These 4 specimens were found in the southern littoral region or Paraná state, in southern Brazil. They were collected on the banks of a channeled river that runs through the city, close to its estuary.
It is very likely a exotic species, but we have yet to nail down its identity. Could anyone offer a hand?
It's a species of Paludina, just a little biq than European Paludina and with an high coil.
I doubt that it's a Viviparus (Paludina is an objective synonym of Viviparus and invalid). The regular increase in whorl height, their strongly rounded profile and the inflation of the last whorl are quite untypical for Viviparus s.s.
Rodrigo, believe it or not, but your shells agree very well with Benedictia fragilis W. Dybowski 1875, in Lithoglyphidae: Benedictiinae. This is an endemic group in Lake Baikal, and the only hydrobioid (to my knowledge) which is up to 52 mm long. To confirm or reject this interpretation, you really need some animals. I am of course aware how improbable such identification appears to be, so I really would like to see the determination on firmer ground! In any case, a very interesting find, which does not fit in Viviparidae, as Thomas already noted.
Sorry, I am too much into non-marine mollusks. Recluzia shells look indeed surprisingly similar to Benedictia (see attached), but, of course the presence of Benedictia in Brazil looked always rather improbable. References:
Abbott, R. T. (1974): American seashells. The marine Mollusca of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, 2nd ed. 663 pp. + 24 pls. Toronto, London, Melbourne (Van Nostrand Reinhold).
Wenz, W. (1938-1944a): Gastropoda. I. Allgemeiner Teil und Streptoneura.- In: (Schindewolf, O.): Handbuch der Paläozoologie, 6 (1): Livr. 1: 1-240, fig. 1-471 [III. 1938] ; livr. 2: 241-480, fig. 472-1235 [X. 1938] livr. 3: 381-720 [1939]; livr. 4: 721-960 [1940]; livr. 5: 961-1200 [1941] livr. 6: 1201-1506 [1943] livr. 7: 1507-1639 [1944]. Berlin.
Dear Junn Kitt Foon,
Thank you very much for solving this mystery. Unfortunately, there is not much more information regarding the locality (how far from the sea) and the precise date of collection. But you identification seems to be right on target and it is not unlikely for them to being brought by a storm.
And thanks to everyone else for the comments too. Likewise, I'm too much into freshwater/terrestrial snails and did not even occur to me that it could be something else. :)
Very nice! Barry Roth has posted an amusing reverse case (land snail misinterpreted as a marine mollusk): B. Roth. 1997. "Aclis" californica Bartsch, 1927: A land snail misinterpreted (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Subulinidae). Veliger 40:364-366.
Since we have seen Recluzia rolandiana Petit de la Saussaye, 1853 on the beach in NE Florida, USA (Lee, 2009: 98; sp.469), I once looked up some of the more obscure named congeners. Here are some of my notes:
Petit de la Saussaye, S., 1853. Description d'un genre nouveau, G. Recluzia appartenant à la famille des Janthinidées. Journal de Conchyliologie 4: 116-120. :
R. jehennei Petit de la Saussaye, 1853: 118. Arabian Gulf. pl. 5, fig. 3.
R. rollandiana Petit de la Saussaye, 1853: 119. Mazatlan, (Pacific) Mexico. pl. 5, fig. 12.
Lymnaea palmeri (Dall, 1871: 135 ; not figured) Taqui River, near Guaymas, (Pacific) Mexico.
Dall, W.H.,1871. Descriptions of sixty new forms of mollusks from the west coast of North America and the north Pacific Ocean, with notes on others already described. American Journal of Conchology 7: 93-160, pls. 13-16. 2 Nov. .
I have attached some images (New South Wales, Australia; Texas, USA, and iconotypes of the Petit taxa). All of this tends to support Junn Kitt Foon's characterizarion of the taxonomy of the genus.
Lee, H.G., 2009. Marine Shells of Northeast Florida. Jacksonville Shell Club, Inc. 204 pp. + 19 color plates. 28 May.
Harry G. Lee
Jacksonville, FL, USA
Dear Harry, that's really helpful. Thank you very much for sharing this info. :)
Dear Rodrigo,
I agree with Harry, your specimen should be Recluzia rolandii.
Best regards,
Hakima
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