Xeroplexa strucki explained

Xeroplexa strucki is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Geomitridae.[1] Although named by Maltzan (1886), no differences from X. olisippensis were indicated and Gittenberger (1993: 285[2]) therefore treated them as synonyms. However, the present study has revealed that the W. Algarve populations named as strucki and similar snails from the coast of W. Baixo Alentejo differ consistently in having a much shorter penial flagellum.[3]

Description

Much like some populations of X. olisippensis in shell characters, being rather small and typically with a very narrow or narrow umbilicus, but several populations have the umbilicus larger. Shells of this species were figured as X. olisippensis by several authors.

Distribution

Endemic in southwestern Portugal where known only in W. Algarve (over limestone and on sandy coastal slopes) and on coastal sands of W. Baixo Alentejo northwards to Costa de San André.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Chueca. Luis J.. Gómez-Moliner. Benjamín J.. Madeira. María José. Pfenninger. Markus. 2018. Molecular phylogeny of Candidula (Geomitridae) land snails inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear markers reveals the polyphyly of the genus. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. en. 118. 357–368. 10.1016/j.ympev.2017.10.022. 29107619.
  2. Gittenberger. Edumnd. 1993. Digging in the grave-yard of synonymy, in search of Portuguese species of Candidula Kobelt, 1871 (Mollusca: Gastropoda Pulmonata: Hygromiidae). Zoologische Mededelingen, Leiden. 67. 17. 283–293.
  3. Holyoak. David T.. Holyoak. Geraldine A.. 2014. A review of the genus Candidula in Portugal with notes on other populations in western Europe (Gastropoda, Pulmonata: Hygromiidae). Journal of Conchology. 41. 629–672.