Helix auricularia Linnaeus, 1758

Europe.

Possibly lost (Vinarski and Kantor 2016).

This species is common in Eurasia, sporadically distributed in North Africa, introduced into North America and New Zealand (Hubendick 1951; Charleston and Climo 1979; Burch 1989; Brown 1994; Kruglov 2005; Andreeva et al. 2010). It has many times been characterised in literature, both conchologically and anatomically (Jackiewicz 1998; Glöer 2002; Kruglov 2005). The typical form of this snail has an ear-shaped shell with shortened spire and greatly expanded body whorl (see Fig. 3A). However, R. auricularia exhibits wide variation is shell shape and proportions (Vinarski 2016b). It may form local and ecological races, including dwarf races of geothermal springs, which had been accepted as valid species (Bolotov et al. 2014; Aksenova et al. 2016, 2017).

Figure 3. 

Shells of species in the genus Radix. A. Radix auricularia (28.08.2013, Kazakhstan, Karaganda Region, Suresai River; LMBI); B. R. alticola (20.06.2012, Tajikistan, a hot spring near Djelandy village; LMBI); C. R. alticola (01.07.2016, Tajikistan, a warm brook near Dzhaushangoz village; LMBI); D. R. brevicauda (Kashmir, a syntype; NHMUK); E. R. brevicauda (05.08.1948, Tajikistan, Pamir Mts., Shaimak village, in a warm spring; ZISP); F. R. euphratica (26.06.2016, Tajikistan, Dushanbe, a fountain near the President’s palace; LMBI); G. R. euphratica (04.07.2016, Tajikistan, a roadside ditch near Kurban-Shakhid village; LMBI); H. R. euphratica (without date, Iraq, Bagdad; NHMUK); I. R. makhrovi, the holotype (China, Tibet, a roadside ditch west of the Lhasa River mouth; ZISP); J. R. plicatula, a probable syntype (China, Chusan, NHMUK); K. R. plicatula (26.07.2017, China, Uyghuria, Bagrash-kol’ Lake; LMBI); L. R. plicatula (26.11.2014, China, Bejing, an artificial pond in the former Emperor’s summer palace; LMBI). Scale bars: 2 mm (B–C, F–L), 5 mm (A, D–E, K).

The structure of the copulatory apparatus of R. auricularia is quite typical for the genus. The praeputium is oblong, cylindrical and rather thick; its width is virtually equal along its whole length (see Fig. 4A). The penis sheath is much narrower, with a bulbous swelling on its distal end. The lengths of the praepuptium and the penis sheath of R. auricularia are nearly equal, though in some populations, there is a substantial variation in the ICA values (Vinarski 2011).

Figure 4. 

Copulatory apparatuses of the species of the genus Radix. A. Radix auricularia (19.07.2007, Russia, Tyumen’ Region, Vylposl channel near Labytnangi Town); B. R. alticola (01.07.2016, Tajikistan, a warm brook near Dzhaushangoz village); C. R. euphratica (04.07.2016, Tajikistan, a roadside ditch near Kurban-Shakhid village); D. R. makhrovi, a paratype (after Aksenova et al. 2018a, modified). E. R. plicatula (26.11.2014, China, Bejing, an artificial pond in the former Emperor’s summer palace). F. R. rubiginosa (Malaysia, Kuala-Lumpur); G. R. rufescens (24.11.2016, Myanmar, Yetho River, near the dam). H. R. natalensis (05.08.2018, Uganda, crater lake Kyamwiga). Scale bars: 2 mm.

A characteristic trait of this species, which distinguishes it from the remaining radicines of Europe, is the presence of freckles on the foot and praeputium (Glöer 2019).

Tajikistan, a hot spring near the Yashilkul’ Lake (approximately 37°47'00"N, 72°51'00"E).

ZISP (Vinarski and Kantor 2016). The holotype is illustrated by Sitnikova et al. (2014). We studied both the holotype and the paratypes of R. alticola.

According to our data (Aksenova et al. 2018a), R. alticola is endemic to the High Asia mountains; found in Tajikistan (from several sites, including the type locality) and Nepal. In mountain Tajikistan (Pamir), this species inhabits hot springs and satellite streams with relatively warm water.

The shell shape of R. alticola is similar to that of R. auricularia, but the former species is of much smaller size; its shell height does not exceed 16 mm (see Table 1), whereas the shells of R. auricularia may reach 35–40 mm in height. The proportions of the copulatory organ of R. alticola are very similar to R. auricularia (compare Fig. 3A and 3B).

The type locality was originally stated as ‘Australia’ (Sowerby 1872). It is, however, erroneous. Hanley and Theobald (1876) gave the proper type locality: Kashmir.

NHMUK. The syntypes were inspected by us.

R. brevicauda inhabits Northern India (Kashmir), Nepal, China (Western Tibet and Himalaya Range) and, probably, Tajikistan (Pamir Mts.) [Subba Rao 1989; Glöer and Bössneck 2013; Aksenova et al. 2018a]. The record of this species from Tajikistan is based on numerous shells from ZISP collection (see Fig. 3E), virtually identical with the syntypes of R. brevicauda. This species has not been registered from the ex-USSR territory (Vinarski and Kantor 2016) and hereby we, for the first time, include it in the malacofauna of the former Soviet Union. However, this record is still not corroborated genetically.

The shell of R. brevicauda is ear-shaped, with low spire and greatly expanded aperture. Generally, in many ways, it resembles the shell of R. auricularia and Glöer and Bössneck (2013: 153) note that there are no substantial differences between the two species, which are probable synonyms. However, Annandale and Rao (1925) reported the structure of the jaw and radula of R. brevicauda is distinct from that of R. auricularia. The anatomical structure of the discussed species, described and illustrated by Glöer and Bössneck (2013), is typical for the genus Radix. Our molecular analysis recovered R. brevicauda as a species sister to R. auricularia (Aksenova et al. 2018a).

We may indicate some conchological differences between R. auricularia and R. brevicauda. The latter species is of smaller size, the largest syntype shell is 18.1 mm (our data) and Glöer and Bössneck (2013) mention that R. brevicauda may reach 20 mm in height. Next, the columellar depression in shells of R. brevicauda is very prominent, whereas, in R. auricularia, it is typically weakly developed (compare Fig. 2A and 2D, E). Lastly, the spire whorls in R. auricularia are usually flattened, while in R. brevicauda these are visibly convex and rounded.

The name Limnaea brevicauda Sowerby is the oldest available one to designate a lymnaeid species, sister to R. auricularia, restricted in its distribution to the Central Asia mountain regions. The taxonomic identity of R. brevicauda, as well its close affinity to R. auricularia, was confirmed by the inspection of the extant syntypes.

Iraq, vicinity of Es-Samava Town (approximately 31°19'00"N, 45°17'00"E).

Not traced, but probably in the Zürich Zoological Museum (Vinarski and Kantor 2016).

We recorded R. euphratica genetically from such remote countries as Iraq and Turkey in the west and southwest and Tajikistan in the northwest, also it has been identified from samples collected in the Krasnodar Region of Russia and Georgia (Aksenova et al. 2018a; see Fig. 5C). The records of this species in literature cover also Afghanistan, India, Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan (Annandale and Rao 1919a, b; Likharev and Starobogatov 1967; Subba Rao 1989; Kruglov and Starobogatov 1993a; Glöer and Pešić 2012). The range of R. euphratica seems to be rather wide, stretching from the Middle East to northern India. The northernmost localities of this snail are known in the Caucasian region, in Georgia and European Russia (Aksenova et al. 2018a).

Figure 5. 

Shells of the Central Asian representatives of the genus Radix. A. Radix tener, the type (after Küster 1862, slightly modified); B. R. persica, the holotype (after Sitnikova et al. 2012); C. R. euphratica (30.08.2013, Russia, Krasnodar Region, Yaseni River, scale bar 2 mm; RMBH); D. R. tenera race euphratica (Iraq, Samara, after Annandale and Prashad 1919b); E. R. gedrosiana, a syntype (Pakistan, Baluchistan, Quetta, a pond in the Residency garden; after Annandale and Prashad 1919a); F, G. R. rectilabrum (Pakistan, Northern Baluchistan, Pishin district, Kushdil Khan reservoir; after Annandale and Prashad 1919a); H. R. iranica, the holotype (from the “Persian Baluchistan”; after Annandale and Prashad 1919a).

Conchologically, R. euphratica may be distinguished from the species of Radix described above by its relatively oblong ovate-conical shell, with high spire and weakly-inflated body whorl. The maximum shell height is around 20.0 mm (see Table 1). The columellar depression is weakly developed and, in some specimens, may be not visible. The tangential line of spire is almost straight or weakly concave that allows us to distinguish this species from the three species of Radix discussed above (see Fig. 3). The morphology of the copulatory apparatus is typical for the genus (see Fig. 4).

Several nominal species of radicines, with type localities situated in the Middle East or the east of Central Asia, were described in the late 19^th – first half of the 20^th century. The oldest of them are Limnaeus tener Küster, 1862, Limnaea auricularia var. persica Bourguignat in Issel, 1865 and Limnaea euphratica Mousson, 1874. The types of L. tener are lost, while the holotype of L. auricularia var. persica is extant (Sitnikova et al. 2012). L. tener and L. auricularia var. persica share the same shell shape; these are ear-shaped, with low spire and enlarged aperture (see Fig. 5A, B). Both species were described from Iran and their conchological similarity, as well as the overlap in geographical distribution, may indicate these forms are conspecific (or represent the intraspecific morphs of R. auricularia). Though the type series of R. euphratica is most probably lost, the shells of this species collected in Iraq (NHMUK) look like shells of snails from Tajikistan studied by us both genetically and morphologically (compare Fig. 3F, G and 3I). It allowed us to select the name Limnaea euphratica Mousson, 1874 for designation of this species, since the shell habitus of both L. tener and L. auricularia var. persica is different from that of snails from Iraq.

The absence of shell picture in the original description of L. euphratica (Mousson, 1874) may be compensated by the author’s remark that the shell shape of this species “approaches … some species of the eastern India [such as] L. succinea Desh.” (Mousson 1874: 40). Hubendick (1951) regarded L. succinea as a synonym of Lymnaea luteola, whose habitus indeed resembles that of L. euphratica, but looks rather different from shells of either L. tener or L. auricularia var. persica.

Based on the original descriptions and the study of specimens from available museum collections (ZISP, NHMUK, NMNH and NHMW), we consider the three taxa from the Middle East, described by Annandale and Prashad (1919), as junior synonyms of R. euphratica. These are Limnaea gedrosiana, L. gedrosiana var. rectilabrum and L. iranica (see Fig. 5D–H). These three species are conchologically very similar and their shell traits correspond well to R. euphratica from Iraq (see Fig. 3I). Specimens of Radix rectilabrum sensu Kruglov and Starobogatov 1993a from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan studied by us (Aksenova et al. 2018a) proved to be genetically indistinguishable from snails sampled in Iraq.

The taxonomic identity of Limnaea tenera and conchologically similar species (Limnaea persica, Limnaea cor Annandale et Prashad, 1919) needs a further research by means of an integrative taxonomic analysis of the topotypic specimens.

China, Tibet, a roadside ditch west of the Lhasa River mouth, Brahmaputra River basin.

ZISP (holotype, paratypes), RMBH (paratypes).

This species, endemic to Tibet, is fully described in our previous paper (Aksenova et al. 2018a), therefore, we give here only pictures of its shell and copulatory organ.

China, Chusan Island.

Probable syntypes are kept in NHMUK (see Taxonomic remark below).

The actual range of R. plicatula is not ascertained yet. In our molecular analysis, we studied samples of this species from Beijing, southern and western China that may indicate it is distributed throughout the country. The presence of R. plicatula in adjacent states (Laos, Vietnam) is also very probable, although, as far as we can judge, it is absent from India (Subba Rao 1989). The records of R. auricularia swinhoei (Adams) from Thailand (Brandt 1974) may refer to this species, but a special study is needed to check it.

The shell of R. plicatula is rather oblong, with relatively high spire and moderately inflated body whorl (see Fig. 3J–L). The copulative apparatus is typical for this genus (see Fig. 5D). In all individuals dissected in this study, the penis sheath was slightly longer than the praeputium (see Table 1), thus ICA < 1.0.

Radix plicatula is almost indistinguishable from R. euphratica by its shell habitus (compare Fig. 2F and 2L) and the copulatory organ structure, but molecular analyses have revealed that the two species are distinct and their ranges are almost non-overlapping (Aksenova et al. 2018a). We found the shells of this species, collected in the type locality, in NHMUK (accession No. 42.9.30.50.51.487). These possibly once belonged to Benson’s collection and may be considered the probable syntypes (see Fig. 3F). Their morphology is very similar to that in R. plicatula snails examined genetically by us. Having studied the type series of some nominal species of Radix described from China and South-East Asia (kept in NHMUK, NMNH and ZMB), we ascertained they are junior synonyms of R. plicatula (see Vinarski 2016a and synonymy above).

The East-Indies. “The original specimens are said to come from Bogor in Java” (Brandt 1974: 230).

Probably lost. We failed to find them in NMNH collection.

This species is endemic to Southeast Asia. Its findings supported by molecular evidence are known from a vast territory, i.e. Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia up to Lesser Sundas (Flores) and Mascarenes (Réunion) [Aksenova et al. 2018a]. Is has also been recorded from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (Brandt 1974). However, the identification of R. rubiginosa, based on shell only, may be misleading. As Brandt (1974: 230) stated, “this race has often been confused with L. luteola Lamarck”. Therefore, the actual range of R. rubiginosa is not satisfactorily outlined since many historical recordings of it were shell-based.

A high conical spire, almost straight tangential line and weakly-inflated body whorl are the most characteristic conchological traits of R. rubiginosa (see Fig. 6A–C) helping one to distinguish it from the rest of congeners inhabiting the south of Asia. The variation in the proportions of the copulatory organ of this species has not been studied. We dissected four specimens collected from different parts of the R. rubiginosa range (Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines). In all cases, the penis sheath was shorter than the praeputium (see Fig. 4F) and the ICA values varied between 1.02 and 1.59.

Figure 6. 

Shells of species of the subgenera Radix s. str. and Exsertiana. A. Radix rubiginosa (Malaysia, Kuala-Lumpur; LMBI); B. R. rubiginosa (1846, Indonesia, Java Island, “Batavia”; ZMUC); C. R. rubiginosa var. intumescens (Indonesia, Java Island, Surabaya; ZMB); D. R. natalensis (= Limnaea undussumae) (Congo, Undussuma; ZMB). E. R. natalensis (= Limnaea arabica Smith; the holotype; NHMUK); F. R. natalensis f. gravieri (10.03.1966, Ethiopia, lower Avash valley, swamp between Assaita and Dubte; NHMUK). G. R. rufescens (24.11.2016, Myanmar, Yetho River, near the dam; LMBI); H. R. rufescens var. patula (India, Ganges River; ZMB); I. R. rufescens var. chlamys (India, Moradabad; probably syntype; NHMUK). Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B, E, F), 5 mm (C, D, G, I).

R. rubiginosa has an extensive synonymy and a special study is required to clarify the taxonomic identity of numerous nominal species of Radix, described from Indonesia and adjacent countries. Some of these names, such as Radix quadrasi (Möllendorff, 1898) of Philippines, have been used in recent literature, but may well be synonyms of R. rubiginosa (see, for example, Stelbrink et al. 2019).

This subgenus contains two molecularly-defined species of Radix having an almost entirely tropical distribution – Radix natalensis (Krauss, 1848) and R. rufescens (Gray, 1822).

Bourguignat (1883: 88), in his lengthy article devoted to classification of continental molluscs of Abyssinia, established two new groups of species within the genus Limnaea – Exsertiana and Raffrayana. He did not give any diagnoses for the two taxa, only lists of species included there. In both cases, these species are currently recognised as junior synonyms of R. natalensis (fide Hubendick 1951; Brown 1994). We selected Exsertiana as a name for designation of a lymnaeid clade containing R. natalensis. Since Bourguignat (1883) did not indicate the type species for Exsertiana, we designate here Limnaeus natalensis var. exsertus Martens, 1866 as the type taxon for this subgenus. This species is usually regarded as identical to R. natalensis (Hubendick, 1951), though Mandahl-Barth (1954) accepted it as a valid species, closely related to the latter.

South Africa, Natal.

Probably lost. We failed to find them either in ZMB collection or in other institutions (NMNH, NHMUK) known to contain vast collections of African aquatic snails.

R. natalensis is widely distributed in the sub-Saharan Africa as well as in the Nile Basin of Northern Africa (van Damme 1984; Brown 1994; Lotfy and Lotfy 2015). It also occurs in Arabia (Neubert 1998) and Atlantic and Indian Ocean islands: Anjouan (Comores), Madagascar (Brown 1994; Stothard et al. 2000) and the Cabo Verde Islands (Aksenova et al. 2018a).

The shell of this species is (in its typical form) ovate-conical, with somewhat oblong and narrow spire and ovoid body whorl (see Fig. 6D, E). However, some varieties of R. natalensis possess an almost spheroid shell with very low spire (see Fig. 6F). The shell height is up to 23 mm (Lotfy and Lotfy 2015).

We studied anatomically a sample of R. natalensis collected from the crater lake Kyamwiga in Uganda and found that the soft body anatomy of this snail is generally the same as in the species of Radix discussed above. Praeputium is relatively narrow and oblong, darkly pigmented (grey), whereas the penis sheath is typically light coloured and much narrower and a little longer than the praeputium (see Fig. 4H); the ratio of their lengths is 0.96 ± 0.07 (see Table 1).

The intraspecific shell variation in R. natalensis is very prominent (see Fig. 6) that led some authors to split this species into several ones (Germain 1919; Mandahl-Barth 1954). Another outcome of this enormous variation is a plethora of nominal species and variety of names proposed to designate the African Radix snails. The synonymy given above represents a small part of this abundance of names (see Germain 1919 for a fuller list of these).

“The East Indies”.

Probably lost.

The range of this species covers the central part of the tropical Asia; it is known from India, Nepal and Myanmar, but absent from Thailand (Brandt 1974; Subba Rao 1989; Glöer and Bössneck 2013; Aksenova et al, 2018a).

The shell of R. rufescens is large, its height may approach 45 mm (see Table 1). Most probably, it is the largest member of the genus. Hubendick (1951: 56) described its shape in such words: “[shell is] extremely high and slender. Even the body whorl and the aperture are slender”. However, this description is fully applicable only to the typical morph of this species. There are varieties with inflated body whorl and not slender aperture (see Fig. 6I). This high variability allowed some authors to split several intraspecific morphs or even separate species within the R. rufescens s. lato (Troschel 1837; Annandale and Prashad 1919c; Subba Rao 1989).

Some shells of R. rufescens look almost indistinguishable from shells of certain varieties of R. natalensis (compare Fig. 5E and 5H). It is problematic to draw a sharp boundary between the two species on the basis of their conchological characters. R. natalensis and R. rubiginosa represent a pair of closely-related vicariant species isolated by the Middle East, where no representatives of Exsertiana occur. Similar to R. natalensis, the relative height of the spire is the most variable shell trait in R. rufescens.

The next three genera discussed (Ampullaceana, Peregriana and Kamtschaticana) represent the parts of the former subgenus Peregriana s. lato classified within the genus Lymnaea (Kruglov and Starobogatov 1993b; Kruglov 2005) or the genus Radix (Vinarski 2013; Vinarski and Kantor 2016). From the morphological point of view, these three genera cannot be distinguished on the basis of either shell or anatomical characters (Aksenova et al. 2018a) and they share the same Bauplan of the reproductive system. That is why previous authors considered them as the members of a single subgenus (Peregriana; see Kruglov and Starobogatov 1993b; Kruglov 2005) or even lumped them into a single polymorphic species, Lymnaea peregra s. lato (see Hubendick 1951).

Limnaeus ampullaceus Rossmäßler, 1835 = ? Ampullaceana balthica (Linnaeus, 1758). According to Kruglov and Starobogatov (1993b), L. ampullaceus is a valid species allied to A. balthica.

Germany, Bavaria, Rhein River near Reineck.

Figure 7. 

Shells of species of the genera Ampullaceana and Peregriana. A. Ampullaceana ampla (Austria, Wallersee Lake; NHMW). B. A. ampla (Germany, Neckarsteinach; NHMUK). C. A. balthica (14.12.1946, Denmark, Furesø Lake; ZMUC). D. A. balthica (Sweden, Stockholm; NMG). E. A. dipkunensis (Russia, Arkhangelsk Region, Nyandomka River; LMBI). F. A. dipkunensis, the holotype (07.07.1977, Russia, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Gornoye Lake; ZISP). G. Limneus fontinalis, the lectotype (after Forcart 1957). H. A. fontinalis (18.08.2017, Russia, Rostov Region, Veselovskoye Reservoir; LMBI). I. Limneus intermedius (France, Lyon; NHMW). J. A. lagotis (Russia, Leningrad Region, Lava River near Troitskoye; ZISP). K. A. lagotis (Austria, Bürgenland, Bodersdorf; NHMW). L. Peregriana dolgini (Russia, Republic of Buryatia, Kironskiy Spring; RMBH). M. P. peregra (France, from Draparnaud’s collection; NHMW). Scale bars: 2 mm (D–F, J, L, M), 5 mm (A–C, H, I, K). G – scale bar absent from the original publication.

Figure 8. 

Copulatory apparatuses of the species in the genera Ampullaceana, Peregriana, Kamtschaticana, Tibetoradix, Racesina, Orientogalba and Bullastra. A. Ampullaceana ampla (11.07.2017, Ukraine, Transcarpathian Region, Irshava River). B. A. balthica (Germany, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, lake Torgelower See). C. A. dipkunensis (15.09.2016, Ukraine, Transcarpathian Region, Tisa River). D. A. fontinalis (20.08.2017, Russia, Rostov Region, Severskiy Donets River). E. A. lagotis (29.06.2016, Tajikistan, a stream in the Panj River floodplain). F. Peregriana dolgini (13.07.2015, Russia, Tyumen’ Region, a floodplain of the Tol’ka oxbow). G. Peregriana peregra (01.07.2006, Russia, Omsk Region, vicinity of Chernoluchye settlement). H. Kamtschaticana kamtschatica (12.04.2014, Russia, Kamchatka Peninsula, Valley of Geysers). I. Tibetoradix hookeri (09-10.2012, China, Tibet, a brook, 250 km N of Lhasa). J. T. kozlovi (after Aksyonova et al. 2018a, modified). K. Racesina oxiana (04.07.2016, Tajikistan, a roadside ditch near Kurban-Shakhid village). L. R. siamensis (24.11.2016, Myanmar, a water reservoir on the Yetho River). M. Ampullaceana relicta relicta (2005, Ohrid Lake). N. Orientogalba ollula (08.07.2010, China, Shaanxi Province, a roadside ditch near Yandi village). O. Bullastra cumingiana (Philippines, Luzon Island, Lake Sampaloc). Scale bars: 1 mm. B – after Schniebs et al. (2011), modified.

Naturmuseum Saint-Gallen, Switzerland (designated in Vinarski and Glöer 2007).

A. ampla is distributed in Europe (except the northernmost and southernmost latitudes), Western Siberia and the southern part of Eastern Siberia (Glöer 2002, 2019; Vinarski and Glöer 2007; Andreeva et al. 2011; Welter-Schultes 2012). The shell of this species is relatively large, with low spire and very expanded aperture; conchologically, A. ampla can sometimes be confused with R. auricularia; however, the former species has straight or virtually absent columellar fold, which is not characteristic for R. auricularia. Shell height may reach 30–32 mm. The lengths of the praeputium and the penis sheath in this species are roughly equal (see Fig. 8A), with ICA close to 1.00. In a sample of A. ampla (n = 52), collected from several water-bodies of Russia, ICA was equal to 0.88 ± 0.13 (min – max = 0.51–1.21).

Sweden, the Baltic Sea shore (Linnaeus 1758). The locality of the neotype is “Sweden, Stockholm” (see Kruglov and Starobogatov 1983b for details).

ZISP (designated in Kruglov and Starobogatov 1983b).

This is one of the most common and widespread species of radicine snails in Europe (Aksenova et al. 2018a). A single representative of the radicine pond snails was found in Iceland (Bolotov et al. 2017). The species is common in various regions of the Northern Palearctic; distributed in Europe, Siberia and Central Asia (Andreeva et al. 2010; Schniebs et al. 2011; Vinarski et al. 2017). A. balthica is characterised by a rather wide variation, both in conchological and anatomical traits (summarised in Schniebs et al. 2011). The taxonomic identity of this species is based on the neotype (illustrated in Schniebs et al. 2011, fig. 8).

Russia, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Gornoye Lake in the floodplain of the Kureika River upstream of the mouth of the Dipkun River.

ZISP (see Sitnikova et al. 2014).

A species characterised by a broad shell with well-developed aperture, relatively-low spire and inflated body whorl. Its range covers European North of Russia and Eastern Europe (Aksenova et al. 2018a). Anistratenko et al. (2018) mentioned it (as Radix tumida) from the Western Ukraine. Specimens, morphogically identified as R. tumida, are known from the Urals, Western and Eastern Siberia (Gundrizer 1984; Kruglov 2005; Khokhutkin et al. 2009; Andreeva et al. 2010).

Conchologically, A. dipkunensis resembles A. ampla, but differs from the latter by a slightly higher spire and less inflated aperture. Besides, Kruglov (2005) reported some differences in the proportions of the copulatory organs of these two snails. As was stated above, the penis sheath in A. ampla is slightly longer than the praeputium, whereas, in A. dipkunensis, one may observe an opposite state. According to Kruglov (2005), the praeputium of R. tumida is around 1.7 times longer than the penis sheath. In a sample containing 103 specimens of this species, collected from four localities in Russia, the mean ICA value was 1.84 ± 0.22 (limits of variation: 1.37–2.44) [Vinarski, unpublished data].

Aksenova et al. (2018a) genetically studied some specimens of radicine snails identified as Lymnaea (Peregriana) tumida Held, 1836 sensu Kruglov and Starobogatov (1983b, 1993b) and showed that it is a valid species, distinct from A. ampla. However, to use this species name is hardly acceptable. This taxon is usually considered as an intraspecific morph of Radix auricularia living in large Alpine lakes (Geyer 1927; Glöer 2002). Examination of the topotypes (dried shells) of L. tumida, kept in different European museums (NHMW, NMG, ZMUC), allowed Aksenova et al. (2018a) to agree with this opinion. Therefore, the authors used the next oldest available name, Lymnaea dipkunensis Gundrizer et Starobogatov, 1979, to designate this clade. The identity of this taxon was revealed by means of the inspection of the type series (see also Sitnikova et al. 2014). The records of Lymnaea tumida sensu Kruglov and Starobogatov in the Lower Yenissei Basin (Gundrizer 1984), the type region of L. dipkunensis, give indirect evidence in favour of their identity. However, this taxonomic hypothesis is in need of future integrative research using the topotypes of L. dipkunensis.

Switzerland (Studer 1820).

Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde Bern, Switzerland (see Forcart 1957).

Shell ovate-conical, with prominent, but relatively-low spire and moderately-inflated body whorl. Praeputium and penis sheath light-coloured, their lengths are almost equal, though the praeputium is typically slightly longer (see Fig. 8D). The mean values of ICA slightly exceed 1.0 (Kruglov 2005; see also Table 2). According to genetic data, A. fontinalis is distributed in Europe, from Switzerland eastward to south of the European Russia, as well as in Turkey (Aksenova et al. 2018a). The previous recordings of this species from the Urals and Siberia (Kruglov and Starobogatov 1993b; Khokhutkin et al. 2009; Andreeva et al. 2010) require molecular confirmation.

This European species of radicine snails was not listed as valid by most authors (Hubendick 1951; Glöer 2002; Welter-Schultes 2012), except by the Russian malacologists (Kruglov and Starobogatov 1983b, 1993b; Khokhutkin et al. 2009; Andreeva et al. 2010). Aksenova et al. (2018a) have shown that specimens identified as Lymnaea (Peregriana) fontinalis sensu Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1993 form a species-rank clade, sister to A. lagotis. Shells of A. fontinalis sensu Kruglov and Starobogatov (1993b), studied by us, were similar to the lectotype shell illustrated by Forcart (1957) [see Fig. 7G, H]. The presence of A. fontinalis in Switzerland (where its type locality lies) has been confirmed molecularly (Aksenova et al. 2018). This species is morphologically similar to A. lagotis, but may be distinguished by a lower spire and more inflated body whorl.

France, Quercy Plateau.

Most probably lost (Mermod 1952).

Aksenova et al. (2018a) used the binomen Lymnaea intermedia Lamarck, 1822 to designate a radicine species, sister to A. balthica, which is widely distributed in France and Spain. Since the type specimen, mentioned by Lamarck (1822), is probably lost, we based our understanding of this taxon on examination of both historical samples of it (see, for example, specimen of L. intermedia collected in Lyon, France, in the first half of the 19^th century: Fig. 7I) and some old literary sources, dealing with lymnaeids of Western Europe (Michaud 1831; Küster 1862; Sowerby 1872; Kobelt 1912).

Conchologically, shells of A. intermedia resemble those of A. balthica, but can be distinguished from the latter by higher spire and less inflated body whorl. Modern European authors do not accept A. intermedia as a valid species (Glöer 2002; Welter-Schultes 2012), whereas malacologists of the former USSR still mention this taxon as a species closely allied to A. balthica (Kruglov and Starobogatov 1993b; Khokhutkin et al. 2009; Andreeva et al. 2010; Vinarski and Kantor 2016). The concept of this species proposed by Kruglov and Starobogatov (1983b, 1993b) coincides with that of old European authors (Michaud 1831; Küster 1862; Sowerby 1872). However, we still do not possess any sequence of A. intermedia from the countries lying east of France and the actual range of this species remains unknown. The Russian authors repeatedly recorded this species from different regions of Russia, including the Urals and Siberia (Kruglov and Starobogatov 1993b; Khokhutkin et al. 2009; Andreeva et al. 2010), but all these records were based solely on morphological data and need to be confirmed molecularly.

Germany, Bavaria, Danube River.

Lost (Vinarski and Kantor 2016).

This species is characterised conchologically by a relatively oblong shell, with high and narrow spire and moderately-inflated body whorl (see Fig. 7J, K). The structure of the copulatory apparatus in A. lagotis is typical for the genus. Praeputium is relatively long, its length is about 1.5 times larger than the length of the penis sheath (see Fig. 8E; Table 2). The range of A. lagotis covers, almost entirely, Europe, Siberia and some parts of Central Asia, including Tajikistan and western China (Glöer 2002, 2019; Andreeva et al. 2010; Welter-Schultes 2012; Vinarski and Kantor 2016). The molecularly-confirmed records of this species were reported from different countries of northern, central and southern Europe, as well as from Tajikistan and Siberia (Schniebs et al. 2015; Aksenova et al. 2018a).

Shell proportions of A. lagotis resemble those of A. intermedia; however, A. lagotis typically has a much narrower spire than the latter species (compare Fig. 7I and 7J, K).

This species is endemic to the large ancient lakes of the Balkans (Albrecht et al. 2008; Welter-Schultes 2012; Glöer 2019). A. relicta is phylogenetically close to A. ampla and, most probably, represents a local derivative of the latter originating as a consequence of its ancient invasion into large lakes. As Aksenova et al. (2018a) have shown, this species is polytypic and includes two subspecies, which are separately discussed below.

Lake Ohrid.

Whereabouts unknown.

This subspecies has been characterised both morphologically and genetically by Albrecht et al. (2008). We examined the copulatory apparatus of two specimens and found that its structure is typical for the genus. Both praeputium and penis sheath are light-coloured; praeuputium is substantially larger than the penis sheath (see Fig. 8M), the ratios between their lengths are 1.42 and 1.46, respectively.

A. r. relicta inhabits Ohrid Lake (Albania and Macedonia), as well the Drin system, at least upstream to the dam Globočičko, approximately 15 km N of the lake (Albrecht et al. 2008).

North Macedonia, Lake Prespa near village of Perovo.

Holotype – SMF; paratypes were placed in NHMW and in a series of private collections in Germany and Hungary (Schütt 1974); currently, specimens from these private collections are kept in the Hungarian Natural History Museum (Budapest) and in the Natural History Museum of Bern (Switzerland). We examined the paratypes kept in NHMW and in the Budapest museum (see Fig. 9B).

Figure 9. 

Shells of species of the genera Ampullaceana, Kamtschaticana, Myxas, Tibetoradix, Racesina, Orientogalba and Bullastra. A. Ampullaceana relicta relicta (05.1975, Macedonia, a spring near St. Naum monastery, Ohrid Lake region; NHMW). B. A. r. pinteri, a paratype (05.06.1973, Macedonia, Prespa Lake near Perovo; MHMW). C, D. Kamtschaticana kamtschatica (Russia, Kamchatka Peninsula, Valley of Geysers; RMBH). E. Myxas glutinosa (14.09.1963, Kazakhstan, floodplain of the Tobol River near Kustanay City; ZISP). F, G. Tibetoradix hookeri, two syntypes (NHMUK). H. T. kozlovi, the holotype (ZISP). I. Racesina luteola (India, Bengal, Paksay, Pabna; NHMUK). J. R. oxiana (04.07.2016, Tajikistan, a roadside ditch near Kurban-Shakhid village; LMBI). K. R. siamensis (“Thailand”; ZMB). L. Orientogalba viridis, a syntype (Guam Island; NMNH). M. O. ollula (1883, Japan, Yokohama; NHMUK). N. Limnaea bowelli, a type (after Preston 1909). O. Orientogalba cf. bowelli (30.06.1924, China, Tibet, Lingka, 14,500 feet a.s.l.; NHMUK). P. Bullastra cumingiana (Philippine, Cebu Island; NHMUK). Scale bars: 2 mm (C, D, F–H, L, M, O), 5 mm (A, B, E, J–K, N, P).

This subspecies has been characterised both morphologically and genetically in a series of papers (Schütt 1974; Albrecht et al. 2008; Welter-Schultes 2012). Most authors regard this taxon as a separate species. For example, Albrecht et al. (2008) considered A. r. relicta and A. r. pinteri as two sister species from two ‘sister’ lakes, Ohrid and Prespa (but see Aksenova et al. 2018a). According to the anatomical data presented in Albrecht et al. (2008), the morphology of the copulatory apparatus in A. r. pinteri is virtually identical with that of the nominative subspecies.

A. r. pinteri is endemic to Prespa Lake (Albania, Greece and Macedonia).

Buccinum peregrum O.F. Müller, 1774.

Denmark, Copenhagen, Frederiksberg Park, in swamps (Vinarski and Kantor 2016).

Lost (Nekhaev et al. 2015).

For morphological and molecular characterisation of this species, see Schniebs et al. (2013) and Vinarski et al. (2016). P. peregra inhabits Europe (except of the northern part), the Urals and the southwest part of Western Siberia (Glöer 2002, 2019; Khokhutkin et al. 2009; Andreeva et al. 2010; Schniebs et al. 2013; Vinarski et al. 2016). In many recent publications, this species has been referred to as Radix labiata (Rossmässler, 1835).

Falkner et al. (2002) argued that the lymnaeid species, which had been commonly named Radix (or Lymnaea) peregra by the European authors, does not occur in Denmark, the type country of Müller’s Buccinum peregrum. These authors treated B. peregrum as a junior synonym of Helix balthica Linnaeus, 1758 and proposed the name Radix labiata for designation of R. peregra auct. Such authors as Glöer (2002, 2019) and Welter-Schultes (2012) followed it, but Vinarski (2017) doubted this decision. According to him, Falkner et al. (2002) did not present the total evidence for the absence of R. peregra auct. from Denmark and their assumption still needs strong confirmation. The type specimens of Limnaeus pereger var. labiatus (kept in NHMW) were considered by Vinarski (2017) as juvenile individuals of R. balthica. Therefore, it was unnecessary to replace a well-established taxonomic name R. peregra with a long-forgotten one, R. labiata.

Russia, Krasnoyarsk Territory, a lake in the floodplain of the Kureika River, 20 km upstream of its mouth.

ZISP (see Sitnikova et al. 2014).

Vinarski et al. (2016) presented a full morphological and molecular account for this species, as well as the data on its range and a comparison with conchologically similar radicine taxa. P. dolgini is a species sister to P. peregra and, probably, represents its vicariant taxon in Northern Asia (Siberia). The molecularly-confirmed recordings of P. dolgini are also known from the north-eastern part of Europe – the Pechora River basin (Aksenova et al. 2018b).

Limnaeus kamtschaticus Middendorff, 1850.

This taxon was introduced as a ‘section’ of the subgenus Peregriana (Kruglov and Starobogatov 1984). Aksenova et al. (2018a) elevated it to the genus level.

Russia, Kamchatka Peninsula, Kamchatka River (Kruglov and Starobogatov [1984] suggest that the type specimens were collected from the floodplain of the river).

ZISP (see Kruglov and Starobogatov 1984 for details).

Aksenova et al. (2016) presented a detailed description of morphology of this snail, accompanied by a molecular analysis of its phylogenetic and taxonomic affinities. Conchologically and anatomically, K. kamtschatica is very similar to other members of the genera Ampullaceana and Peregriana and it is virtually impossible to propose a differential diagnosis for this genus. K. kamtschatica is widely distributed throughout north-eastern Asia, including Kamchatka and Chukotka peninsulas, Transbaikalia and the Amur River basin (Kruglov and Starobogatov 1993b; Aksenova et al. 2016). Possibly, this snail is endemic to Asiatic Russia, though we cannot exclude that it also inhabits Alaska. In Kamchatka, it forms stable populations in the geothermal sites (e.g. the Valley of Geysers) and may live in warm water up to +39.9 °C (Aksenova et al. 2016).

Lymnaea hookeri Reeve, 1850.

Von Oheimb et al. (2011) have shown that the Tibetan Plateau is a hotspot of lymnaeid diversity in High Asia, with several species-level clades of the genus Radix s. lato restricted to this region. Aksenova et al. (2018a) established a new radicine genus, Tibetoradix, to contain six species endemic to Tibet, four of which remain undescribed.

“Thibetan or north side of Sikkim Himalaya, at 18,000 feet elevation” [Reeve, 1850: 49].

NHMUK (examined by us). A syntype shell was illustrated by Hubendick (1951) and Aksenova et al. (2018a).

Shell medium-sized (the largest of the two syntypes is 16.9 mm high), with high spire and moderately-inflated body whorl. The shell proportions of T. hookeri resemble those of A. lagotis. The copulatory apparatus is typical for radicines: broad and relatively compact praeputium and very thin and narrow penis sheath (see Fig. 8I); the ratio of their lengths ranges from 1.25–1.50.

T. hookeri is endemic to China. It occurs in Tibet, known from the upstream section of the Lhasa River and a single additional locality (Brahmaputra River basin), altitude range: 4,540–4,980 m. (Aksenova et al. 2018a).

Kruglov and Starobogatov (1993b) classified this species as belonging to the (sub)genus Orientogalba Kruglov et Starobogatov, 1985 and treated it as a senior synonym of Lymnaea heptapotamica Lazareva, 1967, described from southern Kazakhstan. The examination of the syntypes of L. hookeri has shown that L. heptapotamica should not be synonymised with the former species and may well represent a separate taxon, not related to the genus Tibetoradix.

China, Central Tibet, the floodplain of the Requ Qu River, Yellow River basin, 33°35'20.7"N, 103°05'30.2"E, alt. 3,470 m.

ZISP (holotype, paratypes), RMBH (paratypes).

This snail, endemic to Tibet, is fully described in our previous paper (Aksenova et al. 2018a), therefore, we give here only pictures of its shell and copulatory organ.

Buccinum glutinosum O.F. Müller, 1774.

Not stated in the original description. Most probably, the type locality should be quoted as Fridrichsdal, a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark (see Nekhaev et al. 2015 for details).

Lost (Nekhaev et al. 2015).

The taxonomic position and identity of this morphologically-peculiar species have not raised many doubts and most authors treated it more or less identically (Hubendick 1951; Glöer 2002; Welter-Schultes 2012; but see Kruglov and Starobogatov 1993b). The results of our study well correspond to the commonly-accepted concept of M. glutinosa. Shell of this species is very fragile, semi-pellucid and, in a living animal, it is completely covered by the reflected mantle. Shell shape is almost globose, with greatly expanded aperture and very diminished spire (in some specimens, it is almost invisible).

The structure of the copulatory apparatus of M. glutinosa, as is described by various authors (Hubendick 1951; Kruglov and Starobogatov 1985b; Jackiewicz 1998), is virtually indistinguishable from that of the genera Ampullaceana and Peregriana. However, the length of the spermathecal duct is different (long in Myxas, very short or almost absent in Ampullaceana and Peregriana).

The range of M. glutinosa covers Europe (except of the southern and northern parts), the Urals, Western and Central Siberia (Khokhutkin et al. 2009; Welter-Schultes 2012; Vinarski et al. 2013).

Lymnaea luteola Lamarck, 1822.

Three species included into Racesina by Vinarski and Bolotov (2018), were previously treated as members of the (sub-) genus Cerasina Kobelt, 1881 (Subba Rao 1989; Kruglov 2005; Aksenova et al. 2018a). As Vinarski and Bolotov (2018) have shown, the genus Cerasina sensu Kobelt is a junior synonym of Radix and a new generic name was proposed by these authors for Cerasina sensu auct. non Kobelt. The type species of the genus inhabits India and some adjacent countries. Despite some serious morphological peculiarities of Cerasina sensu Kruglov and Starobogatov (1993b), the validity of this taxon was rejected by most authors dealing with the South Asian malacofauna (Annandale and Rao 1925; Hubendick 1951; Brandt 1974; Subba Rao 1989). Vinarski (2013; Vinarski and Kantor 2016) classified Cerasina as a separate genus within his subfamily Radicinae (see also Zhadin 1952). The results of the Aksenova et al. (2018a) molecular taxonomic study confirmed this opinion. The prostate with numerous (5–8) internal folds (Hubendick 1951; Kruglov 2005) and a single synapomorphy to sharply distinguish Racesina from all other genera of radicine snails are discussed in this paper.

India, Bengalia.

Not traced, probably in Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Genève, Switzerland.

A highly-variable species, with several intraspecific ‘morphs’ differing from each other by their shell shape and proportions (Annandale and Rao 1925; Subba Rao 1989). The typical morph (see Fig. 9I) has ovate shell with more or less prominent and wide spire and weakly-inflated body whorl. Aperture is moderately expanded. Shell surface is smooth and glossy. We had no fixed specimens of R. luteola for dissection; however, according to Hubendick (1951) and Kruglov (2005), the genital morphology of this species generally corresponds to that of the genus Radix, except for the drastically different internal structure of the prostate. Penis sheath is very narrow as compared to thick and oblong praeputium, ICA > 1.00 (Hubendick 1951).

R. luteola inhabits India and Nepal (Aksenova et al. 2018a). The recordings of this species from other countries such as China (south), Sri Lanka and the Andamanes (Brandt 1974; Subba Rao 1989) need a molecular re-evaluation. The findings of “Lymnaea luteola” in Thailand and Myanmar (Brandt 1974) belong most probably to R. siamensis (Sowerby).

Turkmenistan, middle Amu-Darya River, ‘Tschardschui’ (nowadays Türkmenabat).

Not traced.

As compared to R. luteola, this snail is characterised by a higher spire and ovate-conical shape of shell. In all other respects, it is conchologically very similar to the type species of the genus. The copulatory apparatus of R. oxiana specimens from Tajikistan, dissected by us, was virtually identical with that of R. luteola from India studied and illustrated by Hubendick (1951). Penis sheath is very narrow, its length is almost equal to length of praeputium or slightly less (see Fig. 8K).

This species of Racesina is distributed in Central Asia (within the ex-USSR boundaries) and Nepal (Aksenova et al. 2018a). The oldest available name, based on a type locality situated within this area, is Limnaeus impurus var. oxiana Boettger, 1889. Though Kruglov and Starobogatov (1993b) treated this taxon as identical with Lymnaea impura, the type locality of the latter species is in India, where R. oxiana does not occur. L. impura is, most probably, a junior synonym of R. luteola (Hubendick 1951; Brandt 1974).

“Siam” (= Thailand).

Not traced.

Aksenova et al. (2018a) used this name as the oldest one applicable to a species of Racesina which is distributed in Myanmar and Thailand. Though Brandt (1974) considered L. siamensis as a junior synonym of Radix rubiginosa, our data show it is untenable. Despite the substantial genetic distance separating Racesina siamensis and R. luteola, we were not able to find prominent morphological differences between them, either in conchological or in anatomical characters. It allows us to treat R. siamensis as a ‘cryptic’ taxon. Note, however, that we had only a limited number of specimens from Myanmar and some stable morphological differences between the two species will probably be found in future after a thorough study of their intraspecific variation. There is a strong need for a detailed study of genetic diversity and phylogeography of the Racesina luteola species complex.

In a sample of eleven individuals of R. siamensis from Myanmar, dissected by us, five snails had under-developed copulatory apparatuses or lacked them altogether. No signs of a heavy parasite load were seen, thus the hypothesis of the parasitic castration may be rejected. Such a state (aphally) has been registered in different families of freshwater pulmonates, including Physidae, Planorbidae and Lymnaeidae (see Vinarski and Palatov 2018 and references therein). For the radicines, aphally was reported by Arutyunova (1977). Aphally in aquatic pulmonates is often viewed as an indirect sign of obligate self-fertilisation (autogamy), which may facilitate their introduction into new habitats and rapid establishment of new populations (Beriozkina and Starobogatov 1991; Jarne et al. 1993). Due to a limited sample size, it is unclear whether our finding indicates that R. siamensis is a species prone to self-fertilisation. However, it is a remarkable fact that the aphally was not found during this research in the rest of the radicine species studied anatomically.

Lymnaea heptapotamica Lazareva, 1967.

Kruglov and Starobogatov (1985a) established their subgenus Lymnaea (Orientogalba) to embrace five nominal lymnaeid species distributed in a vast Pacific Region, stretching from north-eastern Asia to the Guam and Hawaii. Though, conchologically, these snails resemble representatives of the genus Galba, their genital morphology is typical for the radicines (Kruglov 2005). The molecular analysis conducted by Aksenova et al. (2018a) has shown that there are at least three biological species within Orientogalba, which are presumably allopatric: O. viridis (Indonesia and Pacific Islands), O. ollula (Far East and, probably, some regions of Central Asia) and O. cf. bowelli (known from Sichuan, China and, probably, also inhabiting Tibet). The actual range of these species remains unknown since only a limited set of sequences has been available. The true species content of Orientogalba is unknown as well, because some nominal species of this genus, such as Orientogalba heptapotamica (Lazareva) and O. lenaensis (Kruglov et Starobogatov, 1985) have not been studied molecularly. The true taxonomic position of “Austropeplea viridis”, recently recorded from Spain as an alien species (Schniebs et al. 2017), must also be clarified.

In our opinion, the genus Orientogalba is not a junior synonym of the genus Austropeplea Cotton, 1942, as was suggested by some authors (Ponder and Waterhouse 1997; Schniebs et al. 2017).

The Pacific, Marian Archipelago, Guam Island.

MNHN (examined by us).

Our concept of this species is based on the type series of O. viridis (see Fig. 9L). Shell is almost globose, with relatively wide and short spire and heavily-inflated body whorl. Aksenova et al. (2018a) recorded O. viridis from Indonesia. Numerous recordings of this species from other areas, including China, Mongolia, Thailand, Siberia, Spain and some others (Hubendick 1951; Brandt 1974; Kruglov and Starobogatov 1985a, 1993b; Schniebs et al. 2017; Vinarski et al. 2017), were based chiefly on morphological evidence and, therefore, the actual range of O. viridis sensu Aksenova et al. (2018a) is unclear.

China, streams and marshes of Hong Kong Island.

National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, USA (Johnson 1964).

Though the type material of L. ollula Gould is extant, we were unable to study it. Instead, we examined a small series of shells of this species collected in Yokohama, Japan (NHMUK). Shell is ovoid, with shortened spire and strongly-inflated body whorls. Generally, it much resembles the shell of O. viridis and we could not delimit these two taxa by means of conchology. Like most species of radicines discussed above, O. ollula is characterised by the disproportion in sizes between the penis sheath and praeputium, the latter being much larger and broader (see Fig. 8M).

This species, described from eastern China, has usually been considered as a junior synonym of O. viridis (Hubendick 1951; Brandt 1974); however, Kruglov and Starobogatov (1993b) regarded it as a separate taxon. The results of our study allowed us to accept their opinion and use the name O. ollula to label a species of Orientogalba, widely distributed in China (found also in South Korea and Nepal). Perhaps, all recordings of “Lymnaea viridis” from Siberia, Russian Far East and Mongolia (Kruglov and Starobogatov 1985a, 1993b; Vinarski and Kantor 2016; Vinarski et al. 2017) should also be referred to as O. ollula.

Tibet, “Te-ring Gompa, in a small hill stream arising from a spring, 14,000 feet; also from Mangtsa, 14,500 feet; High Hill, Gompa, Gyantse valley in a small hill stream, among moss and stones, 14,500 feet; and Gyantse, 13,120 feet”.

Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata (fide Subba Rao 1989).

Tibet, Sichuan Province (Subba Rao 1989; Aksenova et al. 2018a) and possibly lives in other parts of the High Asia (Kruglov and Starobogatov 1985a; Kruglov 2005). Conchologically, it represents a typical Orientogalba and the traits allowing one to distinguish it surely from the two above-mentioned species of this genus are unknown. A special study of intraspecific variation in O. cf. bowelli and allied species is needed to delineate them on the basis of morphological data. The data on anatomy of O. cf. bowelli are scarce. Though Kruglov (2005) gave a rather detailed description of its genital morphology, the picture provided by this author (Kruglov 2005: fig. 90) illustrates an animal belonging to the genus Galba, not Orientogalba.

The application of the binomen Limnaea bowelli Preston is difficult. Recent authors tend to consider it as a member of the (sub)genus Galba, whose distribution is restricted to High Asia (Subba Rao 1989; Kruglov 2005; Vinarski and Kantor 2016). On the other hand, Hubendick (1951) hypothesised that Limnaea bowelli is identical with Radix auricularia, whereas Brandt (1974) synonymised L. bowelli with L. viridis. The type series was unavailable for Aksenova et al. (2018a) and the authors conditionally attached the Preston’s taxon name to a species of Orientogalba found in Sichuan Province of China. Having examined several small samples of this species kept in NHMUK and NHMN, we found that these shells may belong to Orientogalba; some of them are very similar to shells of O. viridis, whereas others were more or less like Preston’s original drawing (see Fig. 9N, O).