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Helicina rhodostoma
Helicina rhodostoma is a species of tropical land snail with an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Helicinidae. Shell descriptionRobert John Lechmere Guppy (1868)[5] noted that this species is not found above 1000 m altitude.[4] Three names have been used for this species, but material by Robinson et al. (2009)[4] shows that the forms intergrade, illustrating the variability of the species. In general, populations from higher altitudes have a more pronounced columellar spine, and are more likely to have a red to reddish-orange aperture, as seen in typical Helicina rhodostoma.[4] Populations from drier, coastal areas tend to lack a columellar spine, and the aperture may be white or yellow.[4] Juvenile specimens of this species often have a hairy periostracum, which is gradually worn off as the snail reaches sexual maturity.[4]
DistributionHelicina rhodostoma is endemic to the West Indian island of Dominica.[4] Despite the fact that Helicina rhodostoma was originally erroneously described from Guadeloupe – and in subsequent reports from that island the error has been perpetuated – this species is undoubtedly a Dominican endemic.[4] It has not been found during subsequent surveys of Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante.[4] The fact that no museum material exists labelled “Guadeloupe”, not even in the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris, indicates that the species has never been collected on that island.[4] The synonymy of Helicina goldfussi and Helicina rhodostoma inermis is confirmed by morphometrics and anatomical studies.[4] EcologyHelicina rhodostoma can be found living on trees, on ferns, and also between rocks and gravel.[4] ReferencesThis article incorporates CC-BY-3.0 text from the reference.[4]
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