Welcome to "Colus"!

Roman V. Egorov

e-mail-1: colus@online.ru

e-mail-2: colus2004@yandex.ru

The present work is continuation of the "Review.." series started in 2005.
The second part is dedicated to the representatives of one of largest and most diverse group of terrestrial pectinibranch molluscs belonging to the order Littoriniformes. Terrestrial representatives of this order divided into a several families. This volume contains a review of four families:
Hainesiidae, Aciculidae, Cyclophoridae and Craspedopomatidae. The systematics and nomenclature of these difficult groups are revised.
Systematic position of some taxa is changed. Synonymy of some genera is revised and corrected. In total, the publication contains descriptions and illustrations (of type species or their relatives) of 84 genera and subgenera (include nominate ones). Many illustrations are original. Appendix contains descriptions and illustrations of three problematic genera, originally belongs to the family Cyclophoridae. However, their systematic position is unclear. The list of cited references contains 199 titles.

Roman V. Egorov
3rd Vladimirskaya str., 16-24
Moscow 111401 Russia
VERY IMPORTANT: please, use address colus@online.ru for messages up to 50 Kb only; for other please, use colus2004@yandex.ru http://webcenter.ru/~colus http://www.manandmollusc.net/Roman.html

Roman V. Egorov

e-mail1: colus@online.ru
e-mail2: colus2004@yandex.ru
http://webcenter.ru/~colus
http://www.manandmollusc.net/Roman.html
PLEASE, DO NOT SEND ANY ATTACHMENTS!

The given publication is final summarized compendium of the continental pectinbranch molluscs of the former USSR territory which includes fresh- and brackish-water representatives of this subclass.

The terrestrial representatives of pectinibranch molluscs from this territory was examined early [Egorov, Greke, 2003]. Since number of water species of pectinibranch gastropods significantly exceeds the number of terrestrial ones, author limits by publication of the systematic list of species discovered on indicated territory with notes on original descriptions and distributions for each species. Also, data on type material is given for some species.

The catalogue includes identification keys and images of shells of the species distributed on the territory of Russia and, partly, from the European part of the former USSR territory. Other species known from the territory former USSR shortly listed and partly illustrated.

Given catalogue was prepared on published data, but some information about storage of the type material is original. Data on distribution of species cited by original descriptions and recently published works [Starobogatov et al., 2004, Kantor, Sysoev, 2005, etc.].

In addition, catalogue of endemic pectinibranchs of the Baikal Lake is presented. This catalogue contains listing of all known species with data on the original description, short synonymy, two plates of illustrations of some species and separate list of references.

Author did not use subgeneric division in "Baikalian" catalogue because this category is unclear for most species yet.

The general catalogue doesn't include endemic pectinibranchs of the Caspian and Aral Seas for they are marine animals. However, some marine species which live in very freshened parts of seashores (lagoons and estuaries) are included in general catalogue.

Author accepted the system and nomenclature of the class Gastropoda offered and published by Golikov&Starobogatov [1989] with some corrections based on subsequent publications [Prozorova, Starobogatov, 1991; Sitnikova, 1991, etc.].

The lists of bibliography contains 195 publications. In total, the catalogue contains data on 350 species of fresh- and brackish-water pectinibranch molluscs known from the territory of the former USSR for now.

Retail Price: $25.00 + postage $5.00 for registered surface mail, $7.00 for registered air mail.

Roman V. Egorov

e-mail1: colus@online.ru
e-mail2: colus2004@yandex.ru
http://webcenter.ru/~colus
http://www.manandmollusc.net/Roman.html
PLEASE, DO NOT SEND ANY ATTACHMENTS!

ABSTRACT
The first part of the present work aims to provide two main goals: to generalize the basic results of investigations of previous works and to give some author’s ideas on the philogeny and systematics of terrestrial molluscs of the order Neritopsiformes. Author has examine personally as many type species of genera (subgenera) as possible; moreover illustrations and/or descriptions from original or later publications were studied. In total, type species (or, at least, similar to type species) of 70 recent taxa of genus group are described and illustrated in the book; the figures of more than 70 shells are original. The description, illustration and discussion of one subfossil pulmonate genus Pseudotrochatella Nevill, 1881 are given. As concerns anatomical drawings (radula and/or reproductive system), there are over 80 figures; all of these are taken from previous works. For most taxa descriptions and illustrations of operculums are given. Synonymy and systematic position of some taxa were revised. Key for identification of the families, genera and some subgenera of the suborder Helicinoidei based on conchological characters is given. The key include pulmonate genus Pseudotrochatella which early was referred to the Helicinidae. Appendix 1th contains the descriptions and illustrations of four fossil genera of the family Proserpinellidae. Appendix 2nd contains the discussion and data on newly described genus Microalcadia Richling, 2004 stat. nov. The list of cited literature contains 157 references.

Retail price is $22.00 per copy + postage: $3.00 registered surface mail; $5.00 registered air mail.

Roman V. Egorov

e-mail1: colus@online.ru
e-mail2: colus2004@yandex.ru
http://webcenter.ru/~colus
http://www.manandmollusc.net/Roman.html

Cones — deadly mollusks of tropical seas.
ALYAKRINSKIY A.R., 2005.

Catalogue
of the cone shells collection of the State Darwin Museum. Moscow, 102 pp.,
210x295 mm, broshure, 19 color text-figs + more than 270 full-color figs.
ISBN 5-902515-09-2. In Russian, with Latin nomenclature and English list of
localities. $27.00

The publication deals with the mollusks of Conidae family. All 136 species of this group keeping in the State Darwin Museum (Moscow, Russia) illustrated. Each available species presented by two different view color
photos, enumeration of specimens with localities and size, data on maximum size, distribution, habitat and habits of the speciers. The general knowledge about these interesting inhabitants of tropical seas and manual for shell-collectors are given.

Full regional list of all known species of Conidae conducted for Indo-Pacific, Eastern Pacific, Western Atlantic,
Eastern Atlentic, Cabo Verde and South Africa regions. The maximum size of each species indicated.

Text in Russian, species names in Latin, list of localities of illustrated specimens in English.

Retail Price: $27.00 + postage: $4.00 for surface mail or $5.00 for air mail
registered mailing.

Representatives of 2 families with 10 genera contained 30 species with some subspecies are known for territory of Russia and adjacent countries (former USSR). As a result of studying of research collection and literature data authors supplemented data on ecology and distribution of the representatives of these families, and specified diagnoses and taxonomic position of some rare and little-known species.

Anatomical characters of genitalia for most species are given. Systematic position and synonymy for some species was revised.

It is established, that Leiostyla nemethi Hausdorf, 1996 belongs to the genus Euxinolauria and probably, is the representative of new subgenus. Also it is established, that Leiostyla adolfi Pokryszko, 1991 is junior synonym of Euxinolauria (Caucasipupa) p. paulinae (Lindholm, 1913). Systematic position of Orculella (?) pfeiferi Hausdorf, 1996 is discussed.

Appendix contains the check-list of fossil forms of Orculoidea from the territory former the USSR. List of bibliography contains 132 references.

List of described and illustrated species:

Pilorcula aspinosa Hausdorf, 1996
Pilorcula pusilla Hausdorf, 1996
Pilorcula t. trifilaris (Mousson, 1863)
Pilorcula trifilaris longior Hausdorf, 1996
Pilorcula trifilaris quadrifilaris (Rosen, 1905)
Orculella b. bulgarica (Hesse, 1915)
Orculella r. ruderalis Akramovski, 1947
Orculella pfeiferi Hausdorf, 1996
Schileykula batumensis (Retowski, 1889)
Schileykula kaznakovi (Rosen, 1914)
Schileykula trapezensis (Stojaspal, 1981)
Orcula dolium (Draparnaud, 1801)
Sphyradium doliolum (Brugui?re, 1792)
Pagodulina (Pagodulina) pagodula (Des Moulins, 1830)
Pagodulina (Crystallifera) lederi (O.Boettger, 1886)
Euxinolauria (Matschachelia) rectidentata Schileyko, 1975
Euxinolauria (Caucasipupa) tenuimarginata (Pilsbry, 1933)
Euxinolauria (Caucasipupa) zonifera (Pilsbry, 1934)
Euxinolauria (Caucasipupa) p. paulinae (Lindholm, 1913)
Euxinolauria (Caucasipupa) caucasica (L.Pfeiffer, 1857)
Euxinolauria (Caucasipupa) sinangula Schileyko, 1975
Euxinolauria (Caucasipupa) superstructa (Mousson, 1876)
Euxinolauria (Caucasipupa) honesta Suvorov, Schileyko, 1991
Euxinolauria (Caucasipupa) glomerosa Suvorov, Schileyko, 1991
Euxinolauria (Euxinolauria) pulchra (Retowski, 1883)
Euxinolauria (Euxinolauria) silicea Schileyko, 1975
Euxinolauria (Euxinolauria) vitrea (Schileyko, 1988)
Euxinolauria (Neolauria) mica Schileyko, 1998
Euxinolauria (subgen. indet.) nemethi Hausdorf, 1996
Lauria cylindracea (Da Costa, 1778)
Argna bielzi (Rossmaessler, 1859)
Eostrobilops coreanus (Pilsbry, 1927)

Retail price: $20.00 + postage: surface mail $3.00; air mail $5.00
Orders send to:
Roman V. Egorov

e-mail1: colus@online.ru
e-mail2: colus2004@yandex.ru
http://webcenter.ru/~colus
PLEASE, DO NOT SEND ANY ATTACHMENTS!

NEW BOOK:

Key words: mollusks, chitons, gastropods, fauna, taxonomy, Ukraine.

The present monograph is the first detailed study of the Ukrainian fauna of Chitons (3 species) and Gastropods (75 species) which belongs to the subclasses Cyclobranehia, Scutibranchia and Pectinibranchia (part).

The general part includes the description of material and methods, general characters of the phylum Mollusca; morphology, anatomy and conchology peculiarities of mollusks are discussed here, short glossary is given too.

Taxonomic part of the book includes keys to all mentioned taxa from classes to species and their detailed characters. The illustrative descriptions of shell, data on distribution, variation and ecology for all species are presented. A nomenclatural analysis is provided nearly for all species and generic-level names; detailed list of synonyms is given, few new taxa are introduced. A lot of type specimens (including some Linnean's species) are
described and figured; few lectotypes are designated for the first time.

Supplement includes the annotated list of 300+ fossil species of Gastropoda. For hydrobiologist, zoologist and conchologist-amateurs.

Key words: mollusks, chitons, gastropods, fauna, taxonomy, Ukraine.

Summary:The monograph is devoted to the Ukrainian Chitons and Gastropods which have not been studied so far.

The present book is divided into two parts: general and taxonomic. The general part includes the description of material examined and methods of investigation, general characters of the phylum Mollusca; morphology, anatomy and conchology peculiarities of mollusks are discussed here.

Glossary with hundreds of terms used by researchers is given too.

Besides the method of analysis of traditional conchological features we use the method of conchological studies proposed by Ya. I. Starobogatov. The description of this method we have adobted mainly by E. V. Shikov and M. N. Zatravkin (1991) paper. The present acquaintance with this method would help our foreign colleagues to estimate better the validity of taxa revealed by malacologists works in the former USSR countries.

It is known that the contour of the frontal section of a shell valve across its apex (in Bivalvians) or the suture line (in Gastropods) may be considered as a segment of ogarithmic spiral (Moseley, 1838; D'Arcy Tompson, 1917; Raup, 1966, and others). Such spiral has some constant affinities, for instance the angle between radius vector and tangent line drawn into any point of the spiral, so-called "polar angle". It is independent on the length of the spiral and therefore it is unchanged with the molluskan age.

Further it was found that the polar angle is the species-specific characteristic of many families of freshwater mollusks. B. M. Logvinenko and Ya. I. Starobogatov (1971) showed that not only the polar angle of the shell frontal section contours but also the contours
themselves were species-specific. They have proved also that the curvature
of the shell valve frontal section can be used as an important systematic and diagnostic feature. After these works the method of comparing the shell frontal section contours began to be widely used by Ya. I. Starobogatov and his numerous disciples; subsequently this method has been named comparatorial method and applied to gastropods Izzatullaev, Starobogatov, 1984, and many others).

As using the comparatorial method, the shell is drawn with stereoscopic microscopes (MBS, Opton) and with respective drawing apparates (camera lucida). The shell should be placed on the microscope stand on plasticine in strictly standart position. When the shell is placed, the valve (shell) contour is drawn from the very umbo (apex) with the drawing tube. Large shells may be drawn uncompletely but drawing of the frontal section should
be always started from the umbo (apex). The resultant picture is traced with drawing ink or thus, a stencil is obtained which may be used for comparison with other shell contours. If the shell contour of another mollusk does not coincide with the stencil contour, a new stencil should be drawn. Thus mollusks are divided into groups corresponding to one or another stencil contour: the drawing apparatus is used here as comparator.

As it was shown in practice of many years (about 30 years) of using the comparatorial method, the shell groups differing in character of the valve (or the shell contour) curvature always have clear differences also in other morphologic features: the shell form, the main parameter ratios, etc. In result the comparatorial method considerably facilitates the mollusk determination — after dividing the shells into groups, it is very easy to find characteristic morphologic features and to determine the species belonging to every shell group. In all cases when mollusks differing in characters of their shell frontal section curvature or contour and in other features are found together without intermediate forms, we believe it being a sufficient reason to consider mollusks of these forms as separate species.

The popularity of the method is explained by its simpllicity — using it only practically, everybody can divide into conchological groups more than 100 any shells within an hour. It permits us also to compare real shells with photograph or precise drawing of the specimen presented in literature.

The comparatorial method is universal. Unlike other conchologic features the shell frontal section contour can be applied to almost all species of bivalvians and gastropods. It is possible even in the cases when external diagnostic features of species are very limited and when it is very difficult to separate species visually by the shell. The discussed method permits to compare independently all four Raup's parameters and also the fifth: the dimention of the upper base of the truncated cone of shell-tube.

It most applicable to gastropods with conispiral shells where we may see all whorls simultaneously (Izzatullaev, Starobogatov, 1984). This method is also important because linear dimensions and their relations can not adequately express the spiral growth of a shell. On the other hand the method should not be absolutized. In some cases the determination should not be carried out only by comparing the frontal section contours.

These characters should be used together with other features. Consequently, this method is only an eurystic one and in order to prove the species validity we have to use direct or undirect consequences of the biological species concept, i. e. low viability or absence of hybrids, differences in the caryotypes, or absence of transition when two forms coexist together.

In the second (taxonomic) part of the book, attention concentrated on the keys to all mentioned taxa from classes to species and their detailed characters. The present monograph is the first detailed study of the Ukrainian fauna of Chitons (3 species) and Gastropods (75 species) which belongs to the subclasses Cyclobranchia (=Patelliones Golikov et Starobogatov, 1989), Scutibranchia (=Pleurotomariiones Golikov et Starobogatov, 1989) and Pectinibranchia (=Trochiones Golikov et Starobogatov, 1989). The characteristics of subclasses (below) is adobted by A. N. Golikov and Ya. I. tarobogatov (1975) paper.

The Subclass Cyclobranchia.
The shell is primarily symmetrical, without any incision or sulcus, planospiral or cap-like with the apex displaced anteriory, rarely posteriorly.
The head bears one pair of tentacles.
The epipodium is absent.
The mantle complex is primarily symmetrical; in recent cap-like shell forms it is asymmetrical due to the clockwise rotation of the ctenidia and sometimes on account of the presence of the left ctenidium only, of the shift of the heart to the left and of the anus with the nephropores to the right.
The osphradia retain their initially symmetrical position, the right osphradium occasionally disappears, the hypobranchial gland is absent.
The heart has a well-developed left auricle, the right one being rudimentary; the arterial bulbus is present.
There are 2 kidneys, the right kidney being larger and the gonad opening into it (not into its renopericardial duct).
The reproductive system opens by a nephropore, the papilla of the right kidney sometimes continues into a long tube. Occasionally a copulatory apparatus of cephalic origin may also be present. Fertilization is mostly external.
There are 2 pairs of salivary glands.
The radula is docoglossate with many teeth in a transverse row in primitive forms, and a reduced number of teeth (6) in higher forms.
The stomach is divided into 2 parts, is devoid of protostyle, chitinous lining and caecum. The rectum penetrates the pericardium and not the ventricle.
The central nervous system in higher forms has pronounced ganglia; osphradial (branchial) ganglia and mantle nerve cords are present. There is no dialyneury.

The subclass Cyclobranehia within Ukraine is represented by following taxa:
1 order (Patelliformes), 1 family (Patellidae), 1 genus (Patella) and sole species — P. ulyssiponensis Gmelin in Linnaeus, 1791.

The Subclass Scutibranchia.
The shell is either primarily symmetrical, planospiral, often of a cap-like form, or conispiral; on the anterior periphery of the last whorl above the head there is always either an incision or a sulcus that appears as a peripheral keel when viewed from outside. The incision may separate from the peristome, i. e. close to form a foramen and be displaced; in cap-like forms the foramen may become apical.
The head has one pair of tentacles.
The epipodium is well developed and is usially supplied with tentacles.
The mantle complex is symmetrical, except that the right kidney is somewhat larger than the left.
There are always 2 ctenidia in conispiral forms, the left always being larger than the right. The gonad opens into the right renopericardial duct and rarely into the right kidney.
A copulatory apparatus is always absent. Fertilization is external.
There is one pair of small salivary glands, located in the head.
The rhipidoglossate radula is supplied with a great number of teeth.
The stomach has a caecum, a protostyle and a chitinous lining. The rectum runs
through the pericardium and the ventricle.
The central nervous system has no prominent ganglia; branchial ganglia are present, but no mantle nerve cords.

The subclass Scutibranchia (includes 2 species in Ukraine) is represented by order Pleurotomariiformes and 2 families: Fissurellidae (genus Diodora) and Scissurellidae (genus Scissurella).

The Subclass Pectinibranchia.
The shell is initially conispiral, sometimes with a secondary simplification, cap-like, tube-like or planospiral, always without an incision.
The head bears one pair of tentacles and sometimes has one pair of frontal lobes.
The epipodium is only slightly developed, often completely absent.
The mantle complex is sharply asymmetrical.
The ctenidium and osphradium are unpaired.
The hypobranchial glands are paired, but very unequal, or more often single.
Only one auricle is functional, corresponding to the only one ctenidium; the other is rudimentary or completely reduced.
There are 2 kidneys, the right (in dextral forms) is larger than the left; the gonad opening into the renopericardial duet, or the kidney may be completely incorporated in the reproductive system as the renal gonoduct.
The reproductive system debouches either by the nephropore or continues further into the pallial gonoduct; a copulatory apparatus may also be present, arising either from the head or the foot. Fertilization is external or, more often, internal.
There are 1 or 2 pairs of salivary glands, they are mostly large and situated behind the nerve ring.
The radula may be rhipidoglossate, consisting of a large number of rather homogeneous teeth, or it may have a smaller number of teeth per transverse row (7, 3, 2 or even 1).
The stomach with or without the caecum, and often has a protostyle or crystalline style. The rectum either penetrates the pericardium and the ventricle, or runs at a distance from these organs.
The central nervous system has well developed and well pronounced ganglia. The lowest forms have the left branchial ganglion and show dialyneury, in the highest forms these
features absent. There are no mantle nerve cords.

The subclass Pectinibranchia is devided at all into 15 orders. Four from which are described here. They are following: order Trochiformes — 3 families: Phasianellidae (1 genus, 5 species), Trochidae (3 genera, 4 species), Calliostomatidae (2 genera, 2 species); order Neritopsiformes — 1 family (Neritidae, 1 genus, 7 species); order Vivipariformes — 3 families: Pomatiidae (1 genus, 2 species), Viviparidae (2 genera, 9 species), Valvatidae (3 genera, 25 species); order Cerithiiformes — 4 families: Melanopsidae (3 genera, 7 species), Litiopidae (1 genus, 2 species), Cerithiidae (2 genera, 6 species), Cerithiopsidae (1 genus, 3 species).

The illustrative descriptions of shell with details of the classification, identification, distribution, variation and ecology for all species of mentioned taxa are presented.

A nomenclatural analysis is provided nearly for all species and generic-level names, detailed list of synonyms is given.

Few new names are introduced: class Chitoniodes V. Anistratenko nom. n. pro Polyplaeophora Blainville, 1816, subclass Chelodiones V. Anistratenko nom. n. pro Paleoloricata Bergenhayn, 1955, subclass Chitoniones V. Anistratenko nom. n. pro Loricata Schumacher, 1817 (=Neoloricata Bergenhayn, 1955). The replacement name within family Valvatidae is proposed by Ya. I. Starobogatov — Cincinna (Cincinna) falsifluviatilis Starobogatov nom. n. pro Valvata fluviatilisWesterlund, 1886 non Colbeau, 1868.

A lot of type specimens are described and figured: Tricolia milaschewitchi Anistratenko et Starobogatov, 1991 (holotype), Steromphala crimeana Anistratenko et Starobogatov, 1991 (holotype), Theodoxus astrachanicus Starobogatov in Starobogatov, Filchakov, Antonova et Pirogov, 1994 (holotype), Theodoxus velox V. Anistratenko in 0. Anistratenko, Starobogatov et V. Anistratenko, 1999 (holotype), Viviparus (Haviyipaludina) rossmaessleri (Bourguignat, 1880) (syntype), Borysthenia menkeana (Jelski, 1863) (lectotype), Boryslhenia alligans (Lindholm, 1927) (holotype), Cincinna (Cincinna} dilatata (Eichwald, 1830) (lectotype), Cincinna (Cincinna) chersonica Chernogorenko et Starobogatov, 1987 (holotype), Fagotia (Dneprifagotia) dneprensis Starobogatov, Alexenko et Levina, 1992 (holotype), Micmcolpia (Potamoctebiana) ucrainica Starobogatov, Alexenko et Levina, 1992 (holotype).
The lectotypes of two Linnean's species are also described and figured: Nerita fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758 (lectotype) and Helix vivipara Linnaeus, 1758 (lectotype). At last the lectotypes of few species are designated here for the first time: Turbo pullus Linnaeus, 1758, Trochus divaricatus Linnaeus, 1758 and Turritella pusilla Jeffreys, 1856.

Supplement includes the annotated list of more than 300 fossil species of
Gastropoda.