A taxonomic review of the Norwegian species of Raphitoma (Gastropoda: Conoidea: Raphitomidae)

Abstract

1Høisaeter T. 2016. A taxonomic review of the Norwegian species of Raphitoma (Gastropoda: Conoidea: Raphitomidae). Fauna norvegica 36: 9-32.The problematic conoidean genus Raphitoma s.l. in inshore Norwegian waters is revised based on fresh material from all along the coast of Norway. This largely shallow water group is represented by at least six species in Norwegian waters of which two, Raphitoma obesa n.sp. and R. maculosa n.sp. are described as new, and another Raphitoma aequalis (Jeffreys, 1867) is reported from Norway for the first time. The taxonomic and nomenclatural status of R. reticulata (sensu Jeffreys 1867) and R. asperrima (sensu Forbes & Hanley 1853) are discussed. Empty shells of several additional species indicate that the number of Raphitoma-species living in the North East Atlantic will be further increased in the future. The morphological variability of each species is described if possible. Shell morphology, including microsculpture and protoconch details as deduced from LM photographs, are used for distinguishing the species. Some easily observable behaviour and soft part morphology features were found to be promising areas for further studies.

The family Raphitomidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Conoidea) in the Greek Seas with the description of two new species

“…Similar species R. ephesina seems to belong to the R. linearis (Montagu, 1803)— R. aequalis (Jeffreys, 1867) group as is that described by Høisæter [ 42 ] as it is of a similar profile and size, bears conspicuous spiral cords with colored tops, has the same number of protoconch whorls and almost the same protoconch dimensions. In particular, it differs from R. linearis in the absence of microgranules, the number of the spiral cords on the penultimate whorl (5 instead of 4) and the barely noticeable apertural denticles of R. linearis .…”

“…The micro- and macro-sculpture may be the most useful of these, but sometimes even these are hard to interpret. The transition zone between protoconch and teleoconch is occasionally a useful morphological detail to confirm the determination of a doubtful specimen [ 42 ]. This is especially useful, for instance, to distinguish between R. aequalis and R. linearis .…”

“…When DNA-based analyses are produced, it might also very well turn out that some Greek species are different from their Mediterranean congenerics. Available evidence indicates that most Mediterranean species of the genus Raphitoma are confined to the Mediterranean, but species of the linearis complex as well as the R. leufroyi group are exceptions being encountered from Norway to Canary Islands, as well as both south and north of the Mediterranean Sea [ 42 ].…”

Raphitoma (Gastropoda:Conoidea:Raphitomidae) Species Distributed Along the Turkish Coasts

“…Within the present work, the specimens were identified to the specific level regarding some diagnostic characters of the shell such as protoconch type, macrosculpture, microsculpture, the h/d ratio of the shell and colour patterns, although the last one, even with living specimens, might be misleading because of variability (Høisaeter, 2016). On the other hand, the protective liquids may cause loss of colour patterns of the shell as have been observed in Raphitoma aequalis, R. contigua and R. densa specimens dealt herein, becoming mostly uniformly yellowish or whitish ( Figures 1, 6 B, C and 7 A-B).…”

An assessment ofRaphitomaand allied genera (Neogastropoda: Raphitomidae)

“…According to current taxonomy, at least eight nominal genera are included in the synonymy of Raphitoma s. l. (see Systematic Descriptions below). Høisaeter (2016) argued that DNA-sequence-based phylogenetic studies would most likely show that Raphitoma s. l. consists of several genus-level taxa, for which available names could be employed. By carrying out a molecular phylogenetic study of the raphitomids, we seek to explore this issue.…”