Metafruticicola coartata gemina Fuchs & Käufel, 1936

Fig 7B–D, 8

Material examined

GREECE – Dodecanese • 7 shells, 9 specs in 75% alcohol, 4 dissections; Karavia Nisia, north islet; 36.0006° N, 26.4354° E; 21 Apr. 1989; M. Mylonas leg.; NHMC 50.6805 • 6 shells; same collection data as for preceding; 16 May 2018; P. Lymberakis leg.; NHMC 50.20961 .

Locus typicus

Greece, Karavia Nisia, northern larger islet of the two.

Description

SHELL. Shell description is given by Bank et al. (2013: 119).

SHELL DIMENSIONS (n = 13). H 8.18–9.83 mm (mean = 9.23 mm); D 14.27–15.65 mm (mean = 14.98 mm); W 54/s–56/8 (mean = 55/8). All the shells with two growth interruptions.

GENITALIA (Fig. 7C–D). The reproductive system and its inner structures are presented for the first time. Flagellum at least twice the length of the epiphallus. Epiphallus evenly thick. Penial retractor is attached near the junction of the epiphallus with the penis. Penis fusiform, around the same length as the epiphallus and with less distinct boundaries with the latter. Penial papilla semi-ellipsoid with smooth surface and a vertical groove in the center; the epiphallic pore lies at its base. Inner penial surface has some prominent vertical ridges (Fig. 7D). Vas deferens slender. Vagina short and slender with distinct boundaries to the thick base of the duct of the gametolytic gland. Gametolytic gland is ovate.

Remarks

The shell measurements provided here are slightly different than those given by Bank et al. (2013). Both subspecies of M. coartata share similar genitalia, revealing a close relationship between them. Penial papillae of the animals from Karavi north islet are semi-ellipsoid and almost identical to those of M. c. coartata from Sochas and Mikri Zafora islets, even though they belong to different subspecies. All three islets belong to the same island group and are part of the Syrna archipelago. In general, penial papillae of the westernmost islets of M. coartata ’s distribution (Christiani, Askania, Fteno and Makra) show a more bilobed shape.