Francesco Criscione

• Biodiversity Journal, 2 (1): 035-048

  Danilo Scuderi & Francesco Criscione
  New ecological and taxonomical data on some Ptenoglossa (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda) from the Gulf of Catania (Ionian Sea)

  ABSTRACT
  Ptenoglossans, well known as parasites of marine invertebrates, are one of the less common and less studied groups of caenogastropods. Most of the α-taxonomy of their Mediterranean representatives is still source of debate and very few data are known on their ecology. A considerable amount of fresh and living material of several ptenoglossan from the Gulf of Catania was available for study. Based on this material we here provide information on the distribution and ecology (e.g. habitat and host preference) of some relevant ptenoglossan species. In particular the distribution of Similiphora similior (Bouchet & Guillemot, 1978), Pogonodon pseudocanarica (Bouchet, 1985), Cerithiopsis ladae Prkic & Buzzurro, 2007, Epitonium pseudonanum Bouchet & Warén, 1986, Melanella lubrica Monterosato, 1890, and Pelseneeria minor Koehler & Vaney, 1908 were extended to the Ionian Sea and the host is reported for: two triphorids, one cerithiopsid, one epitoniid, three Melanella Bowdich, 1822 and other two eulimids. The particularly good conditions of the material studied also allowed some novel and important observations on the morphology to be made and provided the opportunity to discuss the taxonomy of some groups. Descriptions of the head-foot colour pattern were provided for one triphorid, three species of Cerithiopsis Forbes & Hanley, 1851, one epitoniid and three eulimids.

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