Systematic revision of the living species of Bullidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Cephalaspidea), with a molecular phylogenetic analysis

Abstract

Bullidae are a worldwide family of marine shelled cephalaspidean gastropods with a mainly tropical distribution, but also with some representatives in temperate waters. The taxonomy of the group has in the past been based only on shell characters, and the few anatomical accounts available have not addressed more than one to three species, so there has been no agreement about the number of valid species. Seventy-two specific names and 16 varietal names have been proposed worldwide. The systematics of the family Bullidae are revised, based not only on shells but also on anatomy of all extant species and on DNA sequence data. Twelve species are recognized worldwide, including one new species here described, and all are assigned to the genus Bulla. Bullidae show a general morphological stasis, with anatomy being very similar between species. However, there are high levels of intraspecific variability in the shell, radula and male genital system. In some cases species could only be separated based on molecular data . After defining the characters and geographical range of each species it became clear that sympatric species (a maximum of three) show distinctive shells and reproductive structures, which makes identification straightforward. This study employs an integrative approach, combining information on shells, anatomy, DNA and geographical distribution, in order to resolve the systematics of a difficult taxonomic group.

Biogeographical homogeneity in the eastern Mediterranean Sea - I: the opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Lebanon

“…In fact, with the exception of a few papers from the early XIX and XX centuries (e.g. Puton, 1856;Pallary, 1912Pallary, , 1919Pallary, , 1938Gruvel & Moazzo, 1929;Moazzo, 1931), during the last eighty years hardly a dozen papers, notes, abstracts and non peer-reviewed articles marginally cited opisthobranch species from Lebanon, without offering wider discussions (Spada, 1971;Fadlallah, 1975;Bogi & Khairallah, 1987;Bogi & Giannini, 1990;Bitar, 1996Bitar, , 2013Bitar & Kouli-Bitar, 1998;Valdés & Templado, 2002;Yokeş & Rudman, 2004;Zenetos et al, 2004;Malaquias & Reid, 2008;Crocetta & Galil, 2012). Based on the material collected within the CEDRE framework (French-Lebanese co-operation programme 1999-2002: Zibrowius & Bitar, 2003Morri et al, 2009), enriched by recent records provided by one of the authors (G.B.…”

The bubble snails (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) of Mozambique: an overlooked biodiversity hotspot

“…Distribution: IWP; for a detailed distribution see Malaquias and Reid (2008). WIO: Kenya, Tanzania, (Yonow and Hayward 1991;Malaquias and Reid 2008). In Mozambique it has been recorded to the Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique Island, Nacala, Bazaruto, Inhambane, and Inhaca I.…”

“…Either buried on sand among seagrass during daytime or crawling on sand around reef rocks at night. Distribution: IWP; for a detailed distribution see Malaquias and Reid (2008). WIO: Kenya, Tanzania, (Yonow and Hayward 1991;Malaquias and Reid 2008).…”

“…Few works have reported the occurrence of marine heterobranch gastropod species in the country and no dedicated account is available. The latter are either generalistic faunistic reports (Bergh 1900;MacNae andKalk 1958, 1962), field guides covering broader geographical regions (Branch et al 2008;Gosliner et al 2008Gosliner et al , 2015King and Fraser 2014), or systematic revisions of certain genera (Malaquias and Reid 2008;Price et al 2011;Carmona et al 2014a). Gosliner et al (2008), in their book about the shallowwater sea slugs (Heterobranchia in part) of the tropical and adjacent temperate areas of the Indo-West Pacific region (IWP), have cited the occurrence of 1397 species, but of those Communicated by V. Urgorri only 16 were specifically reported to occur in Mozambique, representing little more than 1 % of the known diversity of the entire IWP.…”

“…von Martens 1879; Bergh 1900; Eliot 1904Eliot , 1905Eliot , 1906Barnard 1927;MacNae andKalk 1958, 1962;Rudman 1972b;Gosliner 1987;Yonow and Hayward 1991;Branch et al 2008;Gosliner et al 2008Gosliner et al , 2015Malaquias and Reid 2008;Price et al 2011;Yonow 2012;Carmona et al 2014a;King and Fraser 2014).…”