Liguus

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Liguus
Liguus fasciatus cropped.jpg
A live individual of Liguus fasciatus on a tree
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group Sigmurethra
Superfamily:
Orthalicoidea
Family:
Orthalicidae
Subfamily:
Orthalicinae
Genus:
Liguus

Montfort, 1810 [1]
Type species
Bulla virgineus
Diversity
5 species

Liguus is a genus of large tropical air-breathing land snails, more specifically arboreal or tree snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Orthalicidae.

Contents

These snails are especially notable for their relatively large size, and for their often brightly colored shells, which sometimes have complex color patterning. Because of their visual appeal, the shells have been the target of heavy collection pressure — a serious issue since some varieties are very scarce, and some are believed to have become extinct in the 20th century. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Distribution

The genus Liguus is restricted to some of the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola) and to Florida. Four of the species, Liguus virgineus (Hispaniola), L. blainianus (Habana and Pinar del Río Provinces, Cuba), L. flammellus (Pinar del Río Province, Cuba), and L. vittatus (Oriente Province, Cuba [since 1976, divided into five new provinces]), have localized ranges, while the numerous subspecies of Liguus fasciatus are more widely distributed, in both Cuba and southern Florida. [2]

Description

Liguus shares the distinguishing characteristics of other bulimulid gastropods in the subfamily Orthalicinae: large size (about 40 mm (1.6 in) in length), imperforate umbilicus, a jaw consisting of a limited number of broad plates, and the presence of a pineal gland. [10] The shells of Liguus are more slender than those of Orthalicus, the only other orthalicine genus with which it is likely to be confused. The shape of Liguus shells is characterized by Pilsbry [4] as "oblong-conic", versus "ovate-conic" for Orthalicus.

Generally recognized Florida subspecies of Liguus fasciatus (from Pilsbry, 1912), left to right: Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus, L. f. elliottensis, L. f. graphicus, L. f. lossmanicus, L. f. matecumbensis, L. f. septentrionalis, L. f. solidus, and L. f. testudineus. LiguusFasciatusFLSubsp.jpg
Generally recognized Florida subspecies of Liguus fasciatus (from Pilsbry, 1912), left to right: Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus, L. f. elliottensis, L. f. graphicus, L. f. lossmanicus, L. f. matecumbensis, L. f. septentrionalis, L. f. solidus, and L. f. testudineus.

Species

A shell of Liguus virgineus Liguus virgineus shell.jpg
A shell of Liguus virgineus

Five species are now usually recognized in the genus Liguus: [2] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Many more species have been recognized in the past based on color varieties in the shell, but these taxa have largely been synonymized or placed as lesser level taxa under one or another of these five named species.

Habitat

These snails are found on trees of many species, usually ones with smooth bark: false tamarind ( Lysiloma latisiliquum ), gumbo-limbo ( Bursera simaruba ), pigeonplum ( Coccoloba diversifolia ), black ironwood ( Krugiodendron ferreum ), false mastic ( Sideroxylon foetidissimum ), poisonwood ( Metopium toxiferum ), and Jamaica fishpoisontree ( Piscidia piscipula ), among others. In most cases, tropical forests suitable for Liguus have at least some surficial limestone, and limestone outcroppings are often present. [2] [12]

Related Research Articles

Henry Augustus Pilsbry

Henry Augustus Pilsbry was an American biologist, malacologist and carcinologist, among other areas of study. He was a dominant presence in many fields of invertebrate taxonomy for the better part of a century. For much of his career, his authority with respect to the classification of certain substantial groups of organisms was unchallenged: barnacles, chitons, North American terrestrial mollusks, and others.

<i>Cerion</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Cerion is a genus of small to medium-sized tropical air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropods in the family Cerionidae, sometimes known as the peanut snails. The genus is endemic to the Caribbean region.

Tree snail is a common name that is applied to various kinds of tropical air-breathing land snails, pulmonate gastropod mollusks that have shells, and that live in trees, in other words, are exclusively arboreal in habitat.

<i>Stenotrema</i> Genus of gastropods

Stenotrema is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Polygyridae. These are typically small to medium-sized snails, with a velvety or hairy shell surface, and a narrow aperture which is usually closely guarded by well-developed "teeth".

<i>Vespericola</i>

Vespericola is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Polygyridae.

Polygyridae Family of gastropods

Polygyridae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea.

<i>Patera</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Patera is a genus of land snails in the family Polygyridae.

<i>Neohelix</i> Genus of gastropods

Neohelix is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Polygyridae.

<i>Allogona</i> Genus of gastropods

Allogona is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Polygyridae.

<i>Ancotrema</i> Genus of gastropods

Ancotrema is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Haplotrematidae.

<i>Appalachina</i> Genus of gastropods

Appalachina is a genus of small, air-breathing, land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Polygyridae.

<i>Trilobopsis</i>

Trilobopsis is a genus of small, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Polygyridae.

<i>Praticolella</i> Genus of gastropods

Praticolella is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Polygyridae.

<i>Lobosculum</i> Genus of gastropods

Lobosculum is a genus of small air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Polygyridae.

Urocoptidae

Urocoptidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Urocoptoidea.

<i>Orthalicus reses</i> Species of gastropod

Orthalicus reses, common name the Stock Island, Florida tree snail, is a species of large tropical air-breathing land snail, a tree snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae. It was first described in 1830 by the American naturalist Thomas Say. The holotype, a specimen probably collected in Key West, was subsequently lost. Over a hundred years later, in 1946, the American biologist Henry Augustus Pilsbry redescribed the species using a specimen from Stock Island. Orthalicus reses has two subspecies, O. reses reses and O. reses nosodryas. The validity of these two taxa is still being discussed, but some experts argue that considering them as independent units may be important for management purposes.

<i>Liguus virgineus</i> Species of gastropod

Liguus virgineus, also known as the candy cane snail, is a species of tree-living snail native to the Caribbean. It has a distinctive conical shell of 30–60 mm (1.2–2.4 in). The background of the shell is white; there are typically 3–6 spiraling stripes of various colors, including brown, black, pink, green, purple, or light yellow. The shells are typically right-handed with seven or eight whorls. Though it spends most of its life in trees, it descends to lay its eggs in moist soil. It consumes various kinds of lichens throughout its life, as well as twigs and small branches. Its shells have been discovered in midden heaps in the Dominican Republic, indicating that it was a food resource for indigenous peoples. Early European explorers to Hispaniola brought the shells back to Europe, and it has been depicted in scientific illustrations since 1684, making it first neotropical land snail that was scientifically illustrated.

<i>Liguus fasciatus</i> Species of gastropod

Liguus fasciatus, the Liguus Tree Snails, also known as "living jewels", is a species of air-breathing land snail, a tree snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae.

Lioglyphostoma woodringi is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pseudomelatomidae, the turrids and allies.

<i>Zachrysia</i>

Zachrysia is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Zachrysiidae

References

  1. ↑ Montfort P. D. de (1810). Conch. Syst.2: 422.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Power E. J. Liguus Home Page. A Conchological informational page for South Florida and Caribbean Liguus tree snail geographic distribution, ecology and taxonomy. https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Gold/9440/liguus/lighompa.html&date=2009-10-25+07:25:33
  3. 1 2 Pilsbry H. A. (1912). "A study of the variation and zoogeography of Liguus in Florida". J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia '15(2nd ser.): 429-471.
  4. 1 2 3 Pilsbry H. A. (1946). Land mollusca of North America north of Mexico vol. II part 1. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. pp. 1-520.
  5. 1 2 Clench W. J. (1946). "A catalogue of the genus Liguus with a description of a new subgenus". Occ. Pap. Molluscs, Museum Comp. Zool. 1(10): 117-128.
  6. 1 2 Jaume M. L. (1952). "Catalogo de los moluscos del genero Liguus". Circ. Museo Biblioteca Malacologia Habana Mar: 515-527.
  7. 1 2 Jaume M. L. (1954). "Catalogo del genero Liguus en Cuba (Molusca:Gasteropoda)". Circ. Museo Biblioteca Zoologia Habana Nov-Dec: 1423-1450.
  8. ↑ Voss R. S. (1976). "Observations on the ecology of the Florida tree snail, Liguus fasciatus (Muller)". The Nautilus90(2): 65-69.
  9. ↑ Hillis D. M., Dixon M. T. & Jones A. L. (1991). "Minimal genetic variation in a morphologically diverse species (Florida tree snail, Liguus fasciatus)". J. Heredity 82(4): 282-286.
  10. ↑ Pilsbry H. A. (1946). Land mollusca of North America north of Mexico vol. II part 1. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. p. 29.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Mollusca" Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine . Diversidad Biológica Cubana, accessed 23 March 2011.
  12. ↑ Pilsbry H. A. (1946). Land mollusca of North America north of Mexico vol. II part 1. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. p. 38.
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