Siciliaria septemplicata (Philippi, 1836)

De Mattia, Willy, Reier, Susanne & Haring, Elisabeth, 2021, Morphological investigation of genital organs and first insights into the phylogeny of the genus Siciliaria Vest, 1867 as a basis for a taxonomic revision (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Clausiliidae), ZooKeys 1077, pp. 1-175 : 1

Siciliaria septemplicata (Philippi, 1836)

Figs 1.F, 9.1-9.2, 10.1-10.7, 13.9-13.11

Clausilia septemplicata Philippi 1836: 139.

Clausilia sericina Rossmässler 1836: 7.

Clausilia septemplicata - Calcara 1840: 15.

Clausilia septemplicata var. prasina A. Schmidt 1868: 41.

Clausilia septemplicata - Benoit 1876: 151.

Clausilia prasina Benoit 1876: 151.

Clausilia septemplicata - Monterosato 1882: 102.

Clausilia (Siciliaria) septemplicata - Monterosato 1894: 170.

Delima (Siciliaria) septemplicata prasina - Wagner 1913: plate 572, fig. 14.

Charpentieria septemplicata - Beckmann 2004: 188.

Siciliaria septemplicata - Welter-Schultes 2012: 343.

Siciliaria septemplicata - Nordsieck 2013b: 6.

Charpentieria septemplicata - De Mattia 2017b.

Taxonomical and phylogenetic remarks.

The case of Siciliaria septemplicata and its alleged subspecies ("geographic forms" following Nordsieck 2013b: 7) highlights the weakness of a entirely shell-based taxonomy at the species level.

Specimens examined.

Italy, Sicily, Palermo, N side of Monte Gallo near Sferracavallo , 40 m asl, 38°12'39.27"N, 13°17'21.26"E, [Lab ID 56_1, COI: MW758904 , ITS2: MW757137, MW757138 ], W. De Mattia and J. Macor leg., 16.iv.2017. 5 live spm, 2 dissected spm . Italy, Sicily, Palermo, E side of Monte Gallo , 140 m asl, 38°13'5.61"N, 13°18'4.76"E, [Lab ID 57_1, COI: MW758937 , ITS2: MW757070 ], W. De Mattia and J. Macor leg., 16.iv.2017. 4 live spm, 2 dissected spm .

Shell

(Figs 10 .1-10.7, 13.9-13.11). Shell mostly not decollate; whorls rib-striated, with sutural papillae; dorsal keel indistinct or missing; inferior lamella very high; two anterior upper palatal plicae present, upper one mostly separated from upper palatal plica; palatal edge of clausilium plate distally receding, plate gutter-like narrowed, palatal edge against distal end bent upwards and more or less pointed (as in Nordsieck 2013b).

Measurements

(n = 18, not decollate): shell height 17.9 ± 0.6, whorl width 4.2 ± 0.2, aperture height 3.9 ± 0.2, aperture width 2.9 ± 0.4.

External morphology of the genital organs (Fig. 9 .1).

The FO is longer than the V (FO/V range from 1.1 to 3.9). The VD is thin along its whole course. The FDBC is slightly longer than the BC+SDBC (FDBC/BC+SDBC range 1.1-1.9). The BC+SDBC is cylindrical to spindle-like and longer than the V (BC+SDBC/V range 1.1-1.3), with no clear distinction between the SDBC and the actual BC. The apex is big and pointed. The D is longer than the V (D/V = 1.9) and longer that the BC+SDBC (D/BC+SDBC range 1.6-1.7), thinner than the BC+SDBC and with a small and round apex. The V is cylindrical. The A is large. The PC is longer than the V (P+E/V range 2.0-2.4). The PR is long and thin or short and strong. The E is as long as the P (E/P = 1.0), gradually shrinking and turning into the VD.

Internal morphology of the genital organs (Fig. 9 .2).

The A shows a set of longitudinal irregular pleats. The P presents four to five smooth longitudinal or slightly fringed pleats. The fine structure of the wall is smooth. The PP is small to medium in dimensions and elongated. The P-E transition presents a first distal ER, PP and ELP originate from the second proximal ER. The epiphallar formula is: 1ER+2ER (PP+ELP). The E shows one main longitudinal slightly segmented pleat that fades out before the VD. Few additional small, weak, elevated pleats can also be present. The wall of the E is coarsely granulated. The V presents a set of irregular fleshy folds.

Ecology.

Siciliaria septemplicata was found dwelling on limestone cliffs, hiding in cracks in exposed or shady spots. According to De Mattia (2017b) the species is Near Threatened.

Distribution.

Following the new taxonomical results, the distribution of Siciliaria septemplicata , must be reconsidered. Beckmann (2004: 188) and Nordsieck (2013b: 7) described a wide area from Cinisi in the west and Monte Gallo in the north to Piana degli Albanesi in the south and Monte Catalfano in the east. At least the area of Cinisi must be removed from the distribution list of Siciliaria septemplicata , it is occupied by S. tiberii alcamoensis comb. nov.

Figures

Figure 1. Wagner's (1913, 1925) and Brandt's (1961) Siciliaria genital drawings A Siciliaria septemplicata, Wagner, 1913: plate 572, fig. 14 B Siciliaria grohmanniana grohmanniana, Wagner, 1925: plate 1, fig. 8 C Siciliaria calcarae calcarae, 1925: plate 3, fig. 25 D Siciliaria ferrox, Brandt, 1961: fig. 1 E overall Siciliaria / Sicania and Sicilian Mauritanica distribution F Siciliaria / Sicania and Sicilian Mauritanica distribution of taxa.

Figure 9. Siciliaria septemplicata (Philippi, 1836), Monte Gallo, Sferracavallo 9.1 whole distal genital organs 9.2 internal distal part of genital organs 9.3 whole distal genital organs 9.4 internal distal part of genital organs.

Figure 10. Siciliaria septemplicata (Philippi, 1836), Monte Gallo, Sferracavallo 10.1 shell 10.2 detail of the aperture 10.3 clausiliar plate 10.4 shell 10.5 detail of the aperture 10.6 detail of the columellar side of last whorl 10.7 clausiliar plate double side.