The anatomy of five poorly known endemic species of paludomids — Bathanalia straeleni, Chytra kirkii, Limnotrochus thomsoni, Mysorelloides multisulcata, Paramelania iridescens — from Lake Tanganyika is described. This assemblage, currently united in the Tiphobiini, is loosely characterized by a more or less trochiform shell shape and a mostly oviparous life mode. However, only scant information on the anatomy is available in the literature. Despite significant conchological variability, anatomical investigations reveal overriding similarity in features of the alimentary system (radula, midgut), kidney, and reproductive anatomy. Bathanalia and Mysorelloides are found to share features of the ovipositor, esophagus and spermatophore bursa; Chytra and Limnotrochus share features of the salivary glands and spermatophore bursa. Paramelania remains a clear outlier in shell morphology, but shares several likely plesiomorphic features of the operculum, midgut and nervous system with Tiphobia. Unlike other morphologically distinct clades of Lake Tanganyika paludomids, no unique anatomical character was found that unambiguously unites the Tiphobiini.
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1 January 2010
Anatomy of the Tiphobiini from Lake Tanganyika (Cerithioidea, Paludomidae)
Ellen E. Strong,
Matthias Glaubrecht
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Malacologia
Vol. 52 • No. 1
January 2010
Vol. 52 • No. 1
January 2010
alimentary system
freshwater
morphology
nervous system
reno-pericardial system
reproductive system
shell