Liguus

Taxobox
name = "Liguus"


image_width =
image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Pulmonata
familia = Orthalicidae
genus = "Liguus"
genus_authority = Montfort, 1810
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
"see text"

"Liguus" is a genus of large land snails, or, more properly, "tree" snails. They are especially notable for their large size, and for their often brightly colored shells, sometimes with complex patterns. Because of their visual appeal, the shells have been the target of heavy collection pressure — a serious issue since some varieties are very scarce, and some are believed to have become extinct within the last century.Power, Emilio Jorge. "Liguus" Home Page. A Conchological informational page for South Florida and Caribbean "Liguus" tree snail geographic distribution, ecology and taxonomy. http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Gold/9440/liguus/lighompa.html] Pilsbry, H. A., 1912. A study of the variation and zoogeography of "Liguus" in Florida. J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 15 (2nd ser.): 429-471.] Pilsbry, H. A., 1946. Land mollusca of North America north of Mexico vol. II part 1. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. pp. 1-520.] Clench, W. J., 1946. A catalogue of the genus "Liguus" with a description of a new subgenus. Occ. Pap. Molluscs, Museum Comp. Zool., vol. 1(10): 117-128.] Jaume, M. L., 1952. Catalogo de los moluscos del genero "Liguus". Circ. Museo Biblioteca Malacologia Habana, Mar: 515-527.] Jaume, M. L., 1954. Catalogo del genero "Liguus" en Cuba (Molusca:Gasteropoda). Circ. Museo Biblioteca Zoologia Habana, Nov-Dec: 1423-1450.] [Voss, R. S., 1976. Observations on the ecology of the Florida tree snail, "Liguus fasciatus" (Muller). The Nautilus 90(2): 65-69.] [Hillis, D. M., M. T. Dixon and A. L. Jones, 1991. Minimal genetic variation in a morphologically diverse species (Florida tree snail, "Liguus fasciatus"). J. Heredity: 82(4): 282-286.]

Range of distribution

The genus "Liguus" is restricted to some of the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola) and to Florida. Four of the species, "Liguus virgineus" (Hispaniola), "L. blainianus" (Habana and Pinar del Río Provinces, Cuba), "L. flammellus" (Pinar del Río Province, Cuba), and "L. vittatus" (Oriente Province, Cuba [since 1976, divided into five new provinces] ), have localized ranges, while the numerous subspecies of "Liguus fasciatus" are more widely distributed, in both Cuba and southern Florida.

Habitat

These snails are found on trees of many species, usually ones with smooth bark: false-tamarind ("Lysiloma latisiliquum"), gumbo-limbo ("Bursera simaruba"), pigeonplum ("Coccoloba diversifolia"), black-ironwood ("Krugiodendron ferreum"), mastic ("Mastichodendron foetidissimum"), poisonwood ("Metopium toxiferum"), and Jamaica dogwood ("Piscidia piscipula"), among others. In most cases, tropical forests suitable for "Liguus" have at least some surficial limestone, and limestone outcroppings are often present. [Pilsbry, H. A., 1946. Land mollusca of North America north of Mexico vol. II part 1. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. p. 38.]

Characteristics of the genus

"Liguus" shares the distinguishing characteristics of other bulimulid gastropods in the subfamily Orthalicinae: large size (about 40 mm (1.6 inches) in length), imperforate umbilicus, a jaw consisting of a limited number of broad plates, and the presence of a penial gland. [Pilsbry, H. A., 1946. Land mollusca of North America north of Mexico vol. II part 1. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. p. 29.] The shells of "Liguus" are more slender than those of "Orthalicus", the only other orthalicine genus with which it is likely to be confused. The shape of "Liguus" shells is characterized by Pilsbry as "oblong-conic", versus "ovate-conic" for "Orthalicus".

Taxonomy and species

Five species are now usually recognized in the genus "Liguus":
* "Liguus virgineus" (Linnaeus, 1758) [the type species of the genus]
* "Liguus blainianus" (Poey, 1851)
* "Liguus fasciatus" (Müller, 1774)
* "Liguus flammellus" Clench, 1934
* "Liguus vittatus" (Swainson, 1822)

Many more species have been recognized in the past, but these have largely been synonomized or placed as lesser level taxa under one or another of these five named species.

References