A morphological reanalysis of Pleurocera acuta Rafinesque, 1831, and Elimia livescens (Menke, 1830) (Gastropoda: Cerithioidea: Pleuroceridae)
2005; Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum; Volume: 119; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
0028-1344
Autores Tópico(s)Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
ResumoPleurocera acuta and Elimia livescens have been the subject of several anatomical and ecological studies and are two of the most thoroughly documented species of North American Pleuroceridae. Yet significant gaps still remain in our understanding of their structure. Consequently, the anatomy of these two species is re-described, allowing a re-interpretation of pallial oviduct homologies; features not previously portrayed in the literature (midgut and kidney) are newly described. These taxa are characterized by the presence of an ovipositor, a kidney with a subdivided internal lumen that invades the pallial roof, a prostate with a highly folded anterior spermatophore-forming region, and a pallial oviduct with spermatophore bursa but lacking a seminal receptacle. This analysis verifies the degree of similarity between the two species, but a number of differences were identified including features of the ovipositor, pallial oviduct, prostate, anterior esophagus, midgut, kidney, pericardium and nervous system. Comparison to other pleurocerids confirms that species distributed in Western North America (Juga) and Asia (Hua, Semisulcospira) share the presence of a seminal receptacle-a feature that is lacking in all described Eastern North American species.
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