On the verge of extinction – revision of a highly endangered Swiss alpine snail with description of a new genus, Raeticella gen. nov. (Gastropoda, Eupulmonata, Hygromiidae)

By

Kneubühler, Jeannette
De Abreu Baggenstos, Maria Valdenira
Neubert, Eike

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1104

Pages

69--91

Subjects

endemism , integrative taxonomy , LGM , Mountains , nunataks , Phylogeny , Switzerland , Trochulus

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1104.82866

 

Abstract

The phylogenetic status of the alpine land snail Fruticicola biconica has remained questionable since it was described by Eder in 1917. Considered a microendemic species from mountain tops in Central Switzerland, the shell is specially adapted for life under stones. Herein, we show via molecular and anatomical investigations that F. biconica neither belongs to the land snail genus Trochulus, nor to any other genus within Trochulini, but rather warrants placement within the newly established genus Raeticella Kneubühler, Baggenstos & Neubert, 2022. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that R. biconica is clearly separated from Trochulus. These findings are supported by morphological investigations of the shell and genitalia.