Ariopelta capensis ( Krauss, 1848 )

Sirgel, W. F., 2012, A new species of Oopeltidae (Mollusca, Pulmonata, Arionoidea), with a revision of the subfamily Ariopeltinae and remarks on its affinities within the family and superfamily, African Invertebrates 53 (2), pp. 527-527 : 532

Ariopelta capensis ( Krauss, 1848)

Figs 3–5

Limax (Limas) capensis: Krauss 1848: 73 .

Amalia capensis: Heynemann 1862: 215 .

Milax capensis: Connolly 1939: 181 .

Ariopelta capensis: Sirgel 1985: 474 , figs 1–6.

Emended description (the following to be added to the original description): Proximal part of vagina dilated to form a spherical vaginal bulb joined by spermathecal duct slightly below its equator ( Fig. 3 ). Transversely orientated lamellae intruding into its lumen ( Fig. 4 ) supported by subepidermal, calcareous cores. Distal to vaginal bulb, vagina continued as long duct following tortuous course on its way to join conical genital atrium near its base. Penis consists of four regions. Proximal one is a short, slender duct which together with terminal end of vas deferens is totally invested by wide insertion of penis retractor muscle, thus obscuring its true structure. It joins short, wider, more or less conical second region at an angle ( Fig. 3 ). This second region bears small calcareous subepidermal spines on its inner wall. It is separated from wider and much longer and folded third region by sphincter muscle. Numerous claw-shaped calcareous spines, distinctly larger than those in second region, are carried on the inner surface of the latter region ( Fig. 5 ). This third region gradually tapers distally to pass into an even longer, but slender and fourth region without spines that leads to apex of conical genital atrium ( Fig. 3 ).

Figures

Figs 3, 4. Ariopelta capensis,genital system:(3) details of the genital system(from Sirgel 1985); (4) distal part of genital system with vaginal bulb cut open to show its interior.Abbreviations:ALB GL – albumen gland, G A – genital aperture, G ATR – genital atrium, LAM – calcareous ring-shaped lamellae intruding into lumen of vaginal bulb, O SPD – opening of spermathecal duct, OV – free oviduct, OVOT – ovotestis, PR – penis retractor muscle, SPD – spermathecal duct, SPOV – spermoviduct, SPT – spermatheca, VAG – vagina, VAG B – vaginal bulb, Vd – vas deferens, 1–4 indicate the successive parts of the penis.

Fig.5. Ariopelta capensis, second and third parts of penis cut open to show calcareous spines intruding into the lumen: (2) second part with smaller spines, (3) third part with larger spines.