Bostryx martinezi

Bostryx martinezi (Hylton Scott, 1965) (Figures 4 – 8)

Bulimulus (Scansicochlea) martinezi Hylton Scott, 1965: 25; Fernández and Castellanos, 1973: 278; Tablado and Mantinian, 2004: 371.

Bulimulus (Scansicochlea) cicheroi Hylton Scott, 1967: 7.

Bostryx martinezi Breure, 1978: 100, Breure, 1979: 55.

Bostryx tortoranus Miquel, 1995: 123 [partim]; Cuezzo et al. 2013: 147. [partim]

Type material

Bulimulus (Scansicochlea) martinezi : Holotype (MLP 11448), Paratypes (MLP 11011 (1), MLP 11012 (1), MLP 11445 (1), MLP 11446 (1), MLP 11447 (1), MACN-In 27208 (3)). Bulimulus (Scansicochlea) cicheroi: Holotype (MLP 10996), Paratypes (MLP 10995 (1), MLP 10997 (1), MACN-In 27281 (1)).

Type locality

‘ Chancani, Sierra de Pocho, Córdoba ’. Chancani is located in western Cordoba province, Pocho Department.

Material examined

Argentina, Prov. Córdoba, Dept. Pocho: IFML 15608 (ex CWW 911), Sierra de Pocho, between Las Palmas and Chancani, 1050 m, 12 November 1967, Weyrauch W leg. and det.; IFML 15611 (ex CWW 1257), Sierra de Pocho, on the road between Las Palmas and Chancani, 1050 – 1250 m, 11 December 1969, Weyrauch W leg. and det.; IFML 15610 (ex CWW 2889), Sierra de Pocho, between Las Palmas and Chancani, north-west slope of Sierra de Pocho, 600 – 900 m, 2 December 1969, Weyrauch W leg. and det.; IFML 15609 (ex SMF 195593), Sierra de Pocho, route between Las Palmas and Chancani, 1050 – 1250 m, 2 December 1969, Weyrauch W leg. and det.; IFML 15506 A, Chancani, from Las Palmas to El Cadillo, 869 m, 31° 22 ′ 01 ″ S, 65° 24 ′ 74 ″ W, 18 March 2006, Cuezzo MG and Salas Oroño E leg.; IFML 15507 A, Chancani, from Las Palmas to El Cadillo, before the third tunnel, 921 m, 31° 22 ′ 17 ″ S, 65° 24 ′ 53 ″ W, 18 March 2006, Cuezzo MG and Salas Oroño E leg.; IFML 15508 A, Chancani, from Las Palmas to El Cadillo, 1440 m, 31° 22 ′ 60 ″ S, 65° 23 ′ 30 ″ W, 18 March 2006, Cuezzo MG and Salas Oroño E leg.; IBN 826, Sierra de Pocho, 1021 m, 31° 22.273 ′ S, 65° 21.080 ′ W, 3 December 2012, Miranda MJ and Romero F leg.; IBN 829, Sierra de Pocho, Quebrada de La Mermela, 1085 m, 32° 22.485 ′ S, 65° 23.477 ′ W, Miranda MJ leg.; MACN-In 25870, Chancani, 1944, Castellanos A. leg.; MACN-In 27208, Sierra de Pocho, between Las Palmas and Chancani, Martínez A leg.; MACN-In 27431 A, Sierra de Pocho, between Las Palmas and Chancani, November 1966, Cichero M leg.; MACN-In 36892 A, Sierra de Pocho, between Las Palmas and Chancani; MLP 11011, Sierra de Pocho, between Las Palmas and Chancani; MLP 11012, Sierra de Pocho, between Las Palmas and Chancani, January 1965, Martínez A leg.; MLP 11446, Sierra de Pocho, between Las Palmas and Chancani, January 1965, Martínez A leg.; MLP 11447, Sierra de Pocho, between Las Palmas and Chancani, January 1965, Martínez A leg.; MLP 11448, Pampa de Pocho, Chancani, January 1965, Martínez A leg. Prov. San Luis, Dept. Junín: MACN-In 27281, Quebrada de Cautana, 3 December 1966, Cichero JA leg.; MLP 10995, Quebrada de Cautana; MLP 10996, Quebrada de Cautana, Cichero JA leg.; MLP 10997, Quebrada de Cautana, Cichero JA leg., MLP 11441, Quebrada de Cautana, 3 December 1966, Cichero JA leg.

Shell. Dextral, fusiform, slender, thin, with 6 to 6¼, flat to slightly convex whorls (Figure 5A – C). Shell uniform yellowish or with darker bands from the third whorl in some specimens. First whorl of the protoconch with thick, axial, elevated costules, parallel to each other and spiral grooves with the same thickness, densely arranged (Figure 6A, B). Second whorl of protoconch with axial, elevated costules, thicker than the spiral grooves and more densely arranged than the first whorl (Figure 6A, C, D). Spire high conic, with whorls increasing regularly in diameter (Figure 5A – C). Body whorl tall in relation to total height of the shell, 80% of the total length (Figure 5A – C). Teleoconch with axial oblique elevated costules, more evident from fourth whorl (Figure 5A – C). Spiral lines crossing them in some specimens. Suture simple, slightly deep (Figure 5A – C). Aperture elongated-ovate, short, 40% of total shell length (Figure 5A – C). Parietal space narrow, smooth (Figure 5A – C). Peristome simple, not expanded (Figure 5A – C). Umbilicus narrow (Figure 5A – C).

Measurements. Type material measurements in Table 1.

Range of variability of the species: masd = 7.89 – 11.0; misd = 7.27 – 9.70; th = 18.30 – 24.60; bwh = 13.80 – 17.70; sh = 5.40 – 8.80; ah = 9.70 – 12.70; mad = 4.98 – 6.97.

External morphology. Animal body homogeneously pale brown, with lateral groove from genital orifice towards mantle collar, well marked. Foot elongate, basal sole homogeneous, not divided.

Digestive system. Jaw arched with 14 plaques and fine transverse striae. Central plaque triangular divided into two minor triangular plaques. Lateral plaques rectangular in shape, irregular in size. Central tooth triangular, tricuspid, with rounded tip, smaller than the lateral teeth (Figure 7A). First lateral tooth bicuspid, similar in size and shape to central tooth (Figure 7A). Marginal teeth similar to lateral teeth, bicuspid with a sharply pointed ectocone (Figure 7B, C).

Pallial system (six specimens dissected). Kidney triangular, 1/3 of lung roof length. Secondary ureter opening at proximal portion of roof length. Rest of system idem to B. rudisculptus.

Reproductive system (six specimens dissected). Free oviduct longer and thinner than vagina (Figure 8A). Bursa copulatrix duct long, reaching distal portion of albumen gland (Figure 8A). Bursa copulatrix duct inner wall with longitudinal zigzag folds. Vagina inner wall with longitudinal parallel thinner straight folds. Epiphallus length 2/3 of penis length (Figure 8A, B). Proximal portion of inner wall of penis with straight folds followed by smooth area and distal portion with relaxed zigzag folds or straight longitudinal folds area (Figure 8B). Rest of reproductive system idem to B. rudisculptus.

Remarks

Bostryx martinezi was originally described by Hylton Scott (1965) in Bulimulus (Scansicochlea) Pilsbry, based on the shell morphology, radula and jaw. In 1978, Breure published the first anatomical study of B. martinezi and relocated it in the genus Bostryx Troschel, 1847. Finally, B. martinezi was listed in synonymy with Bostryx tortoranus (Doering, 1879) by Miquel (1995) and Cuezzo et al. (2013). Based on the conchological, radular and anatomical observations performed, diagnostic characters discussed later allow the removal of B. martinezi from the synonymy with B. tortoranus. Additionally, the following change is proposed: Bulimulus (Scansicochlea) cicheroi Hylton Scott, 1967 is transferred from synonymy with B. tortoranus to synonymy with B. martinezi. This new synonymy is established based on similarities in shell morphology and the fact that shell measurements of B. cicheroi fit the range of those of B. martinezi. Moreover, the anatomical description of B. cicheroi performed by Hylton Scott (1967) is coincident with the anatomy of B. martinezi.

Bostryx martinezi differs from Bostryx peristomatus (Doering, 1879), a species also found in Sierra de Pocho, because B. martinezi is smaller than B. peristomatus (in shell height and diameter) with narrower umbilicus without carina, shorter aperture and peristome simple. Moreover, in B. martinezi the teleoconch sculpture consists of axial costules whereas B. peristomatus has thicker axial ribs and a finely granulate appearance to the last whorls. Regarding morphological characters, B. martinezi differs from B. peristomatus because of its shorter kidney with respect to pulmonary roof length, the ureter secondary aperture in the proximal portion of the pulmonary roof, and the free oviduct longer than the vagina.

Distribution and habitat

Bostryx martinezi is found from Cordoba to San Luis (31 – 32° S, 65° W), in the Dry Chaco ecoregions (Figure 4) and within an altitudinal range between 600 and 1440 m (both records from Sierra de Pocho). It is found on rocks on the side of rivers.