Taxonomic review of the “Bulimes”, terrestrial gastropods from the continental Eocene of the Hamada de Méridja (northwestern Sahara, Algeria) (Mollusca: Stylommatophora: Strophocheilidae?), with a discussion of the genera of the family Vidaliellidae

Molecular phylogeny of the Orthalicoidea land snails: Further support and surprises

“…Vidaliellidae: As mentioned above, the placement of the extinct Vidaliellidae in the Orthalicoidea [ 3 ] was based on superficial and incomplete conchological comparison and without fully considering the biogeographical history and chronology of the taxa involved.…”

“…The size and shape of the shells, their multiwhorled spire that is comparatively short when compared to the expanded body whorl, the aperture shape, the strongly reflexed peristome, and the presence of a strong parietal callus, are all features shared with the strong-shelled Rhytidoidea such as the southern African Dorcasiidae and Malagasy Clavatoridae (and even the South American Strophocheilidae) [ 54 , 60 ]. In particular, the fossils are strongly reminiscent of Clavator Martens, 1860 and Leucotaenius Martens, 1860, to the point that several Vidaliellidae species were previously classified in those genera ([ 3 ] and references therein).…”

“…The link to the Malagasy Clavatoridae was considered biogeographically unlikely by [ 3 ]; yet those authors suggested a classification in Orthalicoidea, which is even more unlikely, from biogeographical, chronological, and conchological standpoints. As such, here we provisionally classify the Vidaliellidae in the Rhytidoidea sensu lato.…”

“…The European fossils of Vidaliellidae, however, need to be reassessed. While some may in fact represent a branch of this family that extended into Europe when the climate was warmer [ 3 ], others seem more closely related to typical European taxa such as the Filholiidae (e.g., [ 61 , 62 ]).…”

“…Presently, Orthalicoidea contains seven families [2]: Amphibulimidae Fischer, 1873, Bothriembryontidae Iredale, 1937 (the only one with representatives outside the Americas), Bulimulidae Tryon, 1867, Megaspiridae Pilsbry, 1904, Odontostomidae Pilsbry & Vanatta, 1898, Orthalicidae Martens, 1860, and Simpulopsidae Schileyko, 1999. Recently, the extinct family Vidaliellidae Nordsieck, 1986, from northern Africa and Europe, has been placed within Orthalicoidea [3] based on conchological similarities and without considerations of biogeography or chronology. The fossil record of the Orthalicoidea dates back to the Late Cretaceous in southern South America [4,5].…”