Liguus

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Liguus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Pulmonata
Family: Orthalicidae
Genus: Liguus
Montfort, 1810
Species
see text

Liguus is a genus of large land snails, or, more properly, "tree" snails. They are especially notable for their large size, and for their often brightly colored shells, sometimes with complex patterns. Because of their visual appeal, the shells have been the target of heavy collection pressure — a serious issue since some varieties are very scarce, and some are believed to have become extinct within the last century.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Contents

[edit] Range of distribution

The genus Liguus is restricted to some of the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola) and to Florida. Four of the species, Liguus virgineus (Hispaniola), L. blainianus (Habana and Pinar del Río Provinces, Cuba), L. flammellus (Pinar del Río Province, Cuba), and L. vittatus (Oriente Province, Cuba [since 1976, divided into five new provinces]), have localized ranges, while the numerous subspecies of Liguus fasciatus are more widely distributed, in both Cuba and southern Florida.[1]

[edit] Habitat

These snails are found on trees of many species, usually ones with smooth bark: false-tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum), gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba), pigeonplum (Coccoloba diversifolia), black-ironwood (Krugiodendron ferreum), mastic (Mastichodendron foetidissimum), poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum), and Jamaica dogwood (Piscidia piscipula), among others. In most cases, tropical forests suitable for Liguus have at least some surficial limestone, and limestone outcroppings are often present.[1][9]

[edit] Characteristics of the genus

Liguus shares the distinguishing characteristics of other bulimulid gastropods in the subfamily Orthalicinae: large size (about 40 mm (1.6 inches) in length), imperforate umbilicus, a jaw consisting of a limited number of broad plates, and the presence of a penial gland.[10] The shells of Liguus are more slender than those of Orthalicus, the only other orthalicine genus with which it is likely to be confused. The shape of Liguus shells is characterized by Pilsbry[3] as "oblong-conic", versus "ovate-conic" for Orthalicus.

Generally recognized Florida subspecies of Liguus fasciatus (from Pilsbry, 1912 ), left to right: Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus, L. f. elliottensis, L. f. graphicus, L. f. lossmanicus, L. f. matecumbensis, L. f. septentrionalis, L. f. solidus, and L. f. testudineus.
Generally recognized Florida subspecies of Liguus fasciatus (from Pilsbry, 1912 [2]), left to right: Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus, L. f. elliottensis, L. f. graphicus, L. f. lossmanicus, L. f. matecumbensis, L. f. septentrionalis, L. f. solidus, and L. f. testudineus.

[edit] Taxonomy and species

Five species are now usually recognized in the genus Liguus:[1][3][4][5][6]

  • Liguus virgineus (Linnaeus, 1758) [the type species of the genus]
  • Liguus blainianus (Poey, 1851)
  • Liguus fasciatus (Müller, 1774)
  • Liguus flammellus Clench, 1934
  • Liguus vittatus (Swainson, 1822)

Many more species have been recognized in the past, but these have largely been synonomized or placed as lesser level taxa under one or another of these five named species.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Power, Emilio Jorge. Liguus Home Page. A Conchological informational page for South Florida and Caribbean Liguus tree snail geographic distribution, ecology and taxonomy. http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Gold/9440/liguus/lighompa.html
  2. ^ a b Pilsbry, H. A., 1912. A study of the variation and zoogeography of Liguus in Florida. J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 15 (2nd ser.): 429-471.
  3. ^ a b c Pilsbry, H. A., 1946. Land mollusca of North America north of Mexico vol. II part 1. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. pp. 1-520.
  4. ^ a b Clench, W. J., 1946. A catalogue of the genus Liguus with a description of a new subgenus. Occ. Pap. Molluscs, Museum Comp. Zool., vol. 1(10): 117-128.
  5. ^ a b Jaume, M. L., 1952. Catalogo de los moluscos del genero Liguus. Circ. Museo Biblioteca Malacologia Habana, Mar: 515-527.
  6. ^ a b Jaume, M. L., 1954. Catalogo del genero Liguus en Cuba (Molusca:Gasteropoda). Circ. Museo Biblioteca Zoologia Habana, Nov-Dec: 1423-1450.
  7. ^ Voss, R. S., 1976. Observations on the ecology of the Florida tree snail, Liguus fasciatus (Muller). The Nautilus 90(2): 65-69.
  8. ^ Hillis, D. M., M. T. Dixon and A. L. Jones, 1991. Minimal genetic variation in a morphologically diverse species (Florida tree snail, Liguus fasciatus). J. Heredity: 82(4): 282-286.
  9. ^ Pilsbry, H. A., 1946. Land mollusca of North America north of Mexico vol. II part 1. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. p. 38.
  10. ^ Pilsbry, H. A., 1946. Land mollusca of North America north of Mexico vol. II part 1. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. p. 29.
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