlü bei GÖlyazı, 40.167 28.682, 20.4.1993, NMBE 512619 / 1; Bursa, Uluabat GÖlü, Macchia 5 km N GÖlyazı, 40.209 28.684, 20.4.1993, NMBE 512624 / 9; ditto, 8.8.1994, NMBE 512611 / 10; Istanbul, airport, 40.9808 28.8207, 20.03.1986, leg. Rähle, RÄH (3); Çannakale , on rocks, IV.1990, leg. RÖttger, RÄH (1); ZMZ 506384 Constantinopel; ditto, ZMZ 506385 ; Brussa , 40.1828 29.0670, ZMZ 506386 ; road Ballikaya to Uluabat S Harmanli , 40.27 28.431, 9.4.1993, NMBE 512618 / 3; SultankÖy , Tekirdag Ili, 41.02 27.99, VI.1967, NMBE 18474 / 1; YenikÖy , Istanbul, 41.12 29.07, VI.1967, NMBE 18472 / 2; Ekinlik Island, Mount Elias, Marmara Sea , 39.88 28.2, 13.7.1977, NMBE 18471 / 1; KumkÖy (= Kilios ), Istanbul, 41.25 29.04, 11.6.1967, NMBE 18470 /1.

Bulgaria: Burgas, close to the airport Zara Fovo , 2008 ex coll. Dedov, 42.5707 27.5374, NMBE 505544 / 2 (alk.); Rezovo , 41.9832 28.0303, 7.5.2008, NMBE 523330 / 26; Kiten , 42.2389 27.7786, 7.5.2008, NMBE 522638 / 1; ditto, 14.8.1984, NMBE 522637 /1.

Diagnosis: shell small sized, spherical, white, with up to 5 spiral brown bands, umbilicus closed.

Description: shell of medium to small size, spherical, basic colour white with usually 5 brownish spiral bands; protoconch of 1.5 to 2 smooth whorls, with a diameter between 2.9 and 4.8 mm; teleoconch of 3–4 whorls; shell sculpture with irregularly arranged light axial ribs, banding pattern consisting of four to five spiral bands with Nos. 1 and 2 very small, No. 3 broader, Nos. 4 to 5 narrow, usually separate; lower spirals sometimes patchy; aperture broadly rounded with a thin white lip inside; columellar triangle small; juvenile and subadult shells slitlike umbilicated, adult shells with a closed umbilicus.

Genital organs ( Figs 86–87 ): penis slender fusiform, epiphallus of the same length as penis; flagellum short, reaching approximately the length of epiphallus+penis; mrp attaching in a central position on the epiphallus; internally, pp1 small, reduced, with a central perforation, penial chamber elongate with well developed zig-zag-formed pilasters, pp2 larger than pp1 with a central perforation, smooth on the surface; atrial stimulator a thick, rounded pilaster; female system with a long vaginal tube, dart sac and glandulae mucosae well developed, glandulae with a short basic stem, branching into 2–5 tubes, longer than the dart sac; diverticulum strong but short, branching off at the distal third of pedunculus, vesicle of bursa copulatrix rounded.

Distribution ( Fig. 88 ): This species is known from the NW of Turkey, the European part of Turkey and the SE of Bulgaria.

Remarks: The anatomy of the genital organs of this species is only insufficiently known. Unfortunately, there were no specimens from the type locality around Istanbul available for dissection. The first to publish some data was Knipper (1939: 378, Abb. 11), who dissected specimens from Sozopol in Bulgaria. Later, Hudec & Vasatko (1973: 26, Abb. 23, pl. VII, Abb. 1) added more information from a specimen collected in Kiten at the southwestern Bulgaria coast. Both drawings show genital organs with a relatively short epiphallus, a long flagellum, and a short diverticulum. However, they differ in the branching point of the diverticulum from the pedunculus, which is in a basal position in Knipper's specimens, and much higher in the specimens from Kiten. Hudec & Vasatko (1973: 28, Abb. 26) illustrate a specimen of " Helix philibensis " from Florya close to Istanbul, which is also H. pomacella and not H. pathetica (the taxon philibensis is a junior synonym of H. pathetica ). Here, the branching point of the diverticulum is also quite distal similar to that in the specimens from Kiten. In the adult specimen illustrated here ( Fig. 86 ), the diverticulum is not developed, however, the pedunculus shows a thickening in the place where the diverticulum usually branches off. This is probably a teratological specimen; the second juvenile specimen from the same locality shows a well developed diverticulum in the same position as known from Hudec & Vasatko (1973).

This species differs from H. figulina by its more spherical, and (on average) smaller shell; the species can be easily separated by the morphology of their genital organs, with H. figulina belonging to H. ( Pelasga ) with the elongated epiphallus. The shell of H. pathetica is slightly larger, with a more depressed spire, and has a broader aperture. Moreover, the stems of the glandulae mucosae are much longer in H. pathetica if compared to H. pomacella .

Figures

Figs 81–85. Helix (Helix) pomacella MOUSSON, 1854. Fig. 81 lectotype pomacella ZMZ 506387a, Les deux cotés de Bosphore, D = 23.6; Fig. 82 lectotype eumolpia SMF 9843, Philippopel, D = 23.0; Fig. 83 straubei: lectotype SMF 9734, Konstantinopel, D = 21.6; Fig. 84 lectotype anthesi SMF 9759, Rumeli Karsak am Bosporus, D = 21.85; Fig.85 NMBE 505544, Bulgaria, Burgas, close to the airport; Situs: 36.8 mm, D = 24.6. — All photos Neubert, original size.

Figs 86–87. Helix (Helix) pomacella MOUSSON, 1854. Genital organs. Fig. 86 NMBE 505544, Burgas, close to the airport, situs 36.8 mm; Fig. 87, ditto, situs 25.29. — All photos Neubert.

Fig. 88. Helix (Helix) pomacella MOUSSON, 1854. 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.