Radula

Malaquias, Manuel António E., Ohnheiser, Lena T., Oskars, Trond R. & Willassen, Endre, 2017, Diversity and systematics of philinid snails (Gastropoda: Cephalaspidea) in West Africa with remarks on the biogeography of the region, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 180 (1), pp. 1-35 : 19

Radula : Radular formula?15 9 3.1.0.1.3.

Gizzard: Gizzard plates absent.

Male reproductive system ( Fig. 7I ): Prostate thick, globose and bilobed, clearly separated from penial sheath.

Ecology: The species occurs between 85 and 620 m depth ( van der Linden, 1994; present study).

Distribution: From Brittany southwards to Cape Verde, Morocco including the archipelagos of the Azores and Canaries; western Mediterranean Sea ( France, Italy) ( van der Linden, 1994, 1995; present study).

Remarks: This is a difficult species because of the poor original description and of several later odd definitions and personal interpretations (see for reviews van der Linden, 1994; Oliverio & Tringali, 2001). van der Linden (1994) has redescribed P. intricata and referred that the shell has a similar chain-like sculpture to that of P. catena and a similar narrow and elongated spire to that of P. angulata ; however, exhibits consistent differences in many other features of the shell (see van der Linden, 1994 for a thorough description). We tentatively here ascribe our specimen to P. intricata because of the presence of a folded (umbilicated) columella and we provide the first anatomical data on this species. Oliverio & Tringali (2001) have suggested that the description and illustrations by Vayssiere (1885: 35 – 38, figs 25 – 34) of Philine catena could refer to P. intricata because of the apparent folded columella. Yet, based on the evidence available this remains speculative and our observations depart substantially from the description by Vayssiere (1885) where a single outer-marginal tooth is referred to be present as well as three calcified gizzard plates. Regrettably, we did not succeed in preparing the radula of the only specimen available for SEM and ultrastructural details cannot be provided at this time.

Figures

Figure 7. Philine intricata (ZMBN 105808, H = 1.7 mm). A, dorsal view of complete animal. B, ventral view of complete animal. C, right lateral view of complete animal. D, apical view of complete animal. E, dorsal view of shell (automontage image). F, ventral view of shell (automontage image). G, detail of dorsal posterior part of shell (automontage image). H, sculpture on dorsal surface of shell (SEM). I, male reproductive system. ga, genital aperture; lk, larval kidney; pr, prostate; ps, penial sheath. Scale bars: A–D = 250 lm; E, F = 500 lm; G = 200 lm; H = 20 lm; I = 100 lm.