Metafruticicola coartata coartata Fuchs & Käufel, 1936

Bitzilekis, Eleftherios, Vardinoyannis, Katerina & Mylonas, Moisis, 2023, A new species of Metafruticicola (Gastropoda, Hygromiidae) from the Aegean Archipelago and new anatomical and distributional data on some congeneric species, European Journal of Taxonomy 879 (1), pp. 1-23 : 14-15

Metafruticicola coartata coartata Fuchs & Käufel, 1936

Figs 6 , 7A , 8

Material examined

GREECE – Cyclades • 7 shells, 19 specs in 75% alcohol, 4 dissections; Askania Islet ; 36.2346° N, 25.2135° E; 22 Mar. 1993; M. Mylonas leg.; NHMC 50.4077 • 16 shells, 28 specs in 75% alcohol, 4 dissections; Christiani Islet ; 36.2497° N, 25.2038° E; 19 Mar. 1993; M. Mylonas leg.; NHMC 50.3721 • 1 spec. in 95% alcohol; Thirasia Island ; 36.4265° N, 25.3423° E; 26 May 2007; K. Vardinoyannis leg.; NHMC 50 . 42157 • 6 shells; Anafi Island, Moni Zoodochou Pigis to Moni Panagias Kalamiotissas ; 36.3583° N, 25.8309° E; 26 Nov. 2021; L. Maroulis leg.; NHMC 50.49858 • 3 shells, 4 specs in 75% alcohol, 2 dissections; Fteno Islet ; 36.3111° N, 25.7999° E; 22 Mar. 1993; M. Mylonas leg.; NHMC 50.3726 • 14 shells, 19 specs in 75% alcohol, 2 dissections; Makra Islet ; 36.2693° N, 25.8857° E; 21 Mar. 1993; M. Mylonas leg.; NHMC 50.4056 • 8 shells; Pacheia Islet ; 36.2737° N, 25.8308° E; 21 Mar. 1993; M. Mylonas leg.; NHMC 50.432 . – Dodecanese • 46 shells, 3 specs in 75% alcohol, 2 dissections; Sochas Islet ; 36.0573° N, 26.4047° E; 18 May 2018; P. Lymberakis leg.; NHMC 50.16877 • 18 shells, 15 specs in 75% alcohol, 3 dissections; Mikri Zafora Islet ; 36.0467° N, 26.4096° E; 21 Apr. 1989; M. Mylonas leg.; NHMC 50.9955 • 22 shells; Safonidi Islet ; 36.8867° N, 26.9211° E; 30 Mar. 2005; K. Triantis leg.; NHMC 50.26812 .

Locus typicus

Greece, “ Insel Astropalia” (= Astypalaia).

Description

SHELL. Shell description is given by Bank et al. (2013: 117).

SHELL DIMENSIONS (n = 141). H 6.54–12.64 mm; D 11.41–17.52 mm; W 51/s–57/8 whorls.

– Askania Islet (n = 7): H 7.29–12.64 mm (mean = 9.96 mm); D 12.15–16.03 mm (mean = 14.09); W 54/s–57/8 (mean = 55/8). All of the shells with one or two prominent growth interruptions.

– Christiani Islet (n = 16): H 6.54–8.6 mm (mean = 7.62 mm); D 11.41–13.39 mm (mean = 12.15 mm); W 51/s–54/s (mean = 53/8). All of the shells with one or two prominent growth interruptions.

– Anafi Island (n = 6): H 7.17–8.43 mm (mean = 7.84 mm); D 11.86–14.75 mm (mean = 13, 27 mm); W 51/s–53/8 (mean = 52/s). All of the shells with one or two prominent growth interruptions.

– Fteno Islet (n = 3): H 7.72–8.06 mm (mean = 7.89 mm); D 12.3–12.88 mm (mean = 12.59 mm); W 52/s–54/s (mean = 53/8). Shells with one growth interruption.

– Makra Islet (n = 14): H 7.48–9.09 mm (mean = 8.25 mm); D 11.98–14.46 mm (mean = 13.23 mm); W 51/s–55/8 (mean = 53/8). Most of the shells with two growth interruptions.

– Pacheia Islet (n = 8): H 7.25–8.28 mm (mean = 7.73 mm); D 11.85–13.72 mm (mean = 12.55 mm); W 51/s–54/s (mean = 52/s). All of the shells with one or two prominent growth interruptions.

– Sochas Islet (n = 46): H 8.7–11.11 mm (mean = 9.98 mm); D 13.68–17.52 mm (mean = 15.68 mm); W 52/s–57/8 (mean = 55/8). Shells with one or rarely two interruptions.

– Mikri Zafora Islet (n = 19): H 8.77–11.45 mm (mean = 9.84 mm); D 12.32–16.18 mm (mean = 14.84 mm); W 54/s–57/8 (mean = 55/8). Shells with two growth interruptions, several with three.

– Safonidi Islet (n = 22): H 7.53–8.69 mm (mean = 8.06 mm); D 11.08–13.07 mm (mean = 12.10 mm); W 51/s–54/s (mean = 53/8). Shells with one or rarely two interruptions.

GENITALIA ( Fig. 6 ). Flagellum very long, three times the length of the epiphallus. Epiphallus evenly thick. Penial retractor attached in the proximal third of the epiphallus. Penis around three quarters the length of epiphallus in Makra, Mikri Zafora and Askania. In the specimens from Fteno, the penis is around one third the length of epiphallus. In the specimens from Askania and Fteno the penis is clavate, thicker and distinct at its junction with the epiphallus, while from Christiani, Makra, Sochas and Mikri Zafora islets, it is fusiform with less distinct boundaries with the epiphallus. Penial papilla has a smooth surface and a vertical groove in the center; the epiphallic pore lies at its base. In specimens from Sochas and Mikri Zafora the papilla is semi-ellipsoid, whereas in the animals from Christiani, Makra, Askania and Fteno islets the two parts of the papilla are longer, sub-cylindrical, bilobed but not separated, with rounded tips and one of these two parts is bulkier. Inner penial walls have a smooth surface apart from the specimens of Sochas and Mikri Zafora, where some prominent vertical grooves are observed ( Fig. 6C ), while in Makra these grooves are less prominent ( Fig. 6D ). Vas deferens slender. In Makra and Mikri Zafora the vagina is short and slender and has distinct boundaries with the thick base of the duct of the gametolytic gland. In Fteno and Askania the vagina is very short and thick and the boundaries with the base of the duct of the gametolytic gland are vague. Inside the thickened base of the duct there are some longitudinal ridges. Free oviduct is a bit longer than the penis and as broad as the duct of the gametolytic gland. Gametolytic gland is ovate.

Remarks

The shell measurements provided here have a wider range than those given by Bank et al. (2013), due to the populations of different islets that were examined in this study and the large number of specimens. Part of the material that was examined comes from islands and islets that were, until now, out of the distributional range of M. c. coartata , most of which were not previously known to host a species of Metafruticicola ( Fig. 8 ).

Figures

Fig. 6. Metafruticicola (Westerlundia) coartata coartata Fuchs & Käufel, 1936. A, D. Greece, Cyclades, Makra Islet (NHMC 50.4056). B, I. Greece, Cyclades, Fteno Islet (NHMC 50.3726). C, G. Greece, Dodecanese, Zafora Mikri Islet (NHMC 50.9955). E, H. Greece, Cyclades, Askania Islet (NHMC 50.4077).F. Greece, Cyclades, Christiani Islet (NHMC 50.3721). A. General view of genitalia. B–F. Diversity in the shape of penial papillae and inner surface of penial walls. G–I. Diversity in the shape of penis, vagina and the base of the duct of the gametolytic gland. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.

Fig. 7. Metafruticicola (Westerlundia) coartata. A. M. (Westerlundia) c. coartata Fuchs & Käufel, 1936, Greece, Cyclades, Makra Islet (NHMC 50.4056). Shell. B–D. M. (Westerlundia) c. gemina Fuchs & Käufel, 1936, Greece, Dodecanese, Karavia Nisia, north Islet (NHMC 50.6805). B. Shell. C. General view of genitalia. D. View of penial papilla. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.

Fig. 8. Distribution of Metafruticicola (Westerlundia) coartata Fuchs & Käufel, 1936. Known (black) and new (red) distributional records on the presence of the species in various Aegean islands. —Greece, Cyclades: 1. Christiani; 2. Askania; 3. Thirasia; 4. Anafi; 5. Fteno; 6. Pacheia; 7. Makra; 8. Anydros; 9. Mikros Avelas; 10. Machaires; 11. Gramvousa; 12. Donousa; 13. Liadi. — Greece, Dodecanese: 14 Kinaros; 15. Megalo & Mikro Mavro; 16. Levitha; 17. Safonidi; 18. Ofidousa; 19. Pontikousa; 20. Fokionisia; 21. Astypalaia; 22. Chondros; 23. Lianos; 24. Agia Kyriaki; 25. Tigani; 26. Fteno; 27. Kounoupoi; 28. Koutsomytis; 29. Mikros & Megalos Aderfos; 30. Syrna; 31. Stefania; 32. Mesonisi; 33. Megali Zafora; 34. Sochas; 35. Mikri Zafora; 36. Karavi North; 37. Ounio West; 38. Ounio East.