Bostryx tortoranus (Doering, 1879)

(Figures 4, 9 – 12)

Bulimulus (Bulimulus) tortoranus Doering, 1879: 71 .

Bulimulus (Bostryx-Lissoacme) tortoranus Pilsbry, 1895 – 1896: 192.

Bulimulus jujuyensis Holmberg; Holmberg, 1912: 149; Hylton Scott, 1945: 207; Parodiz, 1946: 315; Parodiz, 1957: 134; Parodiz, 1962: 434; Breure, 1978: 144; Tablado and Mantinian, 2004: 371; Miquel, 1995: 123.

Peronaeus (Lissoacme) tortoranus Parodiz, 1946: 315; Parodiz, 1947: 12; Parodiz, 1957: 23; Fernández, 1973: 98.

Bulimulus (Scansicochlea) hyltonscottae Parodiz, 1956: 59; Miquel, 1995: 123.

Bulimulus (Scansicochlea) gladysae Hylton Scott, 1967: 8; Miquel, 1995: 123.

Bostryx tortoranus Breure, 1979: 59; Miquel, 1995: 123; Cuezzo et al. 2013: 147.

Bostryx gladysae Breure, 1979: 54 .

Bostryx hyltonscottae Breure, 1979: 54 .

Type material

Bulimulus (Bulimulus) tortoranus: Syntypes (ZMB 34718 (3)) ex Doering, according to Breure (2013). Bulimulus (Scansicochlea) gladysae: Holotype (MLP 13345), Paratypes (MLP 11007 (1), MLP 11442 (1), MLP 11006 (1), MLP 11444 (1), MLP 11443 (1), MACN-In 27282 (4)); Bulimulus (Scansicochlea) hyltonscottae: Holotype (MACN-In 6516), Paratypes (MACN-In 6516 – 1 (4)); Bulimulus jujuyensis: Holotype (MACN-In 32686); Bulimulus (Bulimulus) monticola: Syntypes (ZMB 34734 (2)); Bulimulus sporadicus gracilis: Hylton Scott, 1948 Holotype (MLP 11015), Paratypes (MLP 11014 (4)).

Type locality

‘… quebradas húmedas de la sierra de Pocho (Totoras, Yatan, Cerro Salado) ’. The mountain system ‘ Sierra de Pocho ’ is located in Cordoba Province, Pocho Department .

Material examined

Argentina, Prov. Catamarca, Dept. Andalgalá : MLP 11006, Foot of Cuesta de la Chilca, 1951 ; MLP 11007, Foot of Cuesta de la Chilca; MLP 13345, Cuesta de la Chilca, Birabén G leg. ; MLP 11442, Cuesta de la Chilca, March 1950 ; MLP 11443, Foot of Cuesta de la Chilca; MLP 11444, Foot of Cuesta de la Chilca; MLP 11149, Foot of Cuesta de la Chilca; MACN-In 27282, Cuesta de la Chilca, March 1950, Birabén Scott G leg. Prov. Córdoba, Dept. Pocho , IFML 16359, Sierra de Pocho, route to Las Palmas, 31° 20.774 ″ S, 65° 5.396 ′ W, 944 m, 4 December 2012, Miranda MJ leg. Prov. Jujuy: MACN-In 19461, Humahuaca river, January 1931, Budín leg. Dept. Ledesma : IFML 158, in route from Tilcara to Garganta del Diablo, 2800 m, 12 September 1962, Willink A leg. ; IFML 15607 (ex CWW 2657), in route from Tilcara to Garganta del Diablo, 2800 m, 18 January 1967, Weyrauch W leg. ; IFML 14877 A, Cerro Negro, Tilcara, 3000 m, 26 January 2007, Cuezzo MG and Domínguez E leg.; IFML 15530, Cerro Negro, 23° 33 ′ 57.8 ″ S, 65° 22 ′ 14.0 ″ W, 3143 m, 21 November 2010, Cuezzo MG leg.; IFML 15001 A, Cerro Negro, 23° 34 ′ 13.8 ″ S, 65° 22 ′ 39.7 ″ W, 2806 m, 21 November 2010, Cuezzo MG leg.; MLP 8071, Fraile Pintado, Birabén M leg. Dept. Tilcara : MACN-In 19590 – 1, Maimará, March 1931, Budín leg. ; MACN-In 30619 A, Cerro Pucará, February 1968, de la Puente R leg.; MACN-In 19506, Tilcara; MACN-In 32686, Tilcara, January 1908, Ambrosetti H leg. ; MACN-In 19507, Tilcara, February 1931, Casanova and Gatto leg. ; MLP 8075, Tilcara, 1945, Hylton Scott MI leg. ; MLP 8070, Tilcara, February 1944, Hylton Scott MI leg. and det.; MLP 1526 – 1, Tilcara, February 1944, Hylton Scott MI leg. and det. Dept. Tumbaya: MLP 8078, Tumbaya, Weyrauch W leg. Prov. Salta, Dept. Cachi: IFML 15505 A, Route 40, from Cachi to Cafayate, 2160 m, 25° 12 ′ 37 ″ S, 66° 11 ′ 45 ″ W, Cuezzo MG leg.; IFML 15612, Los Cardones National Park, Pampa TinTin, 3200 m, 25° 08 ′ 08 ″ S, 66° 0 ′ 50 ″ W, Delhey leg. Dept. Cafayate: IFML 15248, between Cafayate and Colalao del Valle, 26° 08 ′ 11 ″ S, 65° 57 ′ 58 ″ W, 2156 m, Cuezzo MG leg. Prov. San Luis, Dept. Ayacucho: MACN-In 6516, El Zapallar, 1947, Hylton Scott MI and Birabén M leg. ; MACN-In 6516 – 1, El Zapallar, 1947, Hylton Scott MI and Birabén M. Prov. Tucumán, Dept. Tafí del Valle: IFML 15502 A, between Amaicha and El Infiernillo, after Ampimpa, 26° 38 ′ 06 ″ S, 65° 50 ′ 05 ″ W, 21 December 2001 ; IFML 15503 A, Route 307, between Amaicha and El Infiernillo, 26° 40 ′ 14 ″ S, 65° 49 ′ 13 ″ W, 2756 m, 21 December 2001, Ituarte C leg. ; IFML 15504 A, Ruinas de Quilmes, 3 January 2004, Domínguez E leg. ; IFML 15282, 5 km after Colalao del Valle, on the side of route, 26° 15 ′ 07 ″ S, 65° 56 ′ 42 ″ W, Cuezzo MG leg.; IFML 15281, Route 307 between Amaicha and El Infiernillo, 26° 40 ′ 49 ″ S, 65° 48 ′ 46 ″ W, 2850 m, 26 November 2002, Cuezzo MG leg.; IFML 15510 A, Route 307, between Tafí del Valle and Amaicha, 26° 38 ′ 18 ″ S, 65° 49 ′ 30 ″ W, 2650 m, 26 November 2002, Cuezzo MG leg.

Shell. Dextral, elongated-ovate, of 5½ to 6½ whorls slightly convex (Figure 9A – C). Shell whitish to yellowish brown. Protoconch with thick, axial, elevated costules slightly wavy, discontinuous, and parallel to each other (Figure 10A – C). Costules separated by regular narrow spaces (Figure 10A – C). Spiral grooves thinner than costules, parallel, more densely arranged, crossing them (Figure 10A – C). Spire high conic, with whorls increasing regularly in diameter (Figure 9A – C). Body whorl tall in relation to the total height of the shell, 75% of the total length (Figure 9A – C). Teleoconch with axial, elevated oblique ribs (Figure 9A – C), irregularly arranged. Suture simple, deep (Figure 9A – C). Aperture elongated-ovate, tall, half the total shell length (Figure 9A – C). Parietal space narrow, smooth (Figure 9A – C). Peristome simple not expanded (Figure 9A – C). Umbilicus rimate (Figure 9A – C).

Measurements. Type material measurements in Table 1.

Range of variability of the species: masd = 8.93 – 11.98; misd = 8.70 – 11.0; th = 18.80 – 29.87; bwh = 14.70 – 22.11; sh = 5.60 – 8.90; ah = 10.0 – 15.35; mad = 6.10 – 8.90.

External morphology. Animal body homogeneously pale yellowish, with lateral groove from genital orifice towards mantle collar, well marked. Foot elongate, basal sole homogeneous, not divided.

Digestive system. Jaw arched with nine to 11 plaques, without sculpture. Central plaque triangular not divided. Lateral plaques rectangular in shape, the two next to central plaque similar in size, following lateral plaques smaller than the central plaque. Central tooth small, triangular, tricuspid, with rounded tip (Figure 11A, B). First lateral tooth tricuspid, similar in size and shape to central tooth (Figure 11A). Following lateral teeth bicuspid, ectocones developed (Figure 11C). Tooth lateral from 23 teeth of the tooth central bicuspid with serrate ectocone (splitting into two little cones) (Figure 11C). Marginal teeth bicuspid with a rounded ectocone (Figure 11D).

Pallial system (10 specimens dissected). Secondary ureter opening at half rectum length. Rest of system idem to B. rudisculptus .

Reproductive system (10 specimens dissected). Free oviduct longer and thinner than vagina (Figure 12A). Bursa copulatrix duct long reaching middle portion of albumen gland (Figure 12A). Bursa copulatrix duct with inner zigzag longitudinal folds. Vagina cylindrical, 1/3 of penis length (Figure 12A), inner wall with straight longitudinal parallel folds. Epiphallus the same length as the penis (Figure 12A, B). Proximal penis swollen, with inner zigzag folds followed by smooth area, distal portion cylindrical with inner zigzag folds (Figure 12B). Rest of reproductive system idem to B. rudisculptus .

Remarks

Bostryx tortoranus was originally described by Doering (1879) in Bulimulus (Bulimulus) Leach, 1815, based on shell and jaw characters. Subsequently Pilsbry (1895 – 1896) classified it in Bulimulus (Bostryx-Lissoacme) Pilsbry, 1896 due to the absence of sculpture on the protoconch. Later, Parodiz (1946) confirmed that the protoconch of this species had a spiral striation and classified it as B. tortoranus in Peronaeus Albers, 1850 . Finally, Breure (1979) relocated B. tortoranus to Bostryx, a placement currently maintained (Miquel 1995; Cuezzo et al. 2013).

The examination of the type material and numerous other specimens in the Argentinean museums indicates that this species shows high shell variability in form, size and coloration. In agreement with Miquel (1995) and Cuezzo et al. (2013), Bulimulus jujuyensis, Bulimulus hyltonscottae and Bulimulus gladysae are also considered here as synonyms of B. tortoranus .

Distribution and habitat

Bostryx tortoranus is found latitudinally from Jujuy to San Luis provinces (23 – 32° S) and longitudinally from Jujuy to Catamarca (65 – 67° W). A distributional break between 27° and 31°S in the distribution of B. tortoranus has been registered. This species inhabits a variety of xerophilic environments of High Monte, Dry Chaco and Central Andean Puna ecoregions (Figure 4). It is common at altitudes from 944 to 3200 m, with the lowest locality corresponding to Pocho Department in Cordoba Province (Dry Chaco) and the highest locality including Cachi Department in Salta Province (High Monte). It is usually found inside crevices between rocks or on the vegetation.