Elisolimax flavescens (Keferstein, 1866)

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 : 95

Elisolimax flavescens (Keferstein, 1866)

Figures 33E , 34B , 36D–F , 37A–B

Synonymy: see van Goethem, 1977.

Material examined. Mozambique: NMSA L5563 (one specimen dissected, radula examined), Inhaca Island , Ponta Terres area (26º04.2' S, 32º56.5' E), coastal bush, abundant, 25 Mar. 2001, P. Cairns .

Description. External morphology: Shell highly reduced, glossy. Protoconch smooth; teleoconch sculptured with strong radial growth lines. Animal light yellowish brown. Mantle laps very large, completely fused, uniform in colour. Right mantle lobe small, left and median mantle lobes large, fused to form large lobe over head. Sole of foot and caudal apparatus as for family; caudal horn very small; caudal foss vertical slit in tail.

Mantle cavity: As for family. Mantle with no visible minor blood vessels, pigmentation absent, mantle gland absent.

Digestive system: Oesophageal crop present, extremely large.

Genital system ( Figures 33E , 34B , 37A–B ): As for family. Carrefour and talon both not embedded in albumen gland. Free oviduct medium to long; capsular gland present; very thick internal longitudinal pilasters present. Bursa copulatrix inserted on vagina, short, less than half spermoviduct length; duct of bursa copulatrix narrow, distinguishable from bursa copulatrix, internally with longitudinal pilasters. Vagina very short; internally with longitudinal pilasters. Stimulator absent. Penis large, short; epiphallus enters penis through simple pore, at base of penis; penis internally smooth, two longitudinal penis pilasters present, penial diverticulum absent. Penial sheath absent; penis retractor muscle attached to penis. Epiphallus much longer than penis, internally with longitudinal pilasters. Epiphallic retractor caecum very long, positioned in middle of epiphallus. Lime-sac present. Spermatophore soft capsule with firm tail pipe; capsule very long and coiled; tail pipe open at one end, long, sculptured with longitudinal ridges.

Radula ( Figure 36D–F ): Relatively long and narrow. Central tooth with very small ectocones; mesocone very short and rounded; much shorter than tooth base. Lateral and marginal tooth fields distinguishable. Lateral teeth with endocone much smaller than central tooth ectocones; ectocone equal in size to those on central tooth; mesocone much longer than tooth base. Marginal teeth with endocones absent; ectocones shorter and narrower than the mesocone, not subdivided into extra teeth. Radular formula (28.37.1.37.28) × 125 rows.

Remarks. Full details of the shell, reproductive system, spermatophore, jaw and radula of Elisolimax flavescens were presented by van Goethem (1977). Details of 17 other species belonging to the genus [including the type species, E. belli (Heynemann, 1882) ] were also presented ( van Goethem 1977).

Elisolimax is distributed throughout E and SE Africa, Madagascar and the Comoro Islands and contains 15–18 species ( Schileyko 2002b). This species has previously been placed in Urocyclidae in the subfamily Urocyclinae but, recently, Schileyko (2002b) included it in Helicarionidae in the subfamily Urocyclinae and tribe Buettneriini . In the current study it grouped with Sheldonia poepiggii ( Trochonanininae , Urocyclidae ) in the phylogenetic analysis ( Figure 1 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Majority-rule consensus tree (1,743 trees, length 117 steps) from the morphological analysis containing representatives of all groups. Families and subfamilies are shaded and are labelled in bold if the group is not monophyletic.

FIGURE 33. Penis interiors. A. Erepta odontina, AM C205302. B. Kalidos balstoni, AM C205303. C. Madagascan species MA1, AM C205304. D. Sheldonia poeppigii, NMSA L5563. E. Elisolimax flavescens, NMSA V9710. F. Parmarion martensi, BPBM 252738. G. Coneuplecta pampini, AM C438751. H. Hiona pilsbryi, BPBM 206801 & 20701. I. Trochomorpha rubens, FMNH 175247. J. Videna planorbis, FMNH 160957. K. Dendrotrochus eva eva, FMNH 175196. L. Orpiella concavum, BMNH no registration number. Scale bars 1 mm (A, C–D, F–H, J, M), 2 mm (B, E, I, K). Abbreviations: bc, bursa copulatrix; c, caecum; ep, epiphallus; fov, free oviduct; ovi, ovipositer; p, penis; pp, penial pilaster; prm, penis retractor muscle; ppu, penial pustules; pv, penial verge.

FIGURE 34. Reproductive systems. A. Madagascan species MA1, AM C205304. B. Elisolimax flavescens, NMSA V9710. C. Sheldonia poeppigii, NMSA L5563. D. Macrochlamys petrosa, AM C205305. E. Sesara infrendens, BMNH 1995067. F. Parmarion martensi, BPBM 252738. Scale bars 1 mm (E), 2 mm (A), 5 mm (B–D, F). Abbreviations: alb, albumen gland; bc, bursa copulatrix; c, caecum; ep, epiphallus; fl, flagellum; fov, free oviduct; her, hermaphrodite duct; ls, lime-sac; m, muscle attaching penial sheath to epiphallus (only shown in E); ov, ovotestis; p, penis; pr, prostate; prm, penis retractor muscle; pt, penial sheath; st, stimulator; ut, uterus; v, vagina; vd, vas deferens.

FIGURE 36. Radulae. SEM. A–C. Sheldonia poeppigii, NMSA V9710. D–F. Elisolimax flavescens, NMSA L5563. G– I. Macrochlamys petrosa, AM C205305. J–L. Sesara infrendens, BMNH 1995067. M–O. Parmarion martensi, BPBM 252738. P–R. Everettia sp., BMNH 20020188. Scale bars 10 mm (G–I), 20 mm (A–F, J–R).

FIGURE 37. Spermatophores. SEM. A, B. Elisolimax flavescens, NMSA L5563. C, D. Macrochlamys petrosa, AM C205305. E, F. Orpiella concavum, BMNH no registration number. Scale bars 0.2 mm (D, F), 0.5 mm (B), 1 mm (A, C, E).