Helix, LINNAEUS, 1758

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 : 174-176

Helix ( Pelasga ?) kazouiniana ( PALLARY, 1939) ( Figs 264–267 )

1939 Pomatia (Naegelea) kazouiniana PALLARY, Mémoires présentés a l'Institut d'Égypte 39: 17, pl. 1, fig. 16, 20 [Alexandrette].

1939 Pomatia ( Pseudofigulina ) Daphnensis PALLARY, Mémoires présentés a l'Institut d'Égypte 39: 18, pl. I, fig. 12–15 [Antioche, après la cascade de Daphné sur la route de Souéïdié].

Type specimens:

kazouiniana , daphnensis: The whereabouts of Pallary's type specimens of species described in his eastmediterranean publications are not clarified yet.

Specimens examined:

Turkey: SMF 78206/2 Taurus, coll. Nägele ex Rolle; SMF 22316, "Antiochia" ex Heyden; SMF 299400 Adana, 37.0 35.3213 (several additional lots with this location); ditto, SMF 78204/7, coll. Nägele ex Chartron; ditto, SMF 299400/7, coll. Nägele ex Tembé; ditto, SMF 74193/2, coll. Krüper ex Nägele; ditto, SMF 18538, coll. O. Boettger ex Nägele; ditto, SMF 74209/3, Adana, coll. C.R. Boettger; Adana, surrounding of the barrage, 37.0343 35.3463, 22.04.1987, LIEB (3) ; ruins of Hierapolis and Castabal , 37.11 36.11, 23.7.1986, NMBE 512563 / 12; ruins of Karatepe (Aslantas), 37.18 37.14, 23.7.1986, NMBE 512562 / 3; Kahramanmaras, 37.5858 36.9371, 18.04.1987, LIEB (1) ; Mersin, Alata , 36.6063 34.3116, 18.5.1992, NMBE 524418 / 7; road Gaziantep / BahÇe 17 km E SakÇagÖz, 37.17 37.11, 23.7.1986, NMBE 512561 / 1; Seyhan, rocks 2.3 km N Kozan , 37.4678 35.7986, 400 m alt., 24.12.1990, MENK (28, SMF 311933 /5) ; vegetation at Toprakkale, 37.0508 36.1356, 26.12.1990, MENK (10) ; W border of Kozan , 37.4647 35. 8671, 516 m, 27.7.1988, MENK (9) ; deposition Kozan Baraji 8 km N. Kozan, 37.5068 35. 8409, 290 m, 27.7.1988, MENK (44) ; rocks at Yilankale 6 km SW Ceyhan , 37.0111 35.7480, 25.12.1990, MENK (14) ; rocks at the Petrus cave 2 km N of Antakya, 36.2128 36. 1763, 106 m alt., 29.12.1990, MENK (1) ; Petrus church, 01.04.1987, LIEB (3) ; 11.5 km NW DÖrtyol, 36.9176 36.1230, 28.12.1990, MENK (19) ; Hatay, Iskenderun, close to the shore, 36.5889 36.1487, 29.03.1987, LIEB (4) ; rocky slope 2 km SE of Belen , 36.4978 36.1889, 27.12.1990, MENK (23) ; Hatay, surrounding of Belen , 36.5224 36.1606, 31.03.1987, LIEB (12) ; rocks 2 km SW Kirikhan , 36.4714 36.3426, 31.12.1990, MENK (20) ; castle of Bektasli 8 km SW GüvenÇ, 36.6544 36. 4072, 420 m alt., 31.12.1990, MENK (30) ; Ulucinar, 36.4138 35.8951, 30.03.1987, LIEB (1) ; Harbiye in direction to DÖver, slope at the road, 36.1239 36.1398, 06.04.1987, LIEB (2) ; YayladağI, 35.9019 36.0644, 08.04.1987, LIEB (2) ; between TekebaşI and Meydan 7 km S of SamandağI, 36.0401 35.9865, 18.10.2001, HEMM (2 alk.).

Syria: SMF 311934, Lattaquiah, 35.5259 35.7932, coll. Nägele ex Pallary 1910 (ex SMF 78208).

erroneous (?): SMF 18551/2 Dorak (Pers. Kurdistan), coll. Kobelt ex Bollinger .

Diagnosis: shell small, thin, globular, protoconch small, teleoconch smooth with coarse axial riblets, aperture always white.

Description: shell of small size, thin, globular, spire conical, basic shell colour greyish white with chestnut brown spirals, usually spiral No. 2 fused with No. 3 or diffuse, often with all five spirals separate, protoconch small, its diameter ranging from 3–4 mm, smooth, white whorls, teleoconch of 3–4 smooth whorls, sculptured by coarse but densely arranged axial riblets, last whorl slightly descending towards the periphery, aperture rounded to depressed rounded, apertural rim narrow, labial callus weak, always white, columellar triangle small, umbilicus closed in adult shells.

Genital organs: There were no preserved specimens available for dissection.

Measurements ( NMBE 512563/12): H = 26.4 ± 3.1; D = 25.12 ± 2.04; PH = 16.3 ± 1.61; PD = 15.44 ±1.2; PrD = 3.24 ± 0.24; W = 4.

Distribution ( Fig. 267 ): This species lives restricted to a small area in southwestern Turkey comprised of the Adana, Gaziantep and Hatay region, and is also found in the neighbouring areas in northern Syria. The record "Dorak, persisch Kurdistan" seems to be an error, there are no modern records of this species from Iraq or Iran. However, there is a little village in the Taurus in Turkey north of Mersin called Dorak, which eventually might be the correct locality.

Remarks: The status of this species is not well established, and its affiliation to Pelasga is only provisional. It shows no major conchological differences to H. figulina from Greece besides having a somewhat more globular and smaller shell. In contrast to the H. nucula-pachya complex, there are no traces of any granulation on the teleoconch surface of H. kazouiniana . In addition, there are molecularly evidenced records of H. figulina from Hatay (Korábek & al. submitted) making the situation more complex. It is not clear whether the specimens of this single record have been introduced from Greece, or whether they are genetically consistent with specimens from the whole region. Concluding, one scenario could be the presence of two independent species, viz. H. figulina (with occasional introductions to the area) and H. kazouiniana , or presence of a single species, H. figulina , which then is established in two completely isolated areas in Greece and south-central Turkey. It is quite difficult to prove the latter hypothesis with zoogeographical arguments. For this reason, H. kazouiniana is for the time being considered to represent a separate species.

Figures

Figs 264–266. Helix (Pelasga?) kazouiniana (PALLARY, 1939). Fig. 264 SMF 311933, Seyhan, rocks 2.3 km N Kozan, D = 24.5; Fig. 265 NMBE 512563, ruins of Hierapolis, D = 26.69; Fig. 266 ditto, D = 25.52. — All photos Neubert, original size.

Fig. 267. Helix (Pelasga?) kazouiniana (PALLARY, 1939). Distribution.