Corresponding author: Eike Neubert (
Academic editor: Andrzej Wiktor
In this paper, all seven hitherto known species of the hygromiid genus
The malacofauna of Lebanon has been the focus of malacologists since quite early on. Among the earliest scientists collecting molluscs in this country, the famous German zoologists Friedrich Wilhem Hemprich and Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg from Berlin, who visited the area during their second voyage from 1821–1825, have to be mentioned. Their results were subsequently published by
At the beginning of the 20th century, a French expedition lead by Henri Gadeau de Kerville collected an enormous amount of continental molluscs from Syria in the wider sense, which were treated in two large volumes by
In Turkey, there is a large variety of species of the genus
This paper summarises data obtained during two excursions by the authors in Lebanon in 2008 and 2011, and others by Bariche during the last years. Specimens were collected by hand, and stored in the respective institutional collections. The section “specimens examined” contains only information that has been personally confirmed by the authors, i.e. none of the records have been retrieved from the literature. The records of Boessneck have been verified by Hausdorf (and a few by Neubert), and have been added to the distribution data. Finally, it also includes all data related to the
All measurements in mm.
American University of Beirut, mollusc collection, Lebanon.
Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Switzerland.
Muséum d’histoire naturelle de la ville de Genève, Switzerland.
Museum national d’histoire naturelle Paris, France
Muséum d’Zoologie, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde Bern, Switzerland.
Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Germany
shell height
shell diameter
peristome height
peristome diameter
NMBE 506363/1, Hlaliye,
shell depressed, with two white spiral bands, malleate teleoconch sculpture, aperture reinforced by a strong white lip, apertural rim deep red, umbilicus closed by columellar callus.
shell depressed, with an elevated broad conical spire, basic shell colour deep brown to yellowish brown, usually with a white subsutural band and a second white band at the shell’s periphery; two protoconch whorls, smooth; teleoconch with a malleate sculpture (i.e. looks like markings of a small hammer) and very fine radial growth lines, surface with a glossy shine; last whorl rounded to slightly compressed forming a blunt shoulder; last whorl abruptly bent towards the aperture; aperture oval and depressed, reinforced by a strong white lip; apertural rim sharply bounded, usually deep red to brownish; umbilicus always closed by a small columellar callus.
Distribution of
This species is found widespread along the coastal areas in Lebanon. It usually lives at lower altitudes, but can occasionally be found up to 1000 m in more sheltered areas such as in the bottom of deep valleys.
This species cannot be mistaken for any other species in the area due to its characteristic colour pattern, teleoconch sculpture, and closed umbilicus.
NMBE 508022/6, Nahr Ibrahim, Chouene, trail Chouene–Chouwan Lake,
shell large, biconvex, periphery with a sharply bounded keel, umbilicus narrowly opened, broad periomphalum.
shell large and flat, biconvex, shell colour grey to brown; protoconch consisting of two smooth whorls; teleoconch whorls with a dense pattern of white ribs, that extend to the glossy underside of the shell; suture marked by a white sutural thread; ca. six regularly increasing whorls, periphery with a sharply bounded crimped keel, sometimes spire stepped because of whorls attaching somewhat below the keel during shell growth; last whorl not descending; aperture obliquely oval with an acute palatal edge, sometimes with a faint white lip; peristomial rim sharply bounded and simple; umbilicus always open, narrow, with a broad periomphalum.
Distribution of
This species seems to be restricted to coastal regions in Lebanon.
This species can easily be confused with other keeled species known from the Levante area. To illustrate the differences, shells of
NMBE 508032/12, Jazire, Nahr al Qasimiyah (part of the Litani),
shell small, cream white, aperture with thick white labial callus, umbilicus closed, forming a characteristic funnel-shaped “pseudo-umbilicus”.
shell medium sized, spire broadly conical and somewhat elevated; protoconch consisting of 1.5 smooth whorls; teleoconch cream white, with faint riblets and a malleate sculpture (compare to
In Lebanon this species seems to be quite restricted, probably because it is confined to more arid or steppe-like areas like central Syria, where it is one of the most abundant snail species. These environmental conditions are not present in the western part of Lebanon with its humid and steep mountain slopes. However, it is the most widespread species within
This species is unmistakable for its funnel-shaped “pseudo-umbilicus”. Subadult shells can be differentiated from
NMBE 515473/1, Nahr al Damour,
shell small, teleoconch whorls with strong axial ribs, granules and long hairs.
shell small, spire slightly elevated; protoconch consists of 1.5 smooth whorls; teleoconch greyish to brownish, with strong axial ribs, whorls covered by a dense sculpture of small granules and very long, soft hairs; hair scars visible even in eroded shells; suture moderately deep; last whorl slightly bending towards the aperture; aperture broadly oval, reinforced by a white lip (discernible from the outside); peristomial rim sharply bounded; umbilicus open, partly covered by a triangular columellar callus.
Distribution of
This seems to be a rare species in Lebanon. It has probably been overlooked because of its small size, or even misidentified, because its hairs can easily fall off, and the remaining shell is less characteristic. It is possible that this species is more widespread.
This species differs from all Lebanese
Figured syntype NHMG 16032a; second syntype NHMG 16032b; Baalbek
Bcharre, Jabal el Mekmel ca. 7 km SE of Bcharre, loose calcareous vegetation,
shell medium sized, with a white spiral band at the periphery of the last whorl, aperture subrectangular, umbilicus open, cylindrical, penial papilla large and stout, flagellum longer than epiphallus.
shell medium sized, spire depressed; protoconch consists of 2 smooth whorls; shell colour light brown to yellowish brown with a white spiral band at the periphery of the last whorl; teleoconch with a malleate sculpture and fine axial riblets; suture deep, simple; teleoconch with up to seven densely coiled whorls; last whorl slightly bending towards the aperture; aperture broadly subrectangular, reinforced by a small white lip; peristomial rim sharply bounded, simple; umbilicus open, cylindrical, a triangular columellar callus is indicated.
Genital organs (
Anatomical drawing
This species has only been recorded from two localities in Lebanon so far. The type locality Baalbek is not too far away and they were probably collected on the way towards Baalbek. Both new localities are in the central chain of Mt. Lebanon at high altitudes. The habitats are characterised by coarse limestone boulders with interspersed subalpine grassland vegetation and is covered by snow during winter. In October 2011, two living animals were found actively crawling over the rocks (ca. 10°C and heavy rainfall), while in August 2008, only dead shells were encountered.
This species differs from all other species in the Levante area by the shape of its umbilicus, which is cylindrical like a borehole. All other
The correct generic affiliation of this species remained unclear until now. In his original description, Bourguignat compared it to his
NMBE 508040/11, below Barouk Cedar Forest,
shell small, spire slightly elevated, teleoconch has a faint white spiral band and fine axial riblets, umbilicus narrow closed by columellar callus.
shell small, spire conical, slightly elevated; protoconch consists of 1.5 smooth whorls; shell colour light brown to reddish brown, sometimes with a faint white spiral band at the periphery of the last whorl; teleoconch with fine axial riblets and a pattern of fine spiral threads (only visible under higher magnification); suture deep, simple; teleoconch with up to seven tightly coiled whorls; last whorl slightly bending towards the aperture; aperture broadly oval, reinforced by a white lip; peristomial rim sharply bounded, simple; umbilicus narrow, closed by a triangular columellar callus.
Distribution of
This species is here recorded for the first time for Lebanon. It seems to be restricted to higher altitudes up to the alpine region of the highest mountains in the Eastmediterranean.
The coordinates of the type locality of
Zgharta (Prov. North Lebanon), dry ruderal vegetation with calcareous stones in side valley of Nahr Abou Ali above the village,
This
For their support during the fieldwork, the authors are very grateful to Dr Nisreen Alwan and Nancy al-Sayar; to Dr Ulrich Boessneck (Efurt), who deliberately sent specimens collected during his visit to Lebanon in 2008; Estée Bochud (Bern) for taking pictures and shell measurements; to the curators of the institutions listed above who gave access to the type specimens under their responsibility.