Helix amalfitana Bellini, 1915: 174

Fasulo, Giuseppe, Duraccio, Sergio, Federico, Antonio & Crocetta, Fabio, 2019, The (almost) unknown Italian naturalist Raffaello Bellini (1874 - 1930): biography malacological publications, and status of his recent molluscan taxa, Zootaxa 4668 (3), pp. 343-369 : 359

Helix amalfitana Bellini, 1915: 174 [ex Monterosato ms.]

( Fig. 6B )

Type localities: Amalfi (Salerno, Italy) , Cava de’ Tirreni (Salerno, Italy), and Capri Island (Naples, Italy) .

Original description: “forma più lontana dalla strigata che non sia la surrentina . La conchiglia è più alta, minutissimamente striata, di profilo subconoide, mancando nell’ultimo giro il lieve indizio di carena, ma mostrantesi uniformemente arrotondato; fondo bianchiccio; fascie circa dieci dalla base dell’ultimo giro all’apice della spira, di color giallo lionato, largamente tratteggiate. Diam. 15 mm. alt. 9 mm.” [more different from strigata — Marmorana signata (Fèrussac, 1821) , reported as H. strigata Müller—than surrentina — Marmorana fuscolabiata (Rossmässler, 1842) , reported as H. surrentina A. Schmidt. Higher shell, finely striated, with a sub-conoid outline, last whorl rounded due to the absence of the light keel; whitish background; around 10 yellowish bands from the base of the last whorl to the apex of the spire, largely dashed. Diameter 15 mm, height 9 mm].

Material examined: two glued shells labelled “Dono Monterosato” [Donated by Monterosato], “ Helix (Murella) Amalfitana Monts. = Surrentina, Praus—(Iberus)—Cava dei Tirreni”, and holding a label by Monterosato “ Hel. Amalfitana Monts—Cava dei Tirreni—pr. [near] Amalfi—leg. Monts. = H. Surrentina , auct.—Praus” (MZF2—box 34, n. 17) ( Fig. 6C, D ); two shells labelled by Bellini “ Helix (Iberus) amalfitana, Monter. —Posillipo” (MCZR-M- 4498). All those shells belong to the M. fuscolabiata species complex.

Remarks: considered a junior synonym of Marmorana fuscolabiata (Rossmässler, 1842) by some authors ( Sacchi 1955b; Fasulo 2013), whilst a species dubia by Alzona (1971), who listed it as belonging to the Marmorana fuscolabiata fuscolabiata complex. The analysis of the figures attached to the original description led us to confirm suggestions by previous authors. Fiorentino et al. (2010) recently reviewed the Marmorana species complex, supporting a reassessment of their taxonomy both at genus and species levels and calling for further analysis. Thus, H. amalfitana is here considered as belonging to the M. fuscolabiata species complex. Specimens ascribed to M. fuscolabiata were found again in Capri Island during recent field studies ( Petraccioli et al. 2005, 2006).

Figures

FIGURE 6. A. Helix cerioi. Shells from Capri Island (Naples) and original label handwritten by Monterosato. MCZR-M-2987 (6.2×9.8 mm, 7.7×10.9 mm, 7.8×11.8 mm). B–D. Helix amalfitana. B. Original figures. C. Possible type material from Cava de’ Tirreni (Salerno) (8×16 mm, 9×16 mm). C, D. Original labels handwritten by an unidentified curator and Monterosato. MZF2—box 34, n. 17.