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Biodiversity Journal, 2013, 4 (4): 483-500

New faunistic data on Trochoidea (Trochoidea) caroni (De-

shayes, 1832) (Gastropoda Pulmonata Hygromiidae)

3
2
1
1*
Nicola Maio , Agnese Petraccioli , Paolo Crovato , Nabil Amor & Gaetano Odierna 1
1 Dipartimento di Biologia, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Edificio 7,
Via Cinthia, 21 - 80126 Naples, Italy
2 Via S. Liborio 1, - 80134 Naples, Italy
3 Unité de Recherche: Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bioressources, UR/09-30. Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie
de Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisie
* Corresponding author: nicomaio@unina.it

ABSTRACT Trochoidea (Trochoidea) caroni (Deshayes, 1832), with T. (T.) elegans (Gmelin, 1791) and
T. (T.) trochlea (Pfeiffer, 1846), belong to a group of species (“elegans group”), which,
although considered valid by most authors, show a not completely defined systematic position.
In this work, we report four new records (Terracina and Spigno Saturnia for Latium, Sorrento
for Campania and Castagneto Carducci for Tuscany) and confirm two historical records
(Ischia Island for Campania and Manfredonia for Apulia) of T. caroni from Italy, and all
published and new faunistic data about the presence of this species in the Sicilian Islands,
Capri Island and Maltese Islands. Moreover, we report some historical data from the Western
Mediterranean Sea: two bibliographical records from the Balearic Islands, not verified, and
three records from North Africa (Tunis in Tunisia, Annaba in Algeria and an unmarked locality
in Morocco). We also report the up to now historical faunistic data of T. trochlea, a not well
known species with an undefined status, and of some populations of T. elegans with raised
whorl. It is not yet possible to draw a certain conclusion on the particular biogeography of
these taxa, but the new data presented in this work, enhance the current knowledge on the
distribution of T. caroni which would be larger than previously known.

KEY WORDS Trochoidea; land gastropods; Italy; Mediterranean; faunistics.
Received 19.09.2013; accepted 13.11.2013; printed 30.12.2013

INTRODUCTION Anatomically, T. (T.) caroni is characterised
(Giusti et al., 1995) by penial papilla elliptical or reni-
Trochoidea (Trochoidea) caroni (Deshayes, form in transverse section with long C-shaped
1832) (Gastropoda Pulmonata Hygromiidae) is groove on one side; four pleats defining two lozenges,
morphologically characterised by a trochiform, each surrounding the opening of an appendicula into
pyramidal, dextrorse shell with 8–10 well raised the vagina; atrial appendix containing crest-like
whorls having a sharp marginal keel, finely ribbed structure; long penial flagellum. T. (T.) caroni lives
external surface and small umbilicus. The height- in garigue and grassy meadow environments, under
to-diameter ratio (h/d) of the spire ranges from 1.00 stones and detritus, sometimes also on calcareous
to 1.30, in some cases as low as 0.88: see Sacchi’s rocks or at their base. It is currently reported in Italy
“elata” form (Sacchi, 1955a). as a living species in Central Western Sicily and on