Siciliaria calcarae belliemii (Brandt, 1961)

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 calcarae belliemii (Brandt, 1961)

Figs 1.F, 16.7-16.11, 17.1-17.6, 24.4

Siciliaria (Siciliaria) calcarae belliemii Brandt 1961: 9.

Charpentieria calcarae belliemii - Nordsieck 2007: 53.

Siciliaria calcarae belliemii - Nordsieck 2013b: 8.

Siciliaria (Siciliaria) calcarae belliemii - Liberto et al. 2016: 371.

Specimens examined.

Italy, Sicily, Partinico, W side of the Mount Belliemi , 440 m asl, 38°00'22.47"N, 13°6'37.79"E, [Lab ID 54_1, COI: MW758900 , ITS2: MW757134, MW757135, MW757136 ; Lab ID 54_2, COI: MW758901 ], W. De Mattia and J. Macor leg., 12.iv.2017. 15 live spm, 3 dissected spm . Italy, Sicily, Alcamo, E side of the Calatubo Castle , 75 m asl, 38°00'54.80"N, 12°59'13.35"E, [Lab ID 44_1, COI: MW758889 , ITS2: MW757122, MW757123 ; Lab ID 44_2, COI: MW758913 ; Lab ID 44_3, COI: MW758930 ; Lab ID 44_4, COI: MW758931 ], W. De Mattia and J. Macor leg., 14.iv.2017. 18 live spm, 2 dissected spm .

Shell

(Figs 17 .1-17.6, 24.4). not decollate; whorls ribbed, with sutural papillae; dorsal keel indistinct or missing; inferior lamella moderately high to low; anterior upper palatal plica present, separated from upper palatal plica, sometimes lower anterior upper palatal plica present; palatal edge of clausilium plate distally not receding, palatal edge distally more or less strongly bent upwards.

Measurements

(n = 40, not decollate, Monte Belliemii): shell height 17.6 ± 1.2, whorl width 3.1 ± 0.1, aperture height 2.9 ± 0.2, aperture width 2.0 ± 0.1. (n = 22, not decollate, Calatubo): shell height 19.6 ± 1.4, whorl width 3.9 ± 0.2, aperture height 3.4 ± 0.2, aperture width 3.0 ± 0.2.

External morphology of the genital organs

(Figs 16 .7, 16.9). The FO is slim and long. The ratio FO/V ranges from 2.0 to 2.2. The VD is very thin along its whole course. The ratio of the BC+SDBC with the BC+SDBC+the second duct (FDBC/BC+SDBC) ranges from 1.4 to 2.1. The BC+SDBC can be either cylindrical or club-like, with either a pointed or a blunt apex. It is slightly shorter or as long as the V, with a ratio (SDBC+BC/V) that ranges from 0.9 to 1.0. The transition between the BC and then SDBC is little visible or almost indistinguishable. The D is long, with a ratio with the V (D/V) that ranges from 2.9 to 3.1. It is thinner or as thin as the SDBC+BC, cylindrical in shape with a rounded thin apex. The ratio D/BC+SDBC ranges from 2.1 to 2.4. The V is short and cylindrical. The A is short but wide. The PC is much longer than the V, with range (PC/V) 2.8-3.1. The P is wider than the V, cylindrical or distally swollen. The PR is robust. The E is thin and slightly shorter or as long as the P, with the ratio E/P ranging 0.9-1. It gradually shrinks and turns into the VD. The actual transition area between E and the VD can be clearly visible or almost indistinguishable and it is clearly visible only from inside.

Internal morphology of the genital organs

(Figs 16 .8, 16.10, 16.11). The A shows 3-5 large longitudinal pleats oriented towards the P. The P presents 4-6 longitudinal fleshy and smooth pleats, gradually narrowing towards the A. Sometimes the lower pleats gradually become irregularly segmented. The fine structure of the wall is smooth. The PP is big, nipple-like in shape, smooth with a rounded apex. The P-E transition presents two slightly different structures in the two examined populations. The population from Monte Belliemi (type locality) presents a first distal ER, the PP originates from the second proximal ER. The ELP are not connected to the second proximal ER. The epiphallar formula is: 1ER+2ER(PP)+ELP. The population from Calatubo presents a first distal ER, while the PP and ELP originate from the second proximal ER. The epiphallar formula is: 1ER+2ER(PP+ELP). The E shows 4-6 irregular metameric longitudinal and irregular pleats that gradually disappear toward the distal origin of the vas deferens. The V shows a coarse chevron pattern made of large fleshy pleats, merging together along the median longitudinal axis or sometimes presents an irregular pattern made of small irregular fleshy pleats.

Ecology.

The subspecies inhabits both scattered isolated boulders (Monte Belliemi) or limestone cliffs (Calatubo Castle). This subspecies is known only from two localities with very limited size, although it is abundant. Both localities are not included in protected areas.

Distribution.

Siciliaria calcarae belliemii is known from Monte Belliemi near Partinico and from the limestone cliffs of the Calatubo Castle near Alcamo.

Remarks.

The Calatubo population is bigger than the population from the type locality (Monte Belliemi). The average shell heights are 19.6 ± 1.4 vs. 17.6 ± 1.2. The two populations occupy remarkably different ecological niches: high cliffs vs isolated small boulders scattered throughout open fields. Could the different ecology of the two populations be the origin or cause of such different dimensions of the shell? This interesting hypothesis could be tested also including other Siciliaria calcarae ssp. populations found both on limestone cliffs or different niches as tree’s barks (Visicari, Castelluzzo and Ficuzza).

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 16. Siciliaria calcarae calcarae (Philippi, 1844), Monte Bonifato 16.1 whole distal genital organs 16.2 internal distal part of genital organs 16.3 cross section of the spermatophore 16.4 spermatophore 16.5 whole distal genital organs 16.6 internal distal part of genital organs. Siciliaria calcarae belliemii (Brandt, 1961), Monte Belliemi, Partinico 16.7 whole distal genital organs 16.8 internal distal part of genital organs. Siciliaria calcarae belliemii (Brandt, 1961), Castello Calatubo, Alcamo 16.9 whole distal genital organs 16.10 internal distal part of genital organs 16.11 penial pseudopapilla.

Figure 17. Siciliaria calcarae belliemii (Brandt, 1961), Monte Belliemi, Partinico 17.1 shell 17.2 detail of the aperture 17.3 clausiliar plate double side. Castello di Calatubo, Alcamo 17.4 shell 17.5 detail of the aperture 17.6 clausiliar plate double side.