Ctenophila caldwelli (Benson, 1859)

Hyman, Isabel T. & Ponder, Winston F., 2010, A morphological phylogenetic analysis and generic revision of Australian Helicarionidae (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Stylommatophora), and an assessment of the relationships of the family 2462, Zootaxa 2462 (1), pp. 1-148 : 85-87

Ctenophila caldwelli (Benson, 1859)

Figures 11G , 23D , 29D , 31G–I

Material examined. Mauritius: AM C205301 (one specimen dissected, radula examined), summit of Le Pouce, rainforest leaf litter, 1990, O.L. Griffiths, K. Emberton .

Description. External morphology: Shell 5.7 whorls, orange-brown, not glossy, spire and apex slightly raised. Protoconch sculptured with very fine spiral ribs; teleoconch with strong radial ribs. Whorl profile rounded above and below evenly convex periphery. Internal walls of early whorls complete; umbilicus open, moderately wide. Animal dark grey, white on sole of foot. Mantle laps absent. Right mantle lobe small, left and median mantle lobes very small. Sole of foot and caudal apparatus as for family; caudal horn very small; caudal foss horizontal slit in tail.

Mantle cavity: As for family. Mantle with no visible minor blood vessels, pigmentation absent.

Digestive system: Oesophageal crop absent.

Genital system ( Figures 23D , 29D ): As for family. Carrefour and talon both not embedded in albumen gland. Free oviduct short; capsular gland present; internal longitudinal pilasters present. Bursa copulatrix inserted on vagina, moderately long, more than half spermoviduct length; duct of bursa copulatrix wide, not distinguishable from bursa copulatrix, internally with irregular ridges; round swelling present in duct. Vagina internally with longitudinal pilasters. Penis short; epiphallus enters penis through simple pore; penis internally smooth, four to five longitudinal penis pilasters present, moderately long apical diverticulum on penis present. Penial sheath present, enclosing only penis; muscle connecting top of penial sheath to epiphallus present; penis retractor muscle attached to tip of epiphallic caecum. Epiphallus much longer than penis, internally with longitudinal pilasters. Epiphallic retractor caecum moderate in size, positioned in middle of epiphallus. Flagellum present; flagellum and distal part of epiphallus without internal cryptae and externally smooth and slender. Spermatophore soft capsule with firm tail pipe open at one end; tail pipe long, sculptured with longitudinal rows of tiny teeth.

Radula ( Figure 31G–I ): Relatively long and narrow. Central tooth with small pointed ectocones; mesocone lanceolate, longer than tooth base. Lateral and marginal tooth fields distinguishable. Lateral teeth with endocone smaller than central tooth ectocones; ectocone equal in size to those on central tooth; mesocone longer than tooth base. Marginal teeth with endocones absent; ectocones approximately same length and breadth as mesocone, not subdivided into extra teeth. Radular formula (31.7.1.7.31) × 97 rows.

Remarks. Ctenophila is endemic to Mauritius and contains 2–4 species ( Schileyko 2002b). Ctenophila caldwelli exhibits strong similarities to Erepta odontina and it is possible that the two genera should be synonymised; however, further investigation is required to confirm this.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Nervous systems. Cerebral commissure cut (cut regions shaded with diagonal lines). A. Helicarion cuvieri, AM C424333. B. Brevisentis atratus, AM C205294. C. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. D. Nitor circumcincta, AM C365822. E. Tarocystis responsivus, AM C425327. F. New Caledonian species NC3, MNHN no registration number. G. Ctenophila caldwelli, AM C205301. H. Madagascan species MA1, AM C205304. I. Macrochlamys petrosa, AM C205305. J. Everettia sp., BMNH 20020188. K. Coneuplecta pampini, AM C438751. L. Lamprocystis guttula, FMNH 174940. M. Trochomorpha rubens, FMNH 175247. Scale bars 1 mm except for J (scale bar 2 mm). Abbreviations: ce, cerebral ganglion; pa, parietal ganglion; pe, pedal ganglion; pl, pleural ganglion; vg, visceral ganglion.

FIGURE 23. Spermatophores. SEM. A, B. Nitor subrugata, AM C334537. C. Expocystis rustica, AM C425540. D. Ctenophila caldwelli, AM C205301. E, F. New Caledonian species NC5, MNHN no registration number. G,H. Kalidos balstoni, AM C205303. Scale bars 0.2 mm (B, F, H), 0.5 mm (C, E), 1 mm (A, D, G).

FIGURE 29. Reproductive systems. A. Caldwellia angularis, AM C205299. B. Caldwellia imperfecta, AM C205300. C. Erepta odontina, AM C205302. D. Ctenophila caldwelli, AM C205301. E. Kalidos balstoni, AM C205303. Scale bars 1 mm (E), 2 mm (B, D), 5 mm (A, C). Abbreviations: alb, albumen gland; bc, bursa copulatrix; c, caecum; ca, carrefour; ep, epiphallus; fl, flagellum; fov, free oviduct; her, hermaphrodite duct; ov, ovotestis; pr, prostate; prm, penis retractor muscle; pt, penial sheath; ut, uterus; v, vagina; vd, vas deferens.

FIGURE 31. Radulae. A–C. Caldwellia imperfecta, AM C205300. D–F. Caldwellia angularis, AM C205299. G–I. Ctenophila caldwelli, AM C205301. J–L. Erepta odontina, AM C205302. M–O. Kalidos balstoni, AM C205303. P–R. Madagascan species MA1, AM C205304. Scale bars 10 mm (A–C), 20 mm (D–L, P–R), 50 mm (M–O).