Stanisicarion virens ( Pfeiffer, 1849 )

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 : 50-52

Stanisicarion virens ( Pfeiffer, 1849)

Figures 5G , 6K , 13J , 18B , 19B , 20B , 21B

Vitrina virens Pfeiffer, 1849: 108 ; Reeve, 1962: pl. 3, sp. 14; Cox, 1868: 85–86, pl. 14, fig. 5, 5a; Pfeiffer, 1876: 26; Cox, 1909: 6.

Helicarion virens: Tryon, 1885: 172 , pl. 39, figs 69–71; Hedley, 1888: 49; Gabriel, 1930: 85; Iredale, 1937c: 8.

Vercularion virens: Iredale, 1941: 6 .

Fastosarion virens: Smith, 1992: 232 .

Material examined. Syntypes: BMNH 197776 (one shell measured, photographed), Australia .

Other material: New South Wales: QMMO49380 (one specimen dissected), Kempsey, W, ca. 10.4km W Toorooka on Toorooka–Willi Willi Rd. (30º55' S, 150º30.5' E), open woodland, under logs, 28 Dec. 1993, J. Stanisic & J. Chaseling .

Queensland: QMMO19234 (one specimen dissected), Alexandra Hills, Brisbane, suburban garden, under timber and bricks, 2 Jan. 1988, D. Potter .

Description. External morphology: Shell ( Figures 19B , 20B , 21B ) reduced, 3 whorls, light golden brown, spire and apex slightly raised; shape and sculpture as for genus. Animal ( Figures 5G , 6K ) cream with brown colouration above tail and brown stripes and spots on mantle laps and lobes and on sides of foot. Mantle laps wide at base, rounded, tapering slowly to a blunt point, not fused, uniform in colour. Mantle lobes moderately large; left and median lobes fused to form a small lobe over head. Caudal apparatus as for genus; caudal horn moderately small.

Mantle cavity: As for genus. Mantle pigmentation not examined.

Digestive system: As for genus.

Genital system ( Figures 13J , 18B ): As for genus. Carrefour and talon both embedded in albumen gland. Free oviduct without internal longitudinal pilasters. Vagina internally with at least eight longitudinal pilasters. Penis long; epiphallus enters penis through short verge, less than a quarter of penis length; penis internally covered in pustules towards epiphallus and ridges towards atrium. Penial sheath present, thick at base, thinning towards epiphallus and not enclosing entire penis; penis retractor muscle attached to base of epiphallic caecum. Epiphallus longer than penis, internally with longitudinal pilasters.

Radula: Not examined.

Range and habitat. The range of Stanisicarion virens extends further south than previously reported. It ranges from Taree, New South Wales, to Bundaberg, southeast Queensland. Morphologically similar populations that extend from just north of Sydney to Taree may also belong to this species (J. Stanisic, pers. comm.); however, further anatomical examination is required to confirm this. Stanisicarion virens is found in rainforest, notophyll and microphyll vine thickets and dry sclerophyll forest, usually living under logs and in leaf litter but sometimes arboreal.

Remarks. The range of Stanisicarion virens overlaps with that of Fastosarion aquila , for which no anatomical details are available. Stanisicarion virens also overlaps in range with several semislugs from the southeast Australian group of taxa with the wide flagellum ( Mysticarion porrectus , Helicarion leopardina , Parmavitrina megastoma , Parmavitrina planilabris , Peloparion iridis ) and several species of Nitor .

Figures

FIGURE 5. External morphology of semislugs. A. Helicarion cuvieri, AM C424333 (Corinna, TAS). B. Mysticarion porrectus, QMMO29298 (Robertson, SE NSW). C. Mysticarion hyalina, AM C128630 (Cunningham’s Gap, SE QLD). D. Parmavitrina planilabris, AM C334357 (Wauchope, NSW). E–F. Peloparion helenae, AM C205295 (Barrington Tops, NSW). G. Stanisicarion virens, QMMO19234 (Brisbane, SE QLD). Scale bars 2 mm (B–C, E–G), 5 mm (A), 10 mm (D). Abbreviations: cah, caudal horn; cp, caudal pit; lla, left mantle lap; mlo, median mantle lobe; rla, right mantle lap; rlo, right mantle lobe; sh, shell.

FIGURE 6. Live Helicarionidae. A–B. Helicarion mastersi, AM C399075. Whole animal (A); close-up of caudal region (B) (arrow shows caudal mucous plug). C. Eggs of Mysticarion porrectus, AM C421841. D. Parmavitrina megastoma, AM C377461. E. Parmavitrina sp., AM C398947. F. Peloparion iridis, AM C161946. G. Peloparion iridis, Mt. Ravensbourne. H–I. Fastosarion superba. J. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. K. Stanisicarion virens. L. Eungarion mcdonaldi. M. Eggs of Eungarion mcdonaldi. N. Parmacochlea fischeri, AM C106767. Photographs by A. Miller (A–C, E, J), M. Shea (D), W. Rudman (F), F. Millen (N), all copyright Australian Museum; photographer unknown, copyright Queensland Museum (G–I, K–M).

FIGURE 13. Penis interiors. A. Helicarion cuvieri, AM C424333. B. Helicarion mastersi, AM C334204. C. Mysticarion porrectus, AM C205296. D. Mysticarion hyalina, AM C128630. E. Parmavitrina planilabris, AM C334357. F. Peloparion helenae, AM C205295. G. Brevisentis jacksoniensis, AM C205293. H. Fastosarion superba, AM C425248. I. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. J. Stanisicarion virens, QMMO19238. K. Eungarion mcdonaldi, AM C438760. L. Parmacochlea fischeri, AM C441743. Scale bars 1 mm (A–D, F–G I, K–L), 2 mm (E, H, J). Abbreviations: c, caecum; ep, epiphallus; fl, flagellum; p, penis; pp, penial pilaster; ppu, penial pustules; prm, penis retractor muscle; pt, penial sheath; pv, penial verge; vd, vas deferens.

FIGURE 18. Reproductive systems. A. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. B. Stanisicarion virens, QMMO19238. C. Eungarion mcdonaldi, AM C438760. D. Parmacochlea fischeri, AM C441743. E. Nitor circumcincta, AM C356607. F. Nitor subrugata, AM C334537. G. Pravonitor kreffti, AM C425415. H. Expocystis rustica, AM C425540. Scale bars 1 mm (E), 2 mm (A–D, G–H), 5 mm (F). Abbreviations: alb, albumen gland; bc, bursa copulatrix; c, caecum; ep, epiphallus; fl, flagellum; fov, free oviduct; her, hermaphrodite duct; m, muscle attaching penial sheath to epiphallus (only shown in A); ov, ovotestis; p, penis; pr, prostate; prm, penis retractor muscle; pt, penial sheath; ut, uterus; v, vagina; vd, vas deferens.

FIGURE 19. Shells, dorsal view. A. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. B. Stanisicarion virens, BMNH 197776 (S). C. Eungarion mcdonaldi, QMMO35628. D. Parmacochlea fischeri, AM C432179. E. Nitor circumcincta, AM C104161 (POS of Helix marmorata). F. Nitor subrugata, AM C333711. G.Nitor subrugata, AM C63479 (S of N. subrugata helmsianus). H. Pravonitor kreffti, BMNH no number (POS). I. Pravonitor kreffti, AM C29647 (H of P. kreffti insularum). J. Expocystis rustica, BMNH 1982243 (POH of Helix villaris). K. Malandena suturalis, AM C425087. Scale bars 3 mm (E, J), 5 mm (A–D, F–I, K). Photographs by H. Barlow (A, D, F, I), D. Beechey (E, G), I. Hyman (K), W. Ponder (B, H, J), copyright Australian Museum; photographer unknown, copyright Queensland Museum (C). Abbreviations: H, holotype; POH, possible holotype; POS, possible syntype; S, syntype.

FIGURE 20. Shells, lateral view. A. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. B. Stanisicarion virens, BMNH 197776 (S). C. Parmacochlea fischeri, AM C432179. D. Nitor circumcincta, AM C104161 (H). E. Nitor subrugata, AM C333711. F. Nitor subrugata, AM C63479 (S of N. subrugata helmsianus). G. Pravonitor kreffti, BMNH no number (POS). H. Pravonitor kreffti, AM C29647 (H of P. kreffti insularum). I. Expocystis rustica, BMNH 1982243 (POH of Helix villaris). J. Malandena suturalis, AM C425087. Scale bars 3 mm (A, D, I), 5 mm (B–C, E–H, J). Photographs by H. Barlow (A, C, E, H), D. Beechey (D, F), W. Ponder (B, G, I), I. Hyman (J). Abbreviations: H, holotype; POH, possible holotype; POS, possible syntype; S, syntype.

FIGURE 21. Shells, ventral view. A. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. B. Stanisicarion virens, BMNH 197776 (S). C. Eungarion mcdonaldi, QMMO35628 (H). D. Parmacochlea fischeri, AM C432179. E. Nitor circumcincta, AM C104161 (H). F. Nitor subrugata, AM C333711. G. Nitor subrugata, AM C63479 (S of N. subrugata helmsianus). H. Pravonitor kreffti, BMNH no number (POS). I. Pravonitor kreffti, AM C29647 (H of P. kreffti insularum). J. Expocystis rustica, BMNH1982243 (POH of Helix villaris). K. Malandena suturalis, AM C425087. Scale bars 3 mm (A, E, J), 5 mm (B–D, F–I, K). Photographs by H. Barlow (A, D, F, I), D. Beechey (E, G), I. Hyman (K), W. Ponder (B, H, J), copyright Australian Museum; photographer unknown, copyright Queensland Museum (C). Abbreviations: H, holotype; POH, possible holotype; POS, possible syntype; S, syntype.