Helicina rhodostoma is a species of tropical land snail with an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Helicinidae.
| Helicina rhodostoma | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Neritimorpha |
| Order: | Cycloneritida |
| Family: | Helicinidae |
| Genus: | Helicina |
| Species: | H. rhodostoma
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| Binomial name | |
| Helicina rhodostoma | |
| Synonyms[4] | |
Shell description
editRobert John Lechmere Guppy (1868)[5] noted that this species is not found above 1000 m altitude.[4] Three names have been used for this species, but material by Robinson et al. (2009)[4] shows that the forms intergrade, illustrating the variability of the species. In general, populations from higher altitudes have a more pronounced columellar spine, and are more likely to have a red to reddish-orange aperture, as seen in typical Helicina rhodostoma.[4] Populations from drier, coastal areas tend to lack a columellar spine, and the aperture may be white or yellow.[4] Juvenile specimens of this species often have a hairy periostracum, which is gradually worn off as the snail reaches sexual maturity.[4]
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Distribution
editHelicina rhodostoma is endemic to the West Indian island of Dominica.[4]
Despite the fact that Helicina rhodostoma was originally erroneously described from Guadeloupe – and in subsequent reports from that island the error has been perpetuated – this species is undoubtedly a Dominican endemic.[4] It has not been found during subsequent surveys of Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante.[4] The fact that no museum material exists labelled “Guadeloupe”, not even in the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris, indicates that the species has never been collected on that island.[4] The synonymy of Helicina goldfussi and Helicina rhodostoma inermis is confirmed by morphometrics and anatomical studies.[4]
Ecology
editHelicina rhodostoma can be found living on trees, on ferns, and also between rocks and gravel.[4]
References
editThis article incorporates CC-BY-3.0 text from the reference.[4]
- ^ Gray J. E. (1824). "Monograph of the genus Helicina". Zoological Journal 1: 62-71, pl. 5. Helicina rhodostoma is on page 68, pl. 6, fig. 9.
- ^ Boettger O. (1887). "Vier neue westindische Pneumopomen". Jahrbücher der Deutschen Malakozoologischen Gesellschaft 13: 102-104, pl. 4. Helicina rhodostoma is on the page 103, pl. 4, fig. 10.
- ^ Wagner A. J. (1907-1911). "Die Familie der Helicinidae". In: Küster H. C. (ed.). Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet von Martini und Chemnitz, (N.F.) 1(18:2): 1-391, pls 1-70. Helicina rhodostoma is on the page 327, pl. 66 figs 11-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Robinson D. G., Hovestadt A., Fields A. & Breure A. S. H. (July 2009). "The land Mollusca of Dominica (Lesser Antilles), with notes on some enigmatic or rare species". Zoologische Mededelingen 83 http://www.zoologischemededelingen.nl/83/nr03/a13 Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Guppy R. J. L. (1868). "On the terrestrial mollusks of Dominica and Grenada, with an account of some new species from Trinidad". Annals and Magazine of Natural History (4)1: 429-442.
External links
edit- Richling I. The Land Snail Family Helicinidae. www.helicina.de