Helix (Pelasga) engaddensis BOURGUIGNAT, 1852

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 : 166-170

Helix (Pelasga) engaddensis BOURGUIGNAT, 1852 ( Figs 251–259)

1852 Helix engaddensis BOURGUIGNAT, Testacea novissima quae Cl. de Saulcy in itinere per Orientem annis 1850 et 1851 collegit: 11 [Palaestinam, in locis aridis circa mare Mortuum, habitat].

1853 Helix figulina var. B albidula BOURGUIGNAT, Catalogue raisonné des Mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles recueillis par M. F. de Saulcy: 15, pl. 1, fig. 44, 45 [Habite les montagnes qui environnent la mer Morte, notamment à Mar-Saba].

1854 Helix cavata MOUSSON, Mittheilungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zürich, 3 (101): 367 [Environs de Jérusalem].

1855 Helix prasinata ROTH, Malakozoologische Blätter 2: 31, Tab. 1, Fig. 1, 2 [Apud Tiberiadem].

1860 Helix engaddensis var. concolor BOURGUIGNAT, Aménités Malacologiques II : 204, pl. 24, fig. 8 [Environs de Nazareth].

1860 Helix pycnia BOURGUIGNAT, Revue et Magasin de Zoologie , (2) 12: 164 [separatum: Aménités Malacologiques, II: 182, pl. 2, fig. 7–9 [ Syrie, aux environs de Nazareth].

1904 Helix (Helicogena) cavata tripolitana KOBELT, Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet VI : 200, T. 349, Fig. 5, 6 [non Wood 1829] [Tripolitanien].

1905 Helix (Helicogena) kisonis KOBELT, Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet VI : 202, Taf. 350, Fig. 5–8 [Kison-Ebene (Esdrelon oder Jezreel) bei Haifa].

1905 Helix (Helicogena) engaddensis var. galilaea KOBELT, Iconographie der Land- und Süsswassermollusken 2 (12): 25, Taf. 313, Fig. 1985, 1986 [Um Nazareth].

Type specimens:

engaddensis : syntype MHNG 17942: H = 35.2, D = 33.1, PH = 28.2, PD = 18.7, PrD = 4.3, W = 5. albidula: no type specimens identifiable in coll. Bourguignat. cavata : syntypes ZMZ 506406/3 (ex Parreyss 1852), illustrated syntype: H = 31.15, D = 29.05, PH = 22.4, PD = 15.65, PrD = 3.95, W = 5.25. prasinata : not searched, most probably in ZSM; concolor: syntype MHNG 17943: H = 33.0, D = 32.1, PH = 26.9, PD = 20.5, PrD = 4.2, W = 5. pycnia : syntype MHNG 17956: H = 31.05, D = 30.05, PH = 24.5, PD = 17.3, PrD = 4.2, W = 4.5. tripolitana : holotype SMF 9837: H = 29.2, D = 26.1, kisonis : lectotype SMF 9317 (SD Zilch 1952: 138): H = 38.5, D = 36.6. galilaea: lectotype SMF 9745 (SD Zilch 1952: 137): H = 36.7, D = 32.3.

Specimens examined:

Syria: Daraa (= Dera'a) at the Syrian / Jordanian border, 32.6252 36.1061, NMBE 525977 /1.

Israel: Samaria , at excavations, 2.11.1976, MENK (2) ; SMF 18541 Palästina , Scharon; Jaffa, 32.03 34.75, NMBE 517329 / 1; King Husein Bridge (= Allenby Bridge) to Shouna, 31.8747 35.5407, 3.10.1990, leg. Steffek, NMBE 508260 / 1; Jericho , limestone cliffs, 31.857 35.4066, 9.10.1990, leg. Steffek, NMBE 508282 / 1; Nahf , upper Galiläa, limestone rock, 32.9347 35.3165, 9.10.1990, leg. Steffek, NMBE 508232 / 3; Mont Beatitudes , limestone slope, 32.8822 35.5552, 8.10.1990, leg. Steffek, NMBE 508294 / 2; W. Galilee, Beth Ha'emeq , 32.9707 35.1448, 15.11.1975, BANK/4 ; W. Galilee, Bustan Hagalil , 32.9486 35.0807, 4.12.1974, BANK/4 ; W. Galilee, Judeida , 32.9287 35.1506, 31.12.1975, BANK/2 ; W. Galilee, Kabri S-slope, dolomite, 33.0184 35.1471, 18.9.1971, BANK/4 ; Oranim college near Tiv'on, 32.7113 35.1099, 26.12.1968, BANK/2 ; 2 km SW Mefalsim , 31.49944 34.5425, 15.2.1972, BANK/2 ; Samaria , Salfit, 32.0777 35.1741, 4.10.1975, BANK/3 ; Judea , between Dahariyah & Tel Shoqet (S. Hebron Mountains), 31.3712 34.9488, 14.3.1971, BANK/3 ; Hermon , Migdal Shames (= Majdal Shams), E.slope, 33.268 35.7733, 3.4.1976, BANK/5 ; L. Galilee, Yodphat junction nr. Segev, 32.8427 35.2618, 6.3.1973, BANK/3 ; Acre-Safed Road , Kfar Yassif junction, E. slope, 32.9118 35.1545, 12.1.1974, BANK/1 ; Hermon , descent to Wadi Ar'ar, 32.2881 35.7518, 1500– 1400 m alt., 18.6.1973, BANK/2 ; Hermon , Senir along Dan–Banyas road, 33.2401 35.6769, 12.4.1976, BANK/4 ; Hermon , 0.5 km S. Hill 1720 (alt. 1650 m), 33.2869 35.7697, 8.6.1976, BANK/9 ; Golan , Mevo Hama N-slope, 32.7408 35.6561, BANK/3 ; Netzer Sireni , 31.9228 34.8212, 19.7.1971, BANK/2 .

Jordan: Al Shuneh, xeroterm limestone rocks, valley of Jordan River , 31.9120 35.6443, 12.3.2000, leg. Steffek, NMBE 508316 / 4; Ajlun Nature Reserve , 32.3835 35.7636, 22.05.2007, leg. Z. Amr, JUST, NHMW 104097 / 2; Ajlun, 32.3251 35.7272, 1000 m alt., Feb 93, leg. Waitzbauer, NHMW 106892 / 1; ditto, Ajlun, near Castle , 24.05.2007, leg. Z. Amr, NHMW 104085 / 1, JUST; Anas Alfaldi , 05.05.2007, leg. Z. Amr, NHMW 106778 / 1; Aqraba , 32.7265 35.8055, 13.03.2004, leg. Z. Amr, NHMW 104092 / 1, NHMW 104032 / 1; ditto, Aqraba, 18.3.2004, JUST; Birkat Al Arayes, 9.7.2007, leg. M. Amr, 104098/2; Dana , 30.6789 35.6122, Oct 1993, leg. Waitzbauer, NHMW 90048 / 1; Dibbin National Park, 32.2500 35.8333, 19.3.1990, leg. Z. Amr, JUST; Jawa, 31.85 35.9333, 7.2.2008, leg. Z. Amr, JUST; Jerash, 32.2777 35.8907, 18.3.1990, leg. Z. Amr, JUST; King Talal Dam , 32.1898 35.7980, 04.08.2000, L. Rifai, JUST, NHMW 104089 / 1; ditto, 28.04.2007, leg. A. Falih, NHMW 104088 / 2, NHMW 104087 / 1; Kufr Khall , 32.3581 35.8839, 19.04.2003, leg. A. Mahaseneh, NHMW 104094 / 3, NHMW 104034 / 3, ditto, 2.1.2000, 19.4.2005, JUST; Malka, 32.6736 35.7511, 32.6764 35.7531, 400 m alt., June 2007, leg. Z. Amr, NMBE 517745 / 6; Mt. Nebo , 31.7668 35.7250, 21.3.1990, leg. Z. Amr, JUST; Pella [Tabaqat Fahl], pasture, 32.4497 35.6156, Feb 94, leg. Waitzbauer (juvenile specimens), NHMW 90927 / 1; ditto, 9.4.1996, leg. Z. Amr, JUST; Schaubak [asch-Schawbak], 30.5313 35.5608, 20.8.2007, leg. Z. Amr, NMBE 517746 / 10; Salt , 32.0397 35. 7264, 840 m alt., December 2007, leg. Z. Amr, NMBE 517748 / 6; Tafila, 30.8352 35.6106, 26.9.1990, leg. Steffek, NMBE 508263 / 1; ditto, 9.10.1990, leg. Steffek, NMBE 508198 / 4; Um Al Qutain [Um el Quttein], 32.3158 36.6315, 17.05.2007, leg. Z. Amr, NHMW 104093 / 3, NHMW 104099 / 2, JUST; Umm Qays , 32.6563 35.6779, 07.04.2007, leg. A. Falih, NHMW 104083 / 3, JUST; Wadi Al Arab Dam , 32.5265 35.6203, 27.04.2007, leg. Z. Amr, NHMW 104084 / 4; ditto, 24.6.2007, JUST; Wadi Al Mujib , 31.4561 35.5883, 17.5.2007, leg. E. Eid, NHMW 104090 / 3, NHMW 104091 / 2, NHMW 104095 / 2, JUST; Wadi el Hasa , 30.9900 35.5935, 380–540 m alt., 22.03.2000, leg. Waitzbauer, NHMW 106902 / 2; Wadi Mousa, Jabal Karara , 30.3199 35.4794, 7.3.2000, leg. Steffek, NMBE 508212 / 3; Wadi Sartaba, Pella , 32.4492 35.6096, 11.3.2000, leg. Steffek, NMBE 508255 / 1; Wadi Zarqa Ma'in 1 (WZM-1), 31.6214 35. 7168, 730 m alt., May–June 2011, leg. Pokines, NMBE 508939 / 1, 508938/1, 508937/1, 508936/1, 508935/1, 508934/1, 508933/1, 508932/1, 508710/1; Zobya , 32.4333 35.7667, 13.05.2004, leg. Z. Amr, NHMW 104036 / 2, NHMW 104086 / 2, NHMW 104096 / 2, JUST; ditto, 4.8.2000, leg. Z. Amr, JUST; ditto, 900 m alt., leg. Z. Amr, 5.1.2007, NMBE 517749 /1.

Diagnosis: shell medium sized, aperture very large, columellar triangle elongate, aperture glossy white.

Description: shell medium sized, elongate globose, thin, basic shell colour whitish-greyish, usually with four distinct brown spiral bands, and spiral No. 2 fused with No. 3, protoconch of medium size in comparison to shell, its diameter ranging from 4–5. 5 mm, smooth, white whorls, teleoconch of 3–4 rapidly increasing whorls, smooth (i.e. no granulation on shell), with relatively strong axial riblets, aperture very large, elongate oval to almost rounded, labial callus weak, columellar triangle elongate, glossy white, umbilicus closed.

Genital organs: There were no preserved specimens available for dissection. Hesse (1919: 135–137) described the genital organs of H. engaddensis (under kisonis ). He stated that in his specimen the flagellum was shorter than penis+epiphallus, and the diverticulum was thick and long, which is quite characteristic for the subgenus Pelasga . Moreover he noted that the specimen had quite a long vagina, and poorly developed glandulae mucosae with a short stem.

Distribution ( Fig. 259 ): This species is known from Israel, and also from southern Syria and the Mediterranean part of Jordan.

Remarks: Helix (Helicogena) cavata tripolitana KOBELT, 1904 , remains a doubtful record for H. engaddensis . The specimen is heavily eroded, and thus almost impossible to correctly assign to a species. The white aperture, shell size and shape make it quite probable that this is a H. engaddensis introduced to western Libya through human activity as speculated by Kobelt. Until today, there is no additional record of this species known from Libya. Germain (1936: 124 sub prasinata ) mentions a " Helix jordanica Bourguignat ", which seems to be another manuscript name of Bourguignat, a publication or validation of this name could not be found so far (three lots under this name present in MHNG).

Figures

Figs 1–9. Helix (Helix) pomatia LINNAEUS, 1758. Fig. 1 compacta, syntype SMF 9573, D = 50.07, Hungary "Gestrüppe der Berglehnen"; Fig. 2 pulskyana, syntype SMF 9525/2a, Hungary "Inseln der Donau", D = 36.6; Fig. 3 hajnaldiana, syntype SMF 9658, Hungary "Budapest, im botanischen Garten", D = 34.1; Fig. 4 solitaria, syntype SMF 74708/2a, D = 31.1; Fig. 5 sabulosa, syntype SMF 9524, D = 40.5, Fig. 6 expansilabris, holotype SMF 9538, D = 45.5; Fig. 7 luteola, holotype SMF 9527, D = 34.6; Fig. 8 pannonica, lectotype SMF 9535, D = 40.5, Fig. 9 lednicensis, syntype SMF 9534/2a, D = 38.3. — All photos Neubert, original size.

Fig. 259. Helix (Pelasga) engaddensis BOURGUIGNAT, 1852. Distribution.