Trichia oreinos
Encyclopedia
Trochulus oreinos is a species
of small, air-breathing land snail
, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Hygromiidae
, the hairy snails and their allies. This species is endemic to Austria.
This snail has a hairy shell and it was once confused with Trochulus hispidus, which it superficially resembles. There are two subspecies within this species. This snail prefers to live in open areas, unlike most other species in the genus which prefer damp and shade.
and Styria and T. o. scheerpeltzi (Mikula, 1954) in Upper Austria
.
Both taxa were originally described as regional subspecies of Trochulus hispidus. Later these two subspecies were split from Trochulus hispidus and placed in a separate species because of differences in hair morphology
.
Current comprehensive research, based on molecular, morphological and ecological analyses, confirm this split from T. hispidus. Additionally it was pointed out that both subspecies represent separated mitochondrial lines, although there do exist morphologically intermediate forms.
The shell is flat to slightly globular, and the shell width is 5.4 millimetre. Other marks are irregular, coarse ridges on the shell and an internal rib with a basal tooth in the peristome
, visible as yellow structure from the outside.
The subspecies T. o. scheerpeltzi is characterized by a groove beneath the keel, but there are intermediate forms between the two subspecies with an incomplete or weakly developed groove.
The gross anatomy of the reproductive system is similar to that of T. hispidus.
s and alpine grassland, especially alpine meadows with patchy vegetation coverage, dominated by the sedge
species Carex firma
, in the Northern Calcareous Alps. Its vertical distribution reaches from the lower subalpine regions to the alpine ecotone
, i.e. elevations of 1400–2300 m (4,593.2–7,545.9 ). The habitat preferences of this species are in contrast to those of the majority of other representatives of the genus Trochulus, which prefer damp and shady habitat
s. The distribution range reaches from Schneeberg
mountain in Lower Austria
to Höllengebirge in Upper Austria
. Like the helicid snail Cylindrus obtusus
, this species is suspected to be an ancient native East-alpine endemic, which survived the glacial times on ice-free parts of the north-eastern alpine margins.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of small, air-breathing land snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Hygromiidae
Hygromiidae
Hygromiidae is a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea.-Anatomy:...
, the hairy snails and their allies. This species is endemic to Austria.
This snail has a hairy shell and it was once confused with Trochulus hispidus, which it superficially resembles. There are two subspecies within this species. This snail prefers to live in open areas, unlike most other species in the genus which prefer damp and shade.
Taxonomy
Trochulus oreinos comprises two subspecies: T. o. oreinos (Wagner, 1915) in Lower AustriaLower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
and Styria and T. o. scheerpeltzi (Mikula, 1954) in Upper Austria
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
.
Both taxa were originally described as regional subspecies of Trochulus hispidus. Later these two subspecies were split from Trochulus hispidus and placed in a separate species because of differences in hair morphology
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
.
Current comprehensive research, based on molecular, morphological and ecological analyses, confirm this split from T. hispidus. Additionally it was pointed out that both subspecies represent separated mitochondrial lines, although there do exist morphologically intermediate forms.
Description
Trochulus oreinos can be separated from other representatives of the same genus by its small, curled hairs, which have a length of 0.03–0.09 mm. Like the other representatives of this genus, older individuals and empty shells have often lost the hairs on the shell.The shell is flat to slightly globular, and the shell width is 5.4 millimetre. Other marks are irregular, coarse ridges on the shell and an internal rib with a basal tooth in the peristome
Peristome
The word peristome is derived from the Greek peri, meaning 'around' or 'about', and stoma, 'mouth'. It is a term used to describe various anatomical features that surround an opening to an organ or structure. The term is used in plants and invertebrate animals, such as in describing the shells of...
, visible as yellow structure from the outside.
The subspecies T. o. scheerpeltzi is characterized by a groove beneath the keel, but there are intermediate forms between the two subspecies with an incomplete or weakly developed groove.
The gross anatomy of the reproductive system is similar to that of T. hispidus.
Habitat and distribution
Trochulus oreinos does not live in forests, but instead inhabits primarily boulders, screeScree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
s and alpine grassland, especially alpine meadows with patchy vegetation coverage, dominated by the sedge
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae are a family of monocotyledonous graminoid flowering plants known as sedges, which superficially resemble grasses or rushes. The family is large, with some 5,500 species described in about 109 genera. These species are widely distributed, with the centers of diversity for the group...
species Carex firma
Carex firma
Carex firma is a species of sedge that grows in the mountains of southern and central Europe.-Description:Carex firma forms thick cushions. Its leaves are up to long in normal conditions , dark green and stiff...
, in the Northern Calcareous Alps. Its vertical distribution reaches from the lower subalpine regions to the alpine ecotone
Ecotone
An ecotone is a transition area between two biomes but different patches of the landscape, such as forest and grassland. It may be narrow or wide, and it may be local or regional...
, i.e. elevations of 1400–2300 m (4,593.2–7,545.9 ). The habitat preferences of this species are in contrast to those of the majority of other representatives of the genus Trochulus, which prefer damp and shady habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s. The distribution range reaches from Schneeberg
Schneeberg (Alps)
The Schneeberg, with its 2076 m-high summit Klosterwappen, is the highest mountain of Lower Austria, and the easternmost 2000 m-high mountain in the Alps. It is a distinctive limestone massif with steep slopes on three sides....
mountain in Lower Austria
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
to Höllengebirge in Upper Austria
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
. Like the helicid snail Cylindrus obtusus
Cylindrus obtusus
Cylindrus obtusus is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae, the typical snails....
, this species is suspected to be an ancient native East-alpine endemic, which survived the glacial times on ice-free parts of the north-eastern alpine margins.
External links
- Trochulus oreinos at AnimalBase