Page 22 - Colomba-et-al-2011-Erctella-mazzullii-complex-Zootaxa-3134

Bourguignat (1860), in line with Dupuy (1848), stressed that Helix quinciacensis Mauduyt 1839 was described
on specimens of C. mazzullii introduced to Quinçay (France). Nevertheless, he considered it a valid species (with
the surroundings of Palermo and Cefalù being the place of origin) for which he unjustifiedly emended Mauduyt’s
name to Quincayensis.

Zilch (1952), given that the entire De Cristofori & Jan malacological collection was destroyed (Zilch 1952),
designated the specimen depicted by Rossmässler (1837: pl. 22 fig. 295) as the neotype of Helix mazzullii.

The neotype summarizes the main morphological features shown by the specimens of the populations inhabit-
ing the surroundings of Palermo. However, the populations from Monte Pellegrino appear with a more conical, at
times turreted shell, showing more evident sutures and an emphasized shell sculpture. Such morphological differ-
ences might account for elevating this population to the subspecies level. In that case, bearing in mind the descrip-
tion by Mauduyt (1839) and illustrations by Bourguignat (1860: pl. 22 figs. 4, 6 sub quincayensis), it should be
reported under the name Erctella mazzullii quinciacensis (Mauduyt 1839).

De Gregorio described the fossil species Helix Luparellensis (Fig. 32) from the Luparello cave (Baida, Pal-
ermo) belonging to the H. mazzullii group (De Gregorio 1895; 1899). Later on, he re-considered this taxon as C.
mazzullii (De Gregorio 1927), contrary to Monterosato’s opinion who believed H. luparellensis to be a valid spe-
cies (see Ryolo & Palazzi 2009).

Erctella cephalaeditana (Giannuzzi-Savelli, Oliva & Sparacio, 1986)
Figs. 15–17, 22

Helix mazzullii var. β Pirajno 1840: 13 (Cefalù, La Rocca; Rocca di San Nicola).
Helix cephalaeditana Giannuzzi-Savelli et al. 1986: 203–205 (Cefalù, La Rocca).
Cantareus cephalaeditana — Manganelli et al. 1995: 33.
Helix mazzulli cephalaeditana — Cossignani & Cossignani 1995, pp. 27, 142–143 (Cefalù, La Rocca); Piazza 2003, pp. 3–30

(Cefalù, La Rocca).
Helix mazzullii cephalaeditana var. piazzensis Piazza 2003: 31–32 (Cefalù, La Rocca).
Cornu mazzullii cephalaeditanum — Colomba et al. 2008: 90.
Erctella cephalaeditana — Liberto et al. 2010: 115, fig. 155.

Shell (Figs. 15–17). Small for an Erctella; height 24–32 mm (mean 26 mm); maximum diameter 21–28 mm (mean
23 mm); aperture height 15–20.5 mm (mean 16 mm); aperture maximum diameter 16–23 mm (mean 19 mm); spire
more elevated, external surface of last two whorls, strongly wrinkled and irregularly reticulated; peristome thick-
ened and well reflected; aperture oval (Pirajno 1840; Giannuzzi-Savelli et al. 1986).

Genitalia (Fig. 22). Diverticulum of bursa copulatrix 1.2–1.5 times as long as duct of bursa copulatrix; two
digitiform glands each of which is divided into 11–18 slender and branched digit-like appendices; vagina internally
with 4–5 longitudinal pleats; penial flagellum usually shorter than penis and epiphallus together; proximal cavity of
distal penis having some transversal, strongly raised pleats, a very small true penial papilla and a small papilla on
the internal wall.

Remarks. For the taxon comprising specimens from Cefalù, La Rocca, formerly identified as Helix mazzullii
var. β (Pirajno 1840), Giannuzzi-Savelli et al. (1986) introduced the name H. cephalaeditana (as Helix cephalaedi-
tana Pirajno, ms.). Manganelli et al. (1995) although acknowledging the availability of the name (ICZN 1985 Arti-
cles 11d, 13a), nevertheless considered cephalaeditana a synonym of mazzullii.

Bourguignat (1860), when reporting the distribution area of “Helix quincayensis” (= H. quinciacensis), men-
tioned also Cefalù in addition to the surroundings of Palermo; nevertheless, taking into account the description of
the taxon provided by the author and illustrations included in his work (pl. 22 figs. 4 and 6) a synonymy between
H. quincayensis and cephalaeditana, in our opinion, can be ruled out.

22 · Zootaxa 3134 © 2011 Magnolia Press COLOMBA ET AL.