Freshwater Slugs in the Caribbean: Rediscovery of Tantulidae (Acochlidimorpha, Panpulmonata) with the Description of <i>Potamohedyle espinosai</i> n. gen. n. sp. from Cuba
Freshwater slugs are scarce and belong exclusively to panpulmonate Acochlidimorpha. There is a radiation of eight species of large-sized slugs living benthically in rivers on tropical Indo-Pacific Islands. In the Western Atlantic, only one small interstitial slug, <i>Tantulum elegans</i>...
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2024-09-01
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| Series: | Hydrobiology |
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| author | Timea P. Neusser Anabel Onay Mona Pirchtner Katharina M. Jörger Yander L. Diez |
| author_facet | Timea P. Neusser Anabel Onay Mona Pirchtner Katharina M. Jörger Yander L. Diez |
| author_sort | Timea P. Neusser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Freshwater slugs are scarce and belong exclusively to panpulmonate Acochlidimorpha. There is a radiation of eight species of large-sized slugs living benthically in rivers on tropical Indo-Pacific Islands. In the Western Atlantic, only one small interstitial slug, <i>Tantulum elegans</i> Rankin, 1979, is known from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. We recently discovered a novel species of freshwater slugs in Cuba. Here, we describe <i>Potamohedyle espinosai</i> n. gen. n. sp., which is the first freshwater slug in the region of the Western Atlantic with a benthic lifestyle, in 3D-microanatomical and histological detail using light and scanning electron microscopy. It shows a mix of characters from different freshwater acochlidimorph genera, such as a medium body size, the presence of an osphradial ganglion, a distal gonoduct with a muscular sphincter, a penis with a solid thorn and cuticular comb, and a basal finger with a hollow stylet. Morphological adaptations to a life in freshwater include multiplicated renopericardioducts. The taxonomic character mix justifies the establishment of a novel genus within the herein diagnostically modified freshwater family Tantulidae. A molecular phylogenetic hypothesis of riverine slugs including the first Caribbean representatives suggests that the transition to freshwater occurred once along the stemline of limnic Acochlidiidae, secondarily marine Pseudunelidae and limnic Tantulidae. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-989afd1d0758401b91ee1ca3b9ab32e5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2673-9917 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hydrobiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-989afd1d0758401b91ee1ca3b9ab32e52025-08-20T02:53:41ZengMDPI AGHydrobiology2673-99172024-09-013427930910.3390/hydrobiology3040018Freshwater Slugs in the Caribbean: Rediscovery of Tantulidae (Acochlidimorpha, Panpulmonata) with the Description of <i>Potamohedyle espinosai</i> n. gen. n. sp. from CubaTimea P. Neusser0Anabel Onay1Mona Pirchtner2Katharina M. Jörger3Yander L. Diez4LMU Munich, Biocenter, Großhadernerstr. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, GermanyIndependent Researcher, 85375 Neufahrn, GermanyIndependent Researcher, 81541 München, GermanySNSB, Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Münchhausenstr. 21, 81247 München, GermanyMuseum of Nature Hamburg-Zoology, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyFreshwater slugs are scarce and belong exclusively to panpulmonate Acochlidimorpha. There is a radiation of eight species of large-sized slugs living benthically in rivers on tropical Indo-Pacific Islands. In the Western Atlantic, only one small interstitial slug, <i>Tantulum elegans</i> Rankin, 1979, is known from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. We recently discovered a novel species of freshwater slugs in Cuba. Here, we describe <i>Potamohedyle espinosai</i> n. gen. n. sp., which is the first freshwater slug in the region of the Western Atlantic with a benthic lifestyle, in 3D-microanatomical and histological detail using light and scanning electron microscopy. It shows a mix of characters from different freshwater acochlidimorph genera, such as a medium body size, the presence of an osphradial ganglion, a distal gonoduct with a muscular sphincter, a penis with a solid thorn and cuticular comb, and a basal finger with a hollow stylet. Morphological adaptations to a life in freshwater include multiplicated renopericardioducts. The taxonomic character mix justifies the establishment of a novel genus within the herein diagnostically modified freshwater family Tantulidae. A molecular phylogenetic hypothesis of riverine slugs including the first Caribbean representatives suggests that the transition to freshwater occurred once along the stemline of limnic Acochlidiidae, secondarily marine Pseudunelidae and limnic Tantulidae.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9917/3/4/18biodiversityconservationhistologyidentification keyintegrativeMollusca |
| spellingShingle | Timea P. Neusser Anabel Onay Mona Pirchtner Katharina M. Jörger Yander L. Diez Freshwater Slugs in the Caribbean: Rediscovery of Tantulidae (Acochlidimorpha, Panpulmonata) with the Description of <i>Potamohedyle espinosai</i> n. gen. n. sp. from Cuba Hydrobiology biodiversity conservation histology identification key integrative Mollusca |
| title | Freshwater Slugs in the Caribbean: Rediscovery of Tantulidae (Acochlidimorpha, Panpulmonata) with the Description of <i>Potamohedyle espinosai</i> n. gen. n. sp. from Cuba |
| title_full | Freshwater Slugs in the Caribbean: Rediscovery of Tantulidae (Acochlidimorpha, Panpulmonata) with the Description of <i>Potamohedyle espinosai</i> n. gen. n. sp. from Cuba |
| title_fullStr | Freshwater Slugs in the Caribbean: Rediscovery of Tantulidae (Acochlidimorpha, Panpulmonata) with the Description of <i>Potamohedyle espinosai</i> n. gen. n. sp. from Cuba |
| title_full_unstemmed | Freshwater Slugs in the Caribbean: Rediscovery of Tantulidae (Acochlidimorpha, Panpulmonata) with the Description of <i>Potamohedyle espinosai</i> n. gen. n. sp. from Cuba |
| title_short | Freshwater Slugs in the Caribbean: Rediscovery of Tantulidae (Acochlidimorpha, Panpulmonata) with the Description of <i>Potamohedyle espinosai</i> n. gen. n. sp. from Cuba |
| title_sort | freshwater slugs in the caribbean rediscovery of tantulidae acochlidimorpha panpulmonata with the description of i potamohedyle espinosai i n gen n sp from cuba |
| topic | biodiversity conservation histology identification key integrative Mollusca |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9917/3/4/18 |
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