Molluscan Research 29(2):
61-120; published 39 Jun. 2009
Copyright © The
Malacological Society of Australasia
& the Society for the Study of Molluscan Diversity
A review
of the land snail genus Meridolum (Gastropoda: Camaenidae)
from central New South
Wales, Australia
STEPHANIE A. CLARK1
Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research,
University of Western Sydney, Richmond Campus, Locked Bag 1797,
Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia.
1Current
Address: 6535 N Mozart St., Apt 3F, Chicago, IL, 60645, United States
of America.
Email meridolum@ozemail.com.au
Abstract
Species of Meridolum
Iredale, 1942 have previously been recognised as occurring from
southern Queensland south along the New South Wales coast and coastal
ranges to eastern Victoria, and are characterised by subglobose to
depressed helicoid shells that range in size from about 10-33 mm in
height and 15-39 mm in diameter. The genus was thought to contain a
small number of widespread species, with the main radiation centred
within 200 km of Sydney, central New South Wales. Using a combination
of morphological, anatomical and genetic markers the current study has
revealed a remarkable diversity in shell morphology, reproductive
anatomy and genetic structure. This study has resulted in the
recognition of 22 species (seven new) allocated to five genera (four
new). Most species have narrow ranges with four only known from their
type locations. One species, Meridolum corneovirens (Pfeiffer,
1851), has been listed as endangered, but several more species in the
complex, probably from both Queensland and New South Wales, also merit
listing.
Key
words: Taxonomy, Meridolum, Pommerhelix,
Petraconcha, Ponderconcha, Stanisicia,
morphology, anatomy
Full article (PDF;
1600 KB)
|
|
