Helix (Pelasga) salomonica NÄGELE , 1899

Neubert, Eike, 2014, Revision of Helix LINNAEUS, 1758 in its eastern Mediterranean distribution area, and reassignment of Helix godetiana KOBELT, 1878 to Maltzanella HESSE, 1917 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Helicidae), Contributions to Natural History 26, pp. 1-200 : 171-173

Helix (Pelasga) salomonica NÄGELE, 1899 ( Figs 260–263 )

1899 Helix (Pomatia) Salomonica NÄGELE, Nachrichtsblatt der deutschen Malakozoologischen Gesellschaft 31: 28 [Urmia Persiae, coll. Nägele ex Pater Salomon 1898].

1962 Helix (Naegelea) salomonica , – Biggs, Journal of Conchology 25 (2): 65, figs 1, 2.

Type specimens:

salomonica : lectotype SMF 75507 (SD Zilch 1952: 140): H = 27.1 mm, D = 26.0 mm.

Specimens examined:

Turkey: Vil. Siirt, canyon of a tributary to the Botan Çayi , along the road 6.5 km SW Siirt, 37.8833 41. 8833, 760 m alt., 03.08.1988, NMBE 512626 / 44; Hakkari, Castle , 37.5820 43.7338, 15.5.2011, leg. H. Menkhorst, NMBE 505493 / 4 (preserved); Arsameia , 37.9427 38.6569, 3.6.1987, NMBE 18492 /1.

Iran: W- Azerbaijan, Mohabad, Sardasht Orimieh , [= Azarbayian-e Gharbi, Mahabad], 36.7630 45.7222, 12.10.1996, leg. A. Mansoorian, NMW/7 ; Qaleh Paswah ( Pasaveh ) [= Azarbayian-e Sharqi, Pasveh, 36.7952 45.3258, 1515 m alt.], 08.11.1961 (?), leg. Flannery ( Biggs 1962); Bakhtaran, Bisotun (= Beihistun), 34.3896 47.4349, NMBE 512627 /; Kermanshah, Tang-i-Knisht [Tang-e Kenesht], 34.3298 47.1316, 09.04.1961, leg. Reed ( Biggs 1962); Qasr-e Shirin , 34.5108 45.5764, April 1995, leg. Borzoo & Noori, NMW/6 ; Luristan, Kaharé, close to Pol-e Dokhtar (ca. 33.1503 47.7167), 600 m alt., November 1991, leg. Pauscher, NMBE 512628 / 5; Sarab Karazan , Ilam, 33.7431 46.4867, 4.2011, NMBE 32729 / 37; Sarableh , Ilam, 33.78 46.62, April 2011, NMBE 32735 / 18 (preserved); ditto, NMBE 32728 / 3; Vahdat Dam N of Sanandadsch, 35.4197 46.9952, April 2011, NMBE 32732 /1.

Iraq (all after Biggs 1959): 4 miles west of Erbil, 36.2098 43.9330; 5 km from Zara Touka [Swaratyka], 37.0095 43.2262; 9 km east of Dohuk, 36.8631 43.0867; 8oo m. inside the Rowanduz Gorge from the east end, 36.6113 44.5225; Koi Sanjaq, 36.0833 44.6333; south and north of Kirkuk, 35.4363 44.3842; Jujar village ; Nimrod [Namrud], 36.0939 43.3193; Maltai .

Diagnosis: shell small, spherical (quite similar to Helix figulina ), protoconch large, columella white, straight to somewhat oblique.

Description: shell small, spherical, of greyish-brownish basic colour, protoconch consisting of 2.5 large, broad, smooth whorls, always uniformly darker brown than the teleoconch whorls, teleoconch of 3 whorls, body whorl very large, colour bands blurred, usually the upper two spirals fused, followed by a grey peripheral zone, the remaining three bands indistinct, shell sculptured with densely arranged riblets, spiral grooves missing completely, last whorl only slightly descending, aperture rounded to subquadrate, columellar triangle small, labial callus only weakly developed, umbilicus closed.

Genital organs ( Fig. 262 ): penis club-shaped, short, epiphallus reaching at least twice the length of penis, covered with a dark-greyish pigmentation, flagellum relatively short, not exceeding the length of epiphallus+penis, mrp attaching in a central position of the epiphallus connecting to the lung wall, internally, pp1 quite short cylindrical with a central perforation, penial chamber short, filled by strongly folded pilasters, pp2 elongate conical with a central perforation and some ring-like lamellae on the apex, female system simple, with a long vaginal tube, dart sac and glandulae mucosae lacking, pedunculus long, with a thick and short diverticulum, bursa copulatrix longer than diverticulum, vesicle rounded (not shown).

These findings exactly match the drawing of the genital organs of specimens from Iran ( Biggs 1962).

Distribution ( Fig. 263 ): The distribution range of H. salomonica covers SE Turkey, NE Iraq to the Central Zagros Mountains in Iran. It can be expected to also live in the mountains in northern Iraq. Thus, it represents the easternmost species of the genus Helix . The map also contains records for this species from Iraq not personally checked by the author. However, as there is no other Helix species living in the area, and Biggs knew the species quite well, his records are considered reliable.

Remarks: This species is easy to recognise because of its small shell combined with a dark and very large protoconch. This clearly separates it from H. kazouiniana , the neighbouring species in the west of its range, which has a small protoconch. Anatomically, the complete loss of its dart sac and glandulae mucosae is characteristic for this species and a unique feature in Helix . However, the epiphallus, which is much longer than the penis, clearly assigns this species to the subgenus Pelasga .

This Helix species lives under a continental climate regime, which is characterized by high temperature amplitudes ranging from -40°C to +40°C, with much snow in winter and long dry periods in summer. According to some of the collectors, the species lives in "mountainous and sunshine zones among bushes".

Figures

Figs 260–261. Helix (Pelasga) salomonica NÄGELE, 1899. Fig. 260 salomonica: lectotype SMF 75507, Urmia, D = 26.0; Fig. 261 NMBE 32735, Iran, Sarableh, D = 27.17. — All photos Neubert, original size.

Fig. 262. Helix (Pelasga) salomonica NÄGELE, 1899. Genitalia. Fig. 262 NMBE 32735, Iran, Sarableh, situs 38.3. — All photos Neubert, original size.

Fig. 263. Helix (Pelasga) salomonica NÄGELE, 1899. Distribution.