Research Article |
Corresponding author: Artur Osikowski ( a.osikowski@urk.edu.pl ) Academic editor: Edmund Gittenberger
© 2021 Andrzej Falniowski, Brian Lewarne, Aleksandra Rysiewska, Artur Osikowski, Sebastian Hofman.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Falniowski A, Lewarne B, Rysiewska A, Osikowski A, Hofman S (2021) Crenobiont, stygophile and stygobiont molluscs in the hydrographic area of the Trebišnjica River Basin. ZooKeys 1047: 61-89. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1047.64034
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In the paper the crenobiont, stygophile and stygobiont malacofauna of the karst area of Popovo Polje around Trebinje (Eastern Herzegovina, BiH) is presented. The materials were collected from springs, caves and interstitial habitats (with a Bou-Rouch pump) at 23 localities. The following species were found: Pisidium cf. personatum A.W. Malm, 1855, Theodoxus callosus (Deshayes, 1833), Sadleriana fluminensis (Küster, 1852), Radomaniola curta (Küster, 1852), Radomaniola cf. bosniaca (Radoman, 1973), Kerkia briani Rysiewska & Osikowski, 2020, Montenegrospeum bogici (Pešić & Glöer, 2012), Litthabitella chilodia (Westerlund, 1886), Travunijana vruljakensis Grego & Glöer, 2019, a new genus and species of the Sadlerianinae, Emmericia ventricosa Brusina, 1870, Iglica cf. absoloni (A.J. Wagner, 1914), Plagigeyeria tribunicae Schütt, 1963, Paladilhiopsis arion Rysiewska & Osikowski, 2021, Valvata montenegrina Glöer & Pešić, 2008, Radix labiata (Rossmässler, 1835), Galba truncatula (O. F. Müller, 1774), Ancylus recurvus Martens, 1783, Ancylus sp. and the amphibiotic Succinea cf. putris (Linnaeus, 1758). The redescription of the genus Travunijana Grego & Glöer, 2019, applying the characteristics of shell, female reproductive organs and penis, is also presented. The new genus and species are described, based on the shell, penis, radula and fragmentary data on the female reproductive organs. For all species, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) is applied to confirm the determination; in the case of Travunijana and the new genus, the nuclear histone H3 locus is also used, in order to infer both their distinctiveness and phylogenetic relationships.
Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina, cave, COI, H3, karst area, meiofauna, molecular systematics, new genus, new species, spring
The Dinaric Karst is a global hotspot for subterranean biodiversity. This is particularly true in the case of its stygobiont, stygophilic and crenobiont communities. The present paper focusses on providing further evidence of one generally under-reported aspect of freshwater aquatic biodiversity – namely the malacofauna of the Trebišnjica River Basin, predominantly in the hydrographically complex karst area of Eastern Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The study reported below, was undertaken under the remit of the RS-Bosnia and Herzegovina Official Government Licence, which is granted annually to the “Proteus Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina” to undertake its objective of protecting and conserving endangered cave fauna and by extension, to protect and conservation-manage the natural karst conduit-aquifer hypogean ecosystems containing the endangered cave faunal species. One of the objectives of the Project is to fully characterise these ecosystems and in doing so, to provide an inventory of their biodiversity.
In this context, the contribution made by the visiting team of malacologists from the Department of Malacology of the Jagiellonian University’s Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research and from Department of Animal Reproduction, Anatomy and Genomics of University of Agriculture in Krakow, both in Poland, has provided the “Proteus Project” with vital information on the biological characteristics and geographic distribution of a range of genera and species of malacofauna collected at 23 locations connected to 11 separate karst conduit-aquifer ecosystems across a wide area of the Trebišnjica River Basin. The 23 sampling locations were purposely selected by the Director of the “Proteus Project” to represent a typical range of karst hydrological features, such as cave resurgence springs (vrelo), ponors and estavelles, either underground or at surface outlets or inlets.
Speleomalacological research on this scale and in such an integrated form, has never been undertaken before now in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Not surprisingly, therefore, the Polish team has identified a new genus and species of meiofaunal gastropod (Mollusca). As a standalone account, these first results, containing verifiable genomic data are of great scientific importance in their own right, but when combined with the associated variety of environmental data being amassed by the “Proteus Project”, they assume a much greater value.
In regard to both ecosystem services and as a nutrient-rich food supply, the importance of the position of malacofauna near the bottom of the “foodchain” of the subterranean aquatic ecosystem, cannot be overstated. Without them being present in all their wonderful variety and population numbers, the diversity of many of the higher cave animals would certainly not be as great.
In June and September 2019, we collected aquatic gastropods from springs, interstitial habitats and caves at 23 localities (Table
Selected studied localities from Trebinje area, part 1 A locality 1, Vrelo „Vrijeka” (Bijeljani), Dabarsko Polje B locality 5, Vrelo „Pokrivenik” (Muhareva Ljut), Popovo Polje C locality 6, Vrelo „Lukavac” (Zavala) D locality 9, Izvor „Knez” (Trklja) E pumping of interstitial fauna at locality 11, Vrelo „Tučevac” (Mostaći) F locality 13, Vrelo „Polički Studenac” (Crkvina). See also Table
The list of studied localities, with a short description of their characteristics, geographical coordinates and taxa identified.
Id | Site names, characteristics and codes | Coordinates | Taxa confirmed | % of taxa in site (surface/pump) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vrelo „Vrijeka” (Bijeljani), Dabarsko Polje; at the outlet (BiH19_08) | 43.07417, 18.23899 | Emmericia ventricosa | 0/12.6 |
A permanent cave resurgence spring whose water originates from ponors located in Lukavačko Polje. | Montenegrospeum bogici | 100/0 | ||
Radomaniola cf. bosniaca | 0/87.4 | |||
2 | Estavela „Ljelješnica”(Bijeljani); inside the cave (BiH19_14) | 43.05400, 18.24069 | – | – |
When checked, this location was hydrologically inactive. | ||||
3 | Rijeka (river) „Vrijeka” (Dabarsko Polje); on the surface near entrance of Ponor „Ponikva” (BiH19_15) | 43.04535, 18.25217 | Radomaniola cf. bosniaca | 100/0 |
Samples taken under low-flow conditions. | ||||
4 | Estavela „Kapuša” (Dračevo); inside the entrance (BiH19_24) | 42.85692, 18.07665 | – | – |
Checked when the estavelle was hydrologically inactive. | ||||
5 | Vrelo „Pokrivenik” (Muhareva Ljut), Popovo Polje; spring at the cave entrance; high water level variation (BiH19_05) | 42.85166, 17.99838 | Emmericia ventricosa | 0/100 |
Samples taken when the location was hydrologically inactive. | ||||
6 | Vrelo „Lukavac” (Zavala); outlet for Vjetrenica Pećina. Spring below the cave entrance; high water level variation (BiH19_06) | 42.84643, 17.9846 | Radomaniola cf. bosniaca | 0/100 |
Samples taken when the location was hydrologically inactive. | ||||
7 | Vrelo „Bitomišlje” (Golubinac); in valley above Zavala, with Austro-Hungarian infrastructure (BiH19_07) | 42.83799, 17.97161 | Litthabitella chilodia | 40.3/0 |
Samples taken under extremely low-flow conditions. | Montenegrospeum bogici | 59.7/0 | ||
8 | Izvor „Kneginja” (Trklja); a low-flow groundwater spring in Dolomite coming from a limestone blockhouse (BiH19_20) | 42.75729, 18.3693 | Ancylus sp. | 0/2.7 |
Litthabitella chilodia | 0/97.3 | |||
9 | Izvor „Knez” (Trklja); a low-flow groundwater spring in Dolomite coming from a limestone blockhouse (BiH19_21) | 42.75463, 18.37218 | Ancylus sp. | 0/2.3 |
Litthabitella chilodia | 0/97.7 | |||
10 | Confluence of Trebišnjica River with the Potok (stream) Blace (Blace); surface stream from a cave spring-group on the right bank of Trebišnjica River (BiH19_17) | 42.71536, 18.35077 | Radomaniola curta | 100/32.1 |
Sadleriana fluminensis | 0/64.3 | |||
Succinea cf. putris | 0/2.6 | |||
11 | Vrelo „Tučevac” (Mostaći); the spring inside the cave (BiH19_13) | 42.71445, 18.30278 | Radomaniola cf. bosniaca | 100/0 |
A high-level overflow spring from a locally complex estavelle cave system. When active, its water originates from ponors in Ljubomirsko Polje 14 km away. This was hydrologically inactive when sampled. | ||||
12 | Vrelo „Vruljak 1” (Gorica), Trebinjsko Polje. This was sampled in the resurgence pool before which 2 cave rivers Rijeka “Goričica” and Rijeka “Vrulje” have joined inside & emerge (BiH19_03) | 42.71393, 18.36833 | Emmericia ventricosa | 0/7.8 |
Pisidium cf. personatum | 50/0 | |||
The cave resurgence spring is just one outlet from a locally very complex cave system, containing a very rich biodiversity. The water originates from ponors in Ljubomirsko Polje about 12 km away. | Radomaniola cf. bosniaca | 0/92.2 | ||
Travunijana vruljakensis | 50/0 | |||
13 | Vrelo „Polički Studenac” (Crkvina); a cave spring in the left bank of Trebišnjica River (BiH19_11) | 42.71288, 18.36514 | Ancylus recurvus | 3.7/0 |
Emmericia ventricosa | 0/44.3 | |||
Iglicopsis butoti sp. nov. | 27.8/0 | |||
Kerkia briani | 38.9/0 | |||
Radomaniola curta | 10.2/7.6 | |||
Radomaniola cf. bosniaca | 0/48.1 | |||
Travunijana vruljakensis | 19.4/0 | |||
14 | Vrelo “Oko” (Zasad); a spring in the entrance to the cave system; surrounded by ancient limestone-block housing; at the centre of Trebinje (BiH19_23) | 42.71274, 18.33697 | Radomaniola cf. bosniaca | 0/5.9 |
This location is permanently hydrologically active and its water originates from ponors in Ljubomirsko Polje 14 km away. Although it is locally regarded as a vrelo, it is actually an estavelle. This was once used as a public water supply. | Travunijana vruljakensis | 0/94.1 | ||
15 | Estavela „Pećine” (Mostaći) (BiH19_12) | 42.71244, 18.30497 | Ancylus recurvus | 100/0 |
This is a major estavelle-type outlet for the karst conduit-aquifer originating at the ponors in Ljubomirsko Polje. It was hydrologically inactive when sampled. | Galba truncatula | 0/100 | ||
16 | Igorovo Jezero (lake) (Gorica); small lake in a collapsed cave passage with cave springs and containing many ponors; muddy bottom (BiH19_19) The water originates from ponors in both Ljubomirsko Polje and Cibrijansko Polje. The ponors in and around the lake feed water underground downstream to Vrelo “Vruljak 2” (Gorica). | 42.71111, 18.38495 | Ancylus sp. | 0/9.1 |
Galba truncatula | 0/36.4 | |||
Radix labiata | 0/9.1 | |||
Sadleriana fluminensis | 0/45.4 | |||
17 |
Vrelo „Vruljak 2” (Gorica), Trebinjsko Polje; this location was sampled at the resurgence spring outlet before which 2 cave rivers have joined inside: Rijeka “Pešterčica” and Rijeka “Venator” (BiH19_02) This is a permanently hydrologically active outlet from a locally very complex cave system containing a very rich biodiversity. |
42.71062, 18.37618 | Kerkia briani | 15.9/0 |
Plagigeyeria tribunicae | 2.3/0 | |||
Radomaniola curta | 0/96.5 | |||
Sadleriana fluminensis | 0/3.5 | |||
Travunijana vruljakensis | 81.8/0 | |||
18 | The intermittently active cave spring, Vrelo „Vražiji Mlin” (D. Grančarevo); Trebišnjica Canyon (BiH19_04) | 42.70847, 18.44801 | Radomaniola cf. bosniaca | 0/100 |
This is fed by ponors in Jasen Polje. The location is set in dolomitic limestone. | ||||
19 | “Slomljen pecina” (Mokri Dolovi); (BiH19_22) | 42.70844, 18.35419 | – | – |
Since being sampled, this location has now been buried and made inaccessible by urban development. | ||||
20 | Confluence of Sušica River and Jazina River (Jazina) (BiH19_16) | 42.70429, 18.50491 | Iglica cf. absoloni | 16.7/0 |
This was sampled under low-flow conditions. The source of the water is a giant estavelle situated in karstified dolomite with dolomitic limestone. | Litthabitella chilodia | 83.3/0 | ||
Radix labiata | 0/72.2 | |||
Valvata montenegrina | 0/27.8 | |||
21 | Vrelo „Lušac” (Gučina); at the surface outlet (BiH19_10) | 42.70111, 18.3575 | Litthabitella chilodia | 14.6/0 |
A permanently hydrologically active outlet from a complex karst conduit-aquifer, whose principal source is unproven. This was once a public water supply. | Montenegrospeum bogici | 22.0/0 | ||
Pisidium cf. personatum | 4.9/0 | |||
Paladilhiopsis arion | 58.5/0 | |||
Travunijana vruljakensis | 0/100 | |||
22 | Estavela „Mali Šumet” (Bugovina), Mokro Polje: in the entrance shaft (BiH19_01) | 42.65665, 18.34458 | Emmericia ventricosa | 0/100 |
The entrance comprises a neo-circular stone wall leading down into the interior by more than 20 stone steps set into the natural stone floor of the karst conduit. The construction is of Austro-Hungarian origin and designed to give easy access to the potable water supply for local people. The location was hydrologically inactive when sampled. | ||||
23 | River Konavoska Ljuta (Ljuta), Croatia; samples from the surface (Stones, plants) (BiH19_18) | 42.53408, 18.37647 | Pisidium cf. personatum | 15.6/0 |
This karst river originates from Vrelo “Konavoska Ljuta” a few metres upstream from the sampling location. However, the water itself originates from a ponor 10 km away in Zubačko Polje near Trebinje in Eastern Herzegovina. This cave resurgence spring is used as a public water supply. The samples were collected under low-flow conditions. | Radomaniola curta | 84.4/100 |
The shells were photographed with a Canon EOS 50D digital camera, under a Nikon SMZ18 microscope. The dissections were done under a Nikon SMZ18 microscope with dark field, equipped with Nikon DS-5 digital camera, whose captured images were used to draw anatomical structures with a graphic tablet. Morphometric parameters of the shell were measured by one person using a Nikon DS-5 digital camera and ImageJ image analysis software (
DNA was extracted from whole specimens; tissues were hydrated in TE buffer (3 × 10 min); then total genomic DNA was extracted with the SHERLOCK extraction kit (A&A Biotechnology), and the final product was dissolved in 20 μl of tris-EDTA (TE) buffer. The extracted DNA was stored at -80 °C at the Department of Malacology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Kraków (Poland).
Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear histone 3 (H3) loci were sequenced. Details of PCR conditions, primers used and sequencing technique were as given in
Taxa used for phylogenetic analyses with their GenBank accession numbers and references.
Species | COI/H3 GB numbers | References |
---|---|---|
Agrafia wiktori Szarowska & Falniowski, 2011 | JF906762/MG543158 |
|
Alzoniella finalina Giusti & Bodon, 1984 | AF367650/- |
|
Anagastina zetavalis (Radoman, 1973) | EF070616/- |
|
Ancylus sp. B | DQ301830 DQ301838/- |
|
Ancylus sp. C4 | KY012232 KY012163/- |
|
Ancylus sp. – clade 3 | AY350516 AY350519/- |
|
Ancylus sp. – clade 4 | AY350520 AY350521/- |
|
Avenionia brevis berenguieri (Bourguignat, 1882) | AF367638/- |
|
Belgrandia thermalis (Linnaeus, 1767) | AF367648/- |
|
Belgrandiella kuesteri (Boeters, 1970) | MG551325/- |
|
Belgrandiella kusceri (A. J. Wagner, 1914) | -/MG551366 |
|
Bithynia tentaculata (Linnaeus, 1758) | AF367643/- |
|
Bracenica gloeri Grego, Fehér & Erőss, 2020 | MT396209/- |
|
Bythinella cretensis Schütt, 1980 | KT353689/- |
|
Bythiospeum acicula (Hartmann, 1821) | KU341350/MK609536 |
|
Daphniola louisi Falniowski & Szarowska, 2000 | KM887915/- |
|
Dalmatinella fluviatilis Radoman, 1973 | KC344541/- |
|
Dalmatinella simonae Beran & Rysiewska, 2021 | MT773271/- |
|
Ecrobia maritima (Milaschewitsch, 1916) | KX355835/MG551322 |
|
Emmericia expansilabris Bourguignat, 1880 | KC810060/- |
|
Fissuria boui Boeters, 1981 | AF367654/- |
|
Graecoarganiella parnassiana Falniowski & Szarowska, 2011 | JN202352/- |
|
Graecoarganiella sp. | JN202353/MN03140 |
|
Graziana alpestris (Frauenfeld, 1863) | AF367641/- |
|
Grossuana hohenackeri (Küster, 1853) | KC011749/- |
|
Hauffenia michleri (Kuščer, 1932) | KT236156/KY087878 |
|
Heleobia maltzani (Westerlund, 1886) | KM213723/MK609534 |
|
Horatia klecakiana Bourguignat, 1887 | KJ159128/- |
|
Iglica gracilis (Clessin, 1882) | MH720985/MH721003 |
|
Islamia zermanica (Radoman, 1973) | KU662362/MG551320 |
|
Littorina littorea (Linnaeus, 1758) | KF644330/KP113574 |
|
Lithoglyphus prasinus (Küster, 1852) | JX073651/- |
|
Marstoniopsis insubrica (Küster, 1853) | AF322408/- |
|
Moitessieria cf. puteana Coutagne, 1883 | AF367635/MH721012 |
|
Montenegrospeum bogici (Pešić & Glöer, 2012) | KM875510/MG880218 |
|
Montenegrospeum sketi Grego & Glöer, 2018 | MG880216/- |
|
Paladilhiopsis grobbeni Kuščer, 1928 | MH720991/MH721014 |
|
Pontobelgrandiella sp. Radoman, 1978 | KU497024/MG551321 |
|
Pseudamnicola pieperi (Schütt, 1980) | KT710670/- |
|
Pseudorientalia sp. | KJ920477/- |
|
Radomaniola curta (Küster, 1853) | KC011814/- |
|
Radomaniola curta curta (Küster, 1853) | KC011781 KC011784 KC011787 KC011788 KC011791 KC011792 KC011810/- |
|
Radomaniola sp. | KC011727 KC011745 KC011747 KC011763 KC011764 KC011766/- |
|
Sadleriana fluminensis (Küster, 1853) | KF193067/- |
|
Sarajana apfelbecki (Brancsik, 1888) | MN031432/MN031438 |
|
Sarajana cf. apfelbecki | MN031431/- |
|
Tanousia zrmanjae (Brusina, 1866) | KU041812/- |
|
Pisidiidae
Specimens of this common, widely distributed, Holarctic and eurybiotic species were found in many springs. It was also collected from interstitial habitats (with a Bou-Rouch pump) at the localities 12, 21 and 23 (Fig.
Neritopsina: Neritidae
This species, described from Greece and reported from Greece and Albania, was found at some larger springs, but never in subterranean waters.
Hydrobiidae: Sadlerianinae
The most widely distributed species of Sadleriana. Found at the localities 10, 16 and 17 (Fig.
Replacement name for Orientalina Radoman, 1978. The genus is widely spread in the former Yugoslavia, but recorded also from Italy.
Found at the localities 10, 13 and 23 (Fig.
Collected at the localities 1, 6, 12, 13, 14 and 18 (Fig.
Found at the locality 13 (Fig.
This species was found at the localities 7, 8, 9, 20 and 21 (Fig.
Our molecular data (Fig.
Shell conic with moderately convex whorls, big sphaerical bursa copulatrix and two nearly vestigial receptacula seminis, penis long and slender, distally forming a slightly bent filament, at the base of the filament an outgrowth on the left side of the penis, formed of two finger-like lobes.
The shell (Fig.
Female reproductive organs of Travunijana vruljakensis (bc – bursa copulatrix, cbc – duct of bursa, ga – albuminoid gland, gn – nidamental gland, gp – gonoporus, ov – oviduct, ovl – loop of (renal) oviduct, rs1 – distal seminal receptacle, rs2 – proximal seminal receptacle). Scale bar: 0.25 mm.
Travunijana vruljakensis was common at the studied territory, found at the localities 12, 13, 14, 17 and 21. At 12, 13 and 17 (Fig.
Iglicopsis butoti by original designation
Shell ovate-conic with broad and flat apex, transparent, operculum smooth, no pigment, eyes absent, ctenidium present, penis long, tapering, with bi-lobed outgrowth on the left side and flat outgrowth at the right side, unpigmented renal oviduct, bursa copulatrix and two small receptacula seminis.
Iglicopsis shell resembles that of Montenegrospeum, but is more oval, with broader spire and broader flat apex, sometimes showing scalarity at the body whorl; the penis with the left-side outgrowth located more proximally and bi-lobed and additional flat outgrowth on the right side; the molecular divergence (p = 0.186 for mitochondrial COI and p = 0.114 for nuclear H3) at the genus-level.
Holotype.
Ethanol-fixed specimen (Fig.
Paratypes. Three paratypes destroyed to extract DNA, one specimen ethanol-fixed, in the collection of the Department of Malacology of Jagiellonian University, ZMUJ-M.2652.
Shell minute, ovate-conic, distinguishable from Montenegrospeum by a more oval habitus, broader spire and broader flat apex, sometimes showing scalarity at the body whorl; the penis with the left-side outgrowth located more proximally and bi-lobed, and additional flat outgrowth on the right side.
Shell (Fig.
Measurements of holotype and sequenced and illustrated shells: Table
Shell measurements (in mm) of holotype and sequenced and illustrated specimens of Iglicopsis butoti sp. nov. For explanation of the symbols a-β, see Fig.
Holotype | 2F61 | 2F68 | 2F69 | |
a | 1.49 | 1.29 | 1.35 | 1.87 |
b | 0.55 | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.70 |
c | 0.43 | 0.39 | 0.43 | 0.44 |
d | 0.80 | 0.62 | 0.67 | 0.93 |
e | 0.37 | 0.34 | 0.35 | 0.44 |
α | 90 | 89 | 90 | 90 |
β | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 |
Soft parts morphology and anatomy. Body white, pigmentless, with no eyes. Ctenidium with nine short lamellae, osphradium elongated. Tectum forming a characteristic broad loop (Fig.
The radula (Fig.
or
Rather long and slender cusps grow regularly to central one. Lateral cusp with 5 – 1 – 5(6) long and massive cusps. Inner marginal tooth with ca 23 slender cusps of nearly invariable length along the tooth edge, outer marginal tooth with 26 broadly triangular cusps.
Penis (Fig.
The genus name refers to the similarity of the shell to the moitessieriid genus Iglica Wagner, 1927. The specific epithet butoti refers to the memory of Dr Louis J. M. Butot, a Dutch malacologist devoted mostly to the Greek malacofauna, good friend and the mentor of AF.
Known from the type locality only.
despite its shell morphology, Iglicopsis clearly belongs to the Hydrobiidae Stimpson, 1865, Sadlerianinae Szarowska, 2006, and not to the Moitessieriidae Bourguignat, 1863 (Fig.
The species was found at the localities 1, 5, 12, 13, 22 (estavelle) (Fig.
Shells of the studied gastropods: A–C Emmericia ventricosa (localities: A – 1, B – 5, C – 12) D, E Paladilhiopsis arion (locality 21) F Valvata montenegrina (locality 20) G Radix labiata (locality 16) H, I Galba truncatula (localities: H – 15, I – 16) J, K Ancylus recurvus (localities: J – 15, K – 13) L, M Ancylus sp. C4 (localities: L – 9, M – 16) N Succinea cf. putris (locality 10). Scale bars: 1 mm.
Empty shell was found interstitially at the locality 20 (Fig.
Empty and incomplete shell was found interstitially at the locality 17 (Fig.
Live specimens were pumped from an interstitial habitat at the locality 21 (Fig.
Lymnaeidae
COI: MZ027630
This common Central-European and Mediterranean species was found at the localities 16 and 20 (Fig.
Common Palaearctic gastropod, inhabiting nearly all of Europe. This amphibious and calcifilous (e.g.,
Ancylus is known as a stygophile gastropod (e.g.,
Considering the shell morphology, it should be determined as A. fluviatilis O. F. Müller, 1774, a species reported from this region. However,
COI: MZ027631
Our specimen differed by 12 substitutions (97.55% of identity) from Succinea sp. GenBank number KF412772 from “Egypt: Fayoum Governorate”. For the closest European Succinea, S. putris the identity was only 86.73%. In fact, this value is close to the threshold one to distinguish species in the Pulmonata, thus our specimen may represent some still unsequenced species of Succinea. This amphibious snail was found at locality 10 (Fig.
The study was supported by a grant from the National Science Centre 2017/25/B/NZ8/01372 to Andrzej Falniowski.